In the late 1980’s, the New York Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, (OASAS), created a regional consortia framework across New York State. Regional consortia are groups of representatives from local colleges and universities, community-based prevention providers and other service providers. Networking through the consortia is proving an effective way to build better working relationships between colleges and providers.
In the early development of the regional consortia, the goal was to assist campuses in developing and implementing comprehensive substance abuse prevention and early intervention programs. To accomplish this, three objectives must be met:

• All consortia members must obtain a working knowledge of and sensitivity to the diversity of services, concerns, and philosophies of the groups represented.
• Each regional consortium must identify specific campus substance abuse concerns through regularly scheduled meetings
• Networking between campuses, community-based prevention providers, and other service providers must be developed and/or enhanced.

Consortia members work together to strengthen and improve campus substance abuse prevention programming on a regional basis, with strong ties to their local community resources.

In 1990, the development of the Statewide College Consortia Steering Committee, which consists of representatives from each regional consortium, expanded the Regional Consortia project. Meeting regularly enables the Steering Committee to narrow regional gaps among various consortia, ensures a more consistent and dedicated effort in providing effective college alcohol and other drug abuse prevention and intervention program throughout New York State.

In the15 years since the regional consortia has been in existence, the Steering Committee continues to work on and enhance the goals set back in the late 1980’s. Accomplishments include hosting 4 statewide college conferences, developing and updating a Campus/Community Prevention Manual, and co-sponsoring the Department of Education’s National Meeting for Alcohol and Other Drug Use and Violence Prevention. We look to continue to develop the regional consortia framework and enhance AOD programming across New York State.

Through our mission, adopted in June, 2003, the Statewide College Consortia Steering Committee is to support and energize New York State regional consortia members by providing opportunities for networking, professional development and access to alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention resources.