Pathways to Sustainability: 8-Year Follow-Up From the PROSPER Project
Open accessAbstract
The large-scale dissemination of evidence-based practices (EBPs) is often hindered by problems with sustaining initiatives past a period of initial grant funding. Communities often have difficulty generating resources needed to sustain and grow their initiatives, resulting in limited public health impact. The PROSPER project, initiated in 2001, provided community coalitions with intensive technical assistance around marketing, communications, and revenue generating strategies. Past reports from PROSPER have indicated that these coalitions were successful with sustaining their programming, and that sustainability could be predicted by early aspects of team functioning and leadership. The current study examines financial sustainability 8 years following the discontinuation of grant funding, with an emphasis on sources of revenue and the relationships between revenue generation, team functioning, and EBP participation. This study used four waves of data related to resource generation collected between 2004 and 2010 by PROSPER teams in Iowa and Pennsylvania. Teams reported annually on the amount and sources of funding procured, as well as annual reports of team functioning and leadership and annual reports of EBP participation by youth and parents. Data revealed that teams' overall revenue generation increased over time. There was significant variation in success with revenue generation at both the community level and across the two states. Teams accessed a variety of sources. Cash revenue generation was positively and predictively associated with EBP participation, but relationships with team functioning and leadership ratings varied significantly by state. State level differences in in-kind support were also apparent. The results indicated that there are different pathways to sustainability, and that no one method works for all teams. The presence of state level infrastructures available to support prevention appeared to account for significant differences in sustainability success between Pennsylvania and Iowa.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The results support the assertion that strengthening other sustainability domains may help contribute to program sustainment even in the face of weak financial stability.
“Thus, the results support the assertion that strengthening other sustainability domains may help contribute to program sustainment even in the face of weak financial stability [27, 42].”
From Using qualitative comparative analysis to uncover multiple pathways to program sustainment: implications for community-based youth substance misuse prevention (2022) · cites this paper as [27]
The Discussion says infrastructure support and technical assistance helped PROSPER teams sustain programs and navigate threats to their viability. It does not show that strengthening these areas sustained programs despite weak financial stability; it instead reports that the two teams with the lowest fundraising discontinued prevention activities by Year 8. Our copy does not provide page numbers for these passages. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredWelsh et al. found that the amount of program implementation funds raised over 5 years was predicted by earlier and concurrent team functioning and sustainability planning.
“They found that the amount of program implementation funds raised over 5 years was predicted by earlier and concurrent team functioning and sustainability planning.”
From Using qualitative comparative analysis to uncover multiple pathways to program sustainment: implications for community-based youth substance misuse prevention (2022) · cites this paper as [27]
The Results section (page unavailable) reports a positive association between team functioning and concurrent funds raised in Iowa, but a largely negative association in Pennsylvania. The paper examines funding through Year 8; it does not report that funds raised over five years were predicted by both earlier and concurrent team functioning and sustainability planning. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredBy year 8, predictors of funds raised varied across states, with a strong positive association between team functioning and total funds raised in one state and a negative association in the other.
“However, by year 8, predictors varied across states with a strong positive association between team functioning and total funds raised in one state, and a negative association in the other state.”
From Using qualitative comparative analysis to uncover multiple pathways to program sustainment: implications for community-based youth substance misuse prevention (2022) · cites this paper as [27]
The Results section (Program Sustainability: Funding Trends Over Time; page not provided) reports a strong positive association between team functioning and concurrent funds raised per youth in Iowa, while the association was largely negative in Pennsylvania. The claim captures the state-level contrast but calls the measure “total funds raised,” which the passage does not establish. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThese results reinforce the multidimensional and interactive nature of sustainability capacity domains and their role in program sustainment.
“These results reinforce the multidimensional and interactive nature of sustainability capacity domains and their role in program sustainment [21, 27, 30].”
Program sustainment was largely a local process resulting from different relationships in different communities with different resources and infrastructure.
“The authors concluded that program sustainment was largely a “local process” resulting from different relationships in different communities with different resources and infrastructure [27].”
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
(2005) · Cited by 3,748 · see citing works
Merikangas, K. R., He, J.-P., Burstein, M., Swendsen, J., Avenevoli, S., Case, B., Georgiades, K., Heaton, L., Swanson, S., & Olfson, M. (2011) · Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2010.10.006 · Cited by 1,579 · see citing works
A Review of Collaborative Partnerships as a Strategy for Improving Community Health
Roussos, S. T., & Fawcett, S. B. (2000) · Annual Review of Public Health · doi:10.1146/annurev.publhealth.21.1.369 · Cited by 1,134 · see citing works
Shediac-Rizkallah, M. C., & Bone, L. R. (1998) · Health Education Research · doi:10.1093/her/13.1.87 · Cited by 1,129 · see citing works
An Agenda for Research on the Sustainability of Public Health Programs
Scheirer, M. A., & Dearing, J. W. (2011) · American Journal of Public Health · doi:10.2105/ajph.2011.300193 · Cited by 775 · see citing works
Is Sustainability Possible? A Review and Commentary on Empirical Studies of Program Sustainability
Scheirer, M. A. (2005) · American Journal of Evaluation · doi:10.1177/1098214005278752 · Cited by 710 · see citing works
Community coalitions for prevention and health promotion
Butterfoss, F. D., Goodman, R. M., & Wandersman, A. (1993) · Health Education Research · doi:10.1093/her/8.3.315 · Cited by 648 · see citing works
Cultural sensitivity in substance use prevention
Resnicow, K., Soler, R. E., Braithwaite, R. L., Ahluwalia, J. S., & Butler, J. (2000) · Journal of Community Psychology · doi:10.1002/(sici)1520-6629(200005)28:3 · Cited by 637 · see citing works
Promoting and Protecting Youth Mental Health Through Evidence-Based Prevention and Treatment.
Weisz, J. R., Sandler, I. N., Durlak, J. A., & Anton, B. S. (2005) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/0003-066x.60.6.628 · Cited by 589 · see citing works
School-based substance abuse prevention: a review of the state of the art in curriculum, 1980–1990
Hansen, W. B. (1992) · Health Education Research · doi:10.1093/her/7.3.403 · Cited by 538 · see citing works
Drug Prevention in Junior High: A Multi-Site Longitudinal Test
Ellickson, P. L., & Bell, R. M. (1990) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.2180065 · Cited by 429 · see citing works
Building capacity and sustainable prevention innovations: a sustainability planning model
Johnson, K., Hays, C., Center, H., & Daley, C. (2004) · Evaluation and Program Planning · doi:10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2004.01.002 · Cited by 411 · see citing works
Sustainability science: an integrated approach for health-programme planning
Gruen, R. L., Elliott, J. H., Nolan, M. L., Lawton, P. D., Parkhill, A., McLaren, C. J., & Lavis, J. N. (2008) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(08)61659-1 · Cited by 395 · see citing works
Spoth, R. L., Redmond, C. R., & Shin, C. (2001) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-006x.69.4.627 · Cited by 377 · see citing works
Self-citationSpoth, R. L., Greenberg, M. T., Bierman, K. L., & Redmond, C. R. (2004) · Prevention Science · doi:10.1023/b:prev.0000013979.52796.8b · Cited by 357 · see citing works
Self-citationSpoth, R. L., Redmond, C. R., & Shin, C. (2001) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.69.4.627 · Cited by 290 · see citing works
Self-citationSociety for Prevention Research Type 2 Translational Task Force Members and Contributing Authors, Spoth, R., Rohrbach, L. A., Greenberg, M., Leaf, P., Brown, C. H., Fagan, A., Catalano, R. F., Pentz, M. A., Sloboda, Z., et al. (2013) · Prevention Science · doi:10.1007/s11121-012-0362-6 · Cited by 283 · see citing works
Self-citationKegler, M. C., Steckler, A., McLeroy, K. R., & Malek, S. H. (1998) · Health Education & Behavior · doi:10.1177/109019819802500308 · Cited by 221 · see citing works
Substance-Use Outcomes at 18 Months Past Baseline
Spoth, R. L., Redmond, C. R., Shin, C., Greenberg, M. T., Clair, S., & Feinberg, M. E. (2007) · American Journal of Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2007.01.014 · Cited by 203 · see citing works
Self-citationSpoth, R. L., & Greenberg, M. T. (2005) · American Journal of Community Psychology · doi:10.1007/s10464-005-3388-0 · Cited by 143 · see citing works
Self-citationPreventing Substance Misuse Through Community–University Partnerships
Spoth, R. L., Redmond, C. R., Clair, S., Shin, C., Greenberg, M. T., & Feinberg, M. E. (2011) · American Journal of Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2010.12.012 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
Self-citationKumpfer, K. L., Turner, C., Hopkins, R., & Librett, J. J. (1993) · Health Education Research · doi:10.1093/her/8.3.359 · Cited by 131 · see citing works
After randomised trials: issues related to dissemination of evidence‐based interventions
Bumbarger, B., & Perkins, D. (2008) · Journal of Children's Services · doi:10.1108/17466660200800012 · Cited by 122 · cited 1× · see citing works
“…barriers related to the effective delivery of EBPIs in applied settings, such as low readiness and resistance to change on the part of stakeholders (Bumbarger & Perkins, 2008), poor implementation quality (Akerlund, 2000; Backer, 2000; Pentz, Hawkins, & McClure, 2002), a lack of technical…”
Spoth, R. L., Redmond, C. R., Shin, C., Greenberg, M. T., Feinberg, M. E., & Schainker, L. M. (2012) · Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.12.013 · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Self-citationReducing Adolescents' Aggressive and Hostile Behaviors
Spoth, R. L., Redmond, C. R., & Shin, C. (2000) · Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine · doi:10.1001/archpedi.154.12.1248 · Cited by 105 · see citing works
Self-citationRedmond, C. R., Spoth, R. L., Shin, C., Schainker, L. M., Greenberg, M. T., & Feinberg, M. E. (2009) · The Journal of Primary Prevention · doi:10.1007/s10935-009-0189-5 · Cited by 99 · see citing works
Self-citationPredictors and Level of Sustainability of Community Prevention Coalitions
Feinberg, M. E., Bontempo, D. E., & Greenberg, M. T. (2008) · American Journal of Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2008.01.030 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Self-citationEvans, R. I. (1988) · Contemporary Psychology · doi:10.1037/025429 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Defining sustainability outcomes of health programs: Illustrations from an on-line survey
Scheirer, M. A., Hartling, G., & Hagerman, D. (2008) · Evaluation and Program Planning · doi:10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2008.08.004 · Cited by 93 · see citing works
The Prevalence of Evidence-Based Drug Use Prevention Curricula in U.S. Middle Schools in 2005
Ringwalt, C., Vincus, A. A., Hanley, S., Ennett, S. T., Bowling, J. M., & Rohrbach, L. A. (2008) · Prevention Science · doi:10.1007/s11121-008-0112-y · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Tibbits, M. K., Bumbarger, B. K., Kyler, S. J., & Perkins, D. F. (2010) · Prevention Science · doi:10.1007/s11121-010-0170-9 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
School-Based Substance Use Prevention Programs: Why Do Effects Decay?
Resnicow, K., & Botvin, G. J. (1993) · Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1006/pmed.1993.1039 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Predicting intermediate outcomes for prevention coalitions: a developmental perspective
Florin, P. R., Mitchell, R. E., Stevenson, J. F., & Klein, I. (2000) · Evaluation and Program Planning · doi:10.1016/s0149-7189(00)00022-7 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
August, G. J., Bloomquist, M. L., Lee, S. S., Realmuto, G. M., & Hektner, J. M. (2006) · Prevention Science · doi:10.1007/s11121-005-0024-z · Cited by 83 · see citing works
Spoth, R. L., Guyll, M., Redmond, C. R., Greenberg, M. T., & Feinberg, M. E. (2011) · American Journal of Community Psychology · doi:10.1007/s10464-011-9430-5 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Self-citationSpoth, R. L., & Greenberg, M. T. (2011) · American Journal of Community Psychology · doi:10.1007/s10464-010-9417-7 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
Self-citationJackson, C., Fortmann, S. P., Flora, J. A., Melton, R. J., Snider, J., & Littlefield, D. (1994) · Health Education Research · doi:10.1093/her/9.3.385 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
A framework for assessing program institutionalization
Goodman, R. M., & Steckler, A. (1989) · Knowledge, technology & policy/Knowledge in society/Knowledge, technology, & policy · doi:10.1007/bf02737075 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Rhoades, B. L., Bumbarger, B. K., & Moore, J. E. (2012) · American Journal of Community Psychology · doi:10.1007/s10464-012-9502-1 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Sustainability of Community Coalitions: An Evaluation of Communities That Care
Gomez, B. J., Greenberg, M. T., & Feinberg, M. E. (2005) · Prevention Science · doi:10.1007/s11121-005-0003-4 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Self-citationKoo, H. P., Dunteman, G. H., George, C., Green, Y., & Vincent, M. L. (1994) · Family Planning Perspectives · doi:10.2307/2135940 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Team factors that predict to sustainability indicators for community-based prevention teams
Perkins, D. F., Feinberg, M. E., Greenberg, M. T., Johnson, L. E., Chilenski, S. M., Mincemoyer, C. C., & Spoth, R. L. (2011) · Evaluation and Program Planning · doi:10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2010.10.003 · Cited by 55 · cited 5× · see citing works
“Prior studies of sustainability in PROSPER found empirical support for this model, with early functioning of community teams related to subsequent sustainability planning and resource generation (Greenberg et al., 2015; Perkins et al., 2011; Spoth et al., 2011).”
InfluentialSelf-citationGreenberg, M. T., Feinberg, M. E., Chilenski, S. M., Spoth, R. L., & Redmond, C. R. (2007) · The Journal of Primary Prevention · doi:10.1007/s10935-007-0116-6 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Self-citationGreenberg, M. T., Feinberg, M. E., Johnson, L. E., Perkins, D. F., Welsh, J. A., & Spoth, R. L. (2015) · Prevention Science · doi:10.1007/s11121-014-0483-1 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Self-citationEnvironmental Choice and Control In Community Care Settings for Older People1
Moos, R. H. (1981) · Journal of Applied Social Psychology · doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.1981.tb00820.x · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Rog, D. J., Boback, N., Barton-Villagrana, H., Marrone-Bennett, P., Cardwell, J., E.Hawdon, J., Diaz, J., Jenkins, Ṕ., Kridler, J. B., & Reischl, T. M. (2004) · Evaluation and Program Planning · doi:10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2003.10.001 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Changing ATOD norms and behaviors: A Native American community commitment to wellness
Rowe, W. (1997) · Evaluation and Program Planning · doi:10.1016/s0149-7189(97)00012-8 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Karim, S. S. A., Karim, Q. A., Dilraj, A., & Chamane, M. (1993) · PubMed · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Kuklinski, M. R., Hawkins, J. D., Plotnick, R. D., Abbott, R. D., & Reid, C. (2012) · American Journal of Community Psychology · doi:10.1007/s10464-012-9557-z · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 5
- Akerlund KM 2000 Prevention program sustainability: The state's perspective Journal of Community Psychology 28 3 353 362
- Backer TE 2000 The failure of success: Challenges of disseminating effective substance abuse prevention programs Journal of Community Psychology 28 363 373
- Greenberg MT Feinberg ME Gomez BJ Osgood DW 2005 Testing a model of coalition functioning and sustainability: A comprehensive study of Communities that Care in Pennsylvania Stockwell T Gruenewald P Toumbourou J Loxley W Preventing harmful substance use: The evidence base for policy and practice Sydney John Wiley
- Hansen WB 1992 School-based substance abuse prevention: A review of the state of the art in curriculum, 1980–1990 Health Education Research 7 3 403 430 10171672
- Spoth R Redmond C Shin C Greenberg M Clair S Feinberg M 2007 Substance use outcomes at 18 months past baseline from the PROSPER community-university partnership trial American Journal of Preventive Medicine 32 5 395 402 17478265 PMC2869212
Cited by
Sorted by citations
The Sustainability of Evidence-Based Interventions and Practices in Public Health and Health Care
Shelton, R. C., Cooper, B. R., & Stirman, S. W. (2018) · Annual Review of Public Health · doi:10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040617-014731 · Cited by 806 · see citing works
Spoth, R. L., Redmond, C. R., Shin, C., Greenberg, M. T., Feinberg, M. E., & Trudeau, L. (2017) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291717000691 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Self-citationHoagwood, K., Atkins, M. S., Kelleher, K. J., Peth-Pierce, R., Olin, S.-C. S., Burns, B. J., Landsverk, J. A., & Horwitz, S. M. (2018) · Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2017.09.433 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
For Whom Do Parenting Interventions to Prevent Adolescent Substance Use Work?
Garcia‐Huidobro, D., Doty, J. L., Davis, L., Borowsky, I. W., & Allen, M. (2017) · Prevention Science · doi:10.1007/s11121-017-0853-6 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Harnessing the strength of families to prevent social problems and promote adolescent well-being
Lippold, M. A., & Jensen, T. M. (2017) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.06.066 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Spoth, R. L., Redmond, C. R., Shin, C., Trudeau, L., Greenberg, M. T., Feinberg, M. E., & Welsh, J. A. (2022) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/cdev.13746 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Self-citationChilenski, S. M., Welsh, J. A., Olson, J. R., Hoffman, L., Perkins, D. F., & Feinberg, M. E. (2017) · Prevention Science · doi:10.1007/s11121-017-0812-2 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Self-citationCommunity Prevention Coalition Context and Capacity Assessment
Brown, L. D., Chilenski, S. M., Ramos, R. L., Gallegos, N., & Feinberg, M. E. (2015) · Health Education & Behavior · doi:10.1177/1090198115596165 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Self-citationAcosta, J., Chinman, M., Ebener, P. A., Malone, P. S., Cannon, J. S., & D’Amico, E. J. (2020) · Prevention Science · doi:10.1007/s11121-020-01118-2 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Cooper, B. R., Hill, L. G., Parker, L., Jenkins, G. J., Shrestha, G., & Funaiole, A. (2022) · Implementation Science Communications · doi:10.1186/s43058-022-00303-4 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
“There are some exceptions, however [26, 27].”
BackgroundResultInfluentialCommentary on Scaling-Up Evidence-Based Interventions in Public Systems
Weaver, C., & DeRosier, M. E. (2019) · Prevention Science · doi:10.1007/s11121-019-01059-5 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Determinants and facilitators of community coalition diffusion of prevention efforts
Moore, T. R., Pachucki, M. C., & Economos, C. D. (2024) · PLOS complex systems. · doi:10.1371/journal.pcsy.0000004 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Mixed-Methods Evaluation in Dissemination and Implementation Science
Palinkas, L. A., Cooper, B. R., Leon, J. D., & Salinas, E. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197660690.003.0018 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Tesfay, N., Olsson, T. M., Jakobsson, T., Nilsson, P. V., & Skoog, T. (2026) · Prevention Science · doi:10.1007/s11121-025-01874-z · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Initial conditions and functioning over time among community coalitions
Brown, L. D., Wells, R. S., & Chilenski, S. M. (2022) · Evaluation and Program Planning · doi:10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2022.102090 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Self-citationPeck, S., Welsh, J. A., Glunt, K. T., & Spaw, R. (2024) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197618110.013.7
Self-citationFosco, G. M., & Feinberg, M. E. (2026) · Child Development · doi:10.1093/chidev/aacag130
- Authors
- Welsh, J. A., Chilenski, S. M., Johnson, L., Greenberg, M. T., & Spoth, R. L.
- Affiliations
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- Iowa State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Welsh, Janet A.
- Venue
- The Journal of Primary Prevention
- Published
- 2016-02-18
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 263-286
- ISSN
- 0278-095X (ISSN-L)
- 1573-6547
- PMC
- PMC4864096
- OpenAlex
- W2275305916
- Cited by
- 17
- References
- 49
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 4.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- The Journal of Primary Prevention (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA13709)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Community Health and Development
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Policy Implementation Science
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Public Health Policies and Education
- Keywords
- sustainability of community initiatives, evidence-based practice, community coalitions, income generation, financial sustainability, team functioning, leadership, in-kind support, state-level differences
- MeSH terms
- Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Pennsylvania, Public Health, Evidence-Based Practice
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
