The results of research conducted by professors in the School of Social Work are helping a southeast Michigan agency that specializes in substance-abuse treatment and prevention improve how it shares data and provides service to customers.

The yearlong study was conducted on behalf of the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance (SEMCA). The professors were Joan Abbey and Crystal Mills. SEMCA contracted with the School of Social Work to conduct a comprehensive needs and asset assessment of the substance-abuse resources available to residents of the SEMCA region.

"Our role as the local substance-abuse coordinating agency includes having data readily available for our region," said Chris Smith, SEMCA's chief operating officer. "It is projected that more federal dollars will come to our region as a result of public accessibility."

The research looked at current and future service needs. Data was compiled from law-enforcement agencies, youth and older adults through focus groups, surveys, and direct mail in order to evaluate how those groups and individuals viewed substance-abuse services in their communities.

From that data, several items were produced: an environmental scan of SEMCA's service area; a gauge of community perception relative to substance abuse; and an analysis of current and projected needs for substanceabuse treatment and prevention services.

SEMCA will reassess the data every four years, and new data will be added as needed. The results are on SEMCA's Web site at www.semca.org/saneeds.htm.