As communities across the United States continue to experience significant increases in Hispanic/Latino populations, limited infrastructures to serve them, and less tolerant political environments, there is a resource ready to help: ¡Vida en la Comunidad Para Todos! (Para Todos) (Life in the Community for Everyone!) is a comprehensive DVD/VHS developed by the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), primarily as a tool to be used by service providers working with groups of Hispanic/Latino parents.
The objective of the product is to mobilize Latino parents to keep their children safe, healthy and drug free, as well as to increase awareness among service providers about the challenges facing Latino families in the United States. It is a tool that empowers communities; it can be incorporated into existing programs or used to create new programs specific to a community’s needs. The DVD/VHS is free of charge and copyright restrictions and is easy and inexpensive to duplicate.
This comprehensive bilingual resource focuses on the most pressing substance abuse prevention issues facing Hispanic/Latino families. It is based on extensive formative research and eight years’ experience developing materials for this population. Topics addressed are: communication, acculturation, mental health, community involvement, violence, substance abuse prevention, alcohol, tobacco, inhalants, over-the-counter drugs, prescription drugs, and illicit drugs. The award-winning DVD/VHS features dramatic vignettes, anchor narration, and expert and community interviews; includes pauses with guided questions to encourage lively discussions, and online facilitator guides to support discussion leaders. This format responds to the needs of both the Hispanic/Latino community and service providers for health information that is bilingual, comprehensive, relevant, engaging, flexible, empowering, and accessible.
The ¡Vida en la Comunidad Para Todos! (Life in the Community for Everyone!) DVD/VHS can be ordered for free through SAMHSA’s National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information: 1-800-729-6686. For additional information about this product, visit http://hablemos.samhsa.gov/paratodos/default.aspx or contact Margaret Behrns at Margaret_Behrns@cox.net or Emily Glazer at EmGlazer@gmail.com.
Note: At the APHA Annual Meeting, you can see excerpts of the DVD at Session #4196.0 on Tuesday, November 6th, and/or pick up a free copy of the DVD at SAMHSA exhibit booth #403."