VOA Dakotas Prevention Resource Center
VOA Dakotas Prevention Resource Center (PRC) strengthens local prevention efforts by supporting schools, coalitions, organizations and communities through evidence-based resources, training, and technical assistance. The PRC is as a regional hub for behavioral health-related prevention, serving 21 counties in southeastern South Dakota.
What is the Prevention Resource Center?
As one of four Prevention Resource Centers in South Dakota, the VOA Dakotas PRC is a regional hub for behavioral health-related prevention, serving 21 counties in southeastern South Dakota. The PRC helps partner organizations build the knowledge, skills, and capacity needed to address substance use, promote mental well-being, strengthen protective factors, and create healthier communities.
The PRC’s services are grounded in evidence-based practices and the nationally recognized Center for Substance Abuse Prevention Strategic Prevention Framework.
Services include:
- Resources: The PRC maintains a resource library containing thousands of prevention and behavioral health materials available for checkout, including curricula, educational materials, books, activities, and multimedia resources that support substance use prevention, mental health promotion, and suicide prevention.
- Training: The PRC coordinates, develops, and promotes training opportunities on substance use prevention, suicide prevention, mental health promotion, and community readiness and coalition development.
- Technical Assistance: SEPRC provides free on-site and virtual technical assistance to schools, community organizations, health care providers, and human resource agencies. Technical assistance activities may include program planning and development, prevention strategy implementation, resource and tool development, guidance on evidence-based practices, and support for community coalitions and prevention initiatives.
- Prevention Awareness: The PRC promotes prevention awareness through educational campaigns, newsletters, community outreach, and information-sharing efforts that keep partners informed of emerging trends, resources, and opportunities.
By strengthening local prevention capacity, supporting evidence-based practices, and fostering collaboration among community partners, VOA Dakotas PRC helps communities reduce behavioral health risks, increase protective factors, and create healthier environments where individuals can thrive.