Abstract
Communities That Care (CTC) has been shown to increase the use of science‐based prevention, resulting in community‐wide improvements in youth development. Using data from a community‐randomized trial of CTC in 24 communities, this study examined the extent to which community leaders endorsed the use of science‐based prevention in CTC communities compared to control communities 3 years after study support for implementation ended, and whether participation in CTC training affected leader endorsement of science‐based prevention. This study found that CTC community leaders reported significantly higher stages of adoption of science‐based prevention than did leaders in control communities 3 years after study funding ended. However, use of science‐based prevention in CTC communities declined. At follow‐up, leaders who participated in CTC training reported significantly higher use of science‐based prevention than did leaders in CTC communities who did not receive training. Providing continued CTC training could support sustained community adoption of science‐based prevention.
