Purpose and Objectives

napatree point
Rhode Island Beach

The objectives of the SEOW shall be to:

1. Develop a set of key indicators, micro level to macro level, to describe the magnitude and distribution of substance use, abuse, relevant multilevel risk and protective factors, consequences, and mental health for people of all ages across the State of Rhode Island.

2. Identify, collect, manage, analyze, and interpret data on the prevalence of substance use, abuse, relevant multilevel risk and protective factors, consequences, and mental health at multiple ecological levels.

3. Based on these data, develop, and communicate state-level and community-level epidemiologic profiles for strategic planning, promotion, prevention, treatment, recovery, and policy implications for Rhode Island’s behavioral healthcare system.

4. Disseminate, inform, and recommend priorities for the Governor’s Council on Behavioral Health and the State of Rhode Island based on the community and state-level epidemiological profiles.

5. Maintain, expand, and identify gaps in the systematic, ongoing monitoring systems of the prevalence of substance use, abuse, relevant multilevel risk and protective factors, consequences, and mental health.

6. Enhance and encourage inter-agency and inter-organization collaboration, particularly individual data linkage, for data-driven planning for the behavioral healthcare system in the state of Rhode Island.

7. Engage and leverage the capacity of the academic community in data-driven products to aid in planning for the behavioral healthcare system in the state of Rhode Island.