Although the creation of standards is required by legislation, this process, in fact, provides an opportunity for state agencies and local service providers to develop consensus regarding standards for prevention and intervention programs; to assess our strengths and areas for growth; to identify and disseminate information on programs that meet and exceed standards; and to chart a course for sustaining and enhancing the quality of prevention and intervention programs and services throughout Colorado

The Colorado Prevention Leadership Council (PLC) - which is comprised of representatives across five state agencies, two institutions of higher education, and statewide resource organizations - convened a Uniform, Minimum Standards Task Force to develop recommended standards.  The Task Force reviewed criteria/standards used by existing prevention/intervention programs in Colorado; and identified eight areas considered critical to the development and implementation of quality programs, including: clear problem statement, focus on contributing factors, identified service population, intended outcomes, evidence-based services, evaluation, agency capacity and collaboration.  Proposed uniform, minimum standards were written in each of these eight areas.  Once this refinement process is complete, the BOH will review the proposed standards which, if approved/adopted, will become state regulation.

The Uniform, Minimum Standards will be used to conduct a review of the 40+ state level programs that operate and/or fund prevention and intervention services – to determine the extent to which the state-level program meet the uniform, minimum standards and the extent to which they support and require local grantees to meet the standards. This review, which will be completed by June 2004, will provide an overall status assessment of prevention/intervention efforts across state agencies.  It is expected that this process will provide validation for many programs that meet or exceed standards; and will identify some areas for improvement at both the state and local level.  Once established, it is expected that the standards will become part of RFP processes, be included in criteria for selecting grantees, and help guide the training/technical assistance provided to state and local programs.

Once the Uniform, Minimum Standards have been completed, it is expected that work will begin on Standards of Excellence.  Although not required by legislation, Standards of Excellence adopted across programs and state agencies could provide important guidelines for self-assessment and encouragement for ongoing quality improvement of prevention and intervention programs across the state.