Our Services

The Region 4 Prevention Resource Center (PRC) focuses on regional substance abuse and related factors, data collection and distribution, tobacco education and compliance checks, and is a training liaison in substance abuse prevention for the region to enhance community understanding, collaboration, awareness, and readiness.

Data Collection

The PRC has many responsibilities related to the development of a sustainable central data repository in the region. This involves seeking out data sources and trends in our local communities and working with the other Prevention Resource Center regions and Health and Human Services to produce ongoing assessments of prevention needs. Their work serves to provide state and local agencies valuable prevention data to assess target communities and high-risk populations in need of prevention services. Additionally, they provide technical assistance and consultation to providers, community groups, and other stakeholders for substance abuse data collection activities for the data repository.

Regional Needs Assessment

The Regional Needs Assessment (RNA) is a document created by the Prevention Resource Center (PRC) in Region 4 along with evaluators from PRCs across the State of Texas and is supported by East Texas Council On Alcoholism And Drug Abuse and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). This assessment was designed to aid PRCs, HHSC, and community stakeholders in long-term strategic prevention planning based on the most current information relative to the unique needs of the diverse communities in the State of Texas. A team of regional evaluators have procured national, state, regional, and local data through the establishment of collaborative partnerships with diverse agencies in sectors such as law enforcement, public health, and education, among others. Secondary qualitative data collection has also been conducted in the form of surveys, focus groups, and interviews with key informants. This document presents a summary of statistics relevant to risk and protective factors associated with drug use, as well as consumption patterns and consequences data. In addition, it offers insight related to gaps in services and data availability challenges. 

Focus Groups

Abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs is a problem throughout Region 4 and the entire United States. However, communities vary greatly in the specific problems they face, the groups affected by those problems, and the events that influence people to take action. The PRC aims to identify specific issues and gaps in services existing in the diverse communities in Region 4.

Focus groups can reveal a wealth of detailed information and insight about issues such as alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use. The Region 4 PRC provides training and conducts focus groups throughout the region that facilitate design, evaluation, and creation of prevention programs and policy making. If you would like to participate in our focus groups or would like information, please contact the PRC staff at (903) 753-7633 or by email at Intake@etcada.com

.