OVERVIEW

The Society for Prevention Research is an international organization focused upon the advancement of science-based prevention programs and policies through empirical research. The membership of the organization includes scientists, practitioners, advocates, administrators, and policy makers who are concerned with the prevention of social, physical and mental health problems and the promotion of health, safety, and well-being.

The meeting seeks to present the latest in prevention science from across international regions in the areas of epidemiology, etiology, preventive intervention trials, demonstration projects, policy research, natural experiments, program evaluations, clinical trials, prevention-related basic research, pre-intervention studies, efficacy and effectiveness trials, population trials, and studies of the diffusion/dissemination of science-based prevention.

The conference theme, “Crossing Borders: Linking Prevention Science, Policy and Practice”, is meant to be comprehensive. There are 6 subthemes that are highlighted. The first three broad subthemes are derived from the strategic goals of the Society. The last three subthemes have been chosen for special emphasis for this year’s meeting.

Prevention Research in Real World Settings
Research on models of best practices and policies that are being disseminated (a) on a large scale, (b) in different cultures or (c) in different countries. Of particular interest are studies examining the challenges facing fidelity vs. adaptation of prevention programs.

Monitoring Systems for Children and Youth
Research on community, state or national monitoring systems with measurements of critical aspects of child and adolescent well-being and the factors that influence their growth.

Evidence-Based Standards
Research on the development of criteria for evidence-based standards and on how these standards influence prevention policy. Of particular interest are discussions concerning how criteria have been, or need to be, modified for use in other countries and other cultures.

Tobacco, Alcohol and Drug Control Policies
International differences in the approach to tobacco, alcohol and drug control and the role research has played in formulating these international policies.

Economic Analyses in Prevention Research
Studies that include short and long-term costs and economic benefits of prevention interventions are rare, yet extremely important to policymakers. Thus, SPR is encouraging submissions of research that includes economic analyses and discussions of implications for public policy.

Early Childhood Development
Research on effective factors and programs for promoting healthy childhood development and well-being and preventing serious social, emotional, physical and cognitive problems in young children.

In addition to emphasizing the conference theme, SPR continues its interest and commitment to the following four subthemes, and submissions are invited in the areas of:
• Basic Prevention Science
• Recent Developments in Efficacy Research
• The Role of Gender, Social Class, Culture, Rural/Urban and Ethnicity in Prevention Research
• Recent Issues in Research Methods.

ABSTRACTS

The Community of Science (COS) website will be managing our abstract submissions this year. The COS site will be available for submissions beginning Thursday, September 18, 2003. To facilitate reviews and scheduling, all abstracts will be submitted via the website. Only for those unable to access the Internet, special arrangements may be made through the SPR Administrative Office. Click here for instructions about submissions and a link to the COS website.

ABSTRACTS ACCEPTANCE NOTIFICATIONS

In order to review all submitted work, we ask that all abstracts be submitted no later than midnight, ET, Monday, November 17, 2003. Presenters will be informed mid-March about their participation in the Conference program. The complete schedule will be available mid-April.
PLEASE NOTE: The abstract submission deadline has been extended through Thursday, November 20, 2003.

LOCATION

The meetings will take place from May 26 – May 28, 2004 at the Hilton Quebec. The hotel is located at 1100 Rene-Levesque Blvd. East, Quebec City. The Hilton Quebec overlooks Parliament Hill and the historic Citadelle to the south, the Laurentian Mountains to the north and Old Quebec to the east. Underground walkways connect the hotel to the Quebec City Convention Centre and a shopping plaza. The hotel is less than 30 minutes drive from the airport, and five minutes drive from the train and bus stations.

Quebec City is one of North America’s oldest and most charming cities with a European feel. Due to its small size, it provides a retreat atmosphere with excellent restaurants, museums and tourist attractions. UNESCO has designated it as a world heritage treasure. Visit the Quebec City and Area Tourism and Convention Bureau for more information.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

The official language of the 12th Annual Meeting is English. All abstracts must be submitted in English and all oral and poster presentations will be given in English.

2004 ANNUAL MEETING PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Three plenary sessions
• A full day of pre-conference workshops.
• More than 150 organized paper and poster symposia, roundtable discussions/scientific dialogues and paper presentations
• Two evening poster sessions including technological demonstrations and receptions
• ECPN Luncheon
• NIH Workshop for Junior Investigators
• Annual SPR Minority Scholarship Benefit Dance

PLENARY SESSIONS

Plenary I: Prevention Programs for Very Young Children

Chair: Ray Peters

In recent years, there has been renewed interest in research and evaluation of early childhood development programs for high-risk children beginning before or at birth. In this plenary, three leading prevention researchers describe their work with very young children. Richard Tremblay (University of Montreal) will present his research findings on aggressive behaviour in young children, Craig Ramey (Georgetown University) will describe several prevention programs he has directed with infants and toddlers, and John Love (Mathematica) will present research findings from the U.S. Early Head Start Project with high-risk children from birth to three and their parents. A round table discussion session will follow the plenary to allow audience participation.

Plenary II: Benefits and Risks of Harm Reduction Approaches

Chair: David Hawkins

Harm reduction has been advocated as a strategy for preventing harm associated with the use of alcohol and other drugs. Few comparisons of abstinence versus harm reduction approaches have been done. This panel will investigate the effects of harm reduction strategies at different developmental periods and on different behavior outcomes. Speakers: G. Alan Marlatt (University of Washington), Mary Jane Rotheram-Borus (UCLA), John Winston Toumbourou (University of Melbourne). A round table discussion session will follow the plenary to allow audience participation.

Plenary III: Improving Children’s Outcomes: Policy, Parenting, and Prosocial Interventions

Chair: Zili Sloboda

A broad spectrum of interventions have been effective in improving children’s outcomes. This symposium brings together leaders who have designed and implemented changes in policy (Larry Aber, Columbia University), parenting programs for children at risk for a variety of negative behaviors (Matt Sanders, Univ. of Queensland, AU), and school-based interventions for prosocial behaviors and to decrease bullying (Dan Olweus, Univ. of Bergen, Norway). Each presenter will provide a perspective on the range and scope of successful interventions targeted at behavior change and the challenges faced in broadly disseminating and promoting recognition and acceptability of effective programs in real-world settings. A round table discussion session will follow the plenary to allow audience participation.

PRE-CONFERENCE TRAINING
SPR provides training opportunities in prevention science during full-day pre-conference workshops scheduled for Tuesday, May 25, 2004. All events require registration.

Pre-Conference #1
Training of Prevention Scientists and Practitioners Across Settings, Cultures and Career Levels.
This workshop will present innovative training models in two complementary aspects of prevention science, training practitioners to deliver evidence-based preventive interventions and training prevention researchers. More details...

Pre-Conference #2
Design and Analysis of Group-Randomized Trials: Moving the State of the Practice Toward the State of the Science.
This workshop will review the state of the practice in terms of design and analysis of group-randomized trials (GRTs) and will provide instruction in methods that reflect the state of the science. More details...

CEECD SEMINAR *
"Building a Comprehensive Early Childhood Development System"
9 AM - 4:30 PM, Tuesday, May 25, 2004, Hilton Quebec
This full-day seminar, organized by the Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development, in collaboration with the Society for Prevention Research, is intended for policy and service planners, and child development researchers. It will offer an opportunity to hear from experts such as Fraser Mustard (The Founders Network), David Dodge (Bank of Canada), Sheila Kamerman (Columbia University), Philip Merrigan (University of Quebec at Montreal), and John Godfrey (Canadian Member of Parliament), on the biological, psychological and economic importance of early childhood development. International examples of comprehensive Early Childhood Development initiatives will be presented. The conference will also allow discussions on the best ways to implement comprehensive ECD systems in Canada.
Preliminary Program
CEECD Registration Form

* Please note: Registration and payment for this seminar are made via a separate registration form (see link above) and not the SPR Annual Meeting Registration Form. The fees include Canadian federal and provincial taxes (Are you eligible for a tax rebate?).

ECPN LUNCHEON
DATE: May 26, 2004, Hilton Quebec
TIME: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
COST: $20, Registration Required. Limited to first 100 registrants

"A Historical Perspective from Voices in the Field: The Science of Prevention"

David L. Wyrick, Julia Jackson-Newsom, Steve Giles, and Breanne Hicks

A series of telephone interviews were completed with senior level prevention researchers in an effort to summarize the history of prevention science. Those interviewed were asked to share how they became involved in the field of prevention, their perspective on the key events in the history of prevention science and the Society for Prevention Research (SPR), and their suggestions for supporting and furthering the careers of early career preventionists. The senior scientists represent a diversity of backgrounds, including those employed in funding agencies, universities, and private research. The presentation will begin with a reflection on the early years of the field of prevention science. This summary will culminate into a recounting of the formation of the Society for Prevention Research and how the Early Career Preventionist Network (ECPN) came into fruition. The presentation will conclude with a discussion of the future directions for both the field of prevention and ECPN. Please take the opportunity to share in the wisdom of this esteemed group of prevention scientists.

ECPN "MEET THE SCIENTIST" DINNER
DATE: May 26, 2004
TIME: 7:15 PM - 9:15 PM
One of the many exciting opportunities that the upcoming SPR meeting affords is the chance to meet the people whose research has been meaningful in the development of our own work in the prevention field. For the past three years, ECPN has organized a series of "Meet the Scientist" dinners in response to a suggestion by the board of SPR. ECPN will once again be organizing this event at the 2004 SPR conference in Quebec City. We recognize that it is not always easy for early career folks to network with senior scientists, and hope that this event provides a helpful mechanism for doing so. Click here for the application form.

2004 NIH NEW INVESTIGATORS WORKSHOP
DATE: May 27, 2004
TIME: 7:30 AM – 8:45 AM
NO CHARGE. Tickets required (check off on Registration Form). Limited to first 100 registrants.

Chair: Aria Crump

The New Investigator’s Workshop is an opportunity for those who want to apply for NIH funds to learn about funding opportunities for research and training and the basics of the application and review processes. After a presentation on the steps to submitting an application and tips on developing a successful application, program staff from the National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism will describe current research priorities and initiatives in prevention research.

SPR AWARDS DINNER BANQUET
DATE: May 27, 2004
TIME: 7:15 PM
NO CHARGE. Tickets required (check off on Registration Form).

SPR ANNUAL MINORITY SCHOLARSHIP DANCE
Date: May 27, 2004, 9:30 PM – 12:30 AM
Dance to the music of the Mothers of Prevention featuring your favorite musicians and colleagues: Brian Bumbarger, drums and vocals, Gil Botvin, trumpet and flugelhorn, Celene Domitrovich, vocals, Jim Emshoff, electric piano and vocals, John Graham, guitar and vocals, David Hawkins, acoustic guitar and vocals, John Jimenez, lead guitar, Michael Newcomb, guitar and vocals, and Randy Swaim, bass guitar.

Tickets are $20, register on-line in advance or purchase at the conference.

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS

This program is co-sponsored by the University of South Florida College of Medicine and the Society for Prevention Research. The University of South Florida College of Medicine is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. The University of South Florida College of Medicine is offering this activity for up to 18 hours of continuing education credit. The University of South Florida College of Medicine maintains responsibility for the educational integrity of the program.

The program is being offered for 1.5 - 18 Continuing Education Credits. The conference, which is a series of plenary and symposium sessions, runs from 8:30 AM – 4:45 PM each day, Wednesday, May 26, through Friday, May 28, 2004. There are four sessions each day, which are 1.5 hours in length. The fee for 1.5 - 18 CE Credits is $100. No partial fees will be accepted. The CEC registration packages will be only available on site.

REGISTRATION RATES AND RULES

ONLINE REGISTRATION (click here) will be accessible through the midnight of Thursday, May 20, 2004! You must, however, register by April 30, 2004, to be included in the 2004 Annual Meeting Participants List.

To be eligible for member pricing, 2004 membership dues must be paid at or prior to receipt of registration. See secure membership application at https://secure.preventionresearch.org/membershipapplication.php

Please note that all quoted rates are in US Dollars. All payments should be made in US Dollars.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Registration fees, less $25 administrative fee, are refundable if requested by April 26, 2004. Refunds will be processed after the annual meeting. No refunds will be made for no-shows.

TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIPS

SPR members may be eligible for special travel scholarships, the ECPN Conference Scholarship Program, and the SPR Minority Scholarship Program, that are designed to provide support for certain member groups to attend the Annual Meetings of the Society for Prevention Research. Click on the name of the program above for selection criteria and the application form. All applications are due by Monday, April 12, 2004.

AUTHOR PRESENTATION INSTRUCTIONS

Please note that all presenting authors have to register for the conference and pay registration fees.

For oral presentation instructions click here

For poster symposia instructions click here

For poster presentation instructions click here

MEETING SCHEDULE

You can now access the SPR/COS searchable abstract database at http://ams.cos.com/cgi-bin/login?institutionId=32607&meetingId=159 . After you log on, go to Attendee Tools, then Personalized Itinerary. You can then search by abstract author, title, calendar schedule, etc.

Click here for Full Schedule in printable format.

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2004
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Registration Open
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM PreConference Workshops, CEECD Seminar

WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 2004

THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2004

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2004

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HOTEL ARRANGEMENTS

The Hilton Quebec is the host hotel for the annual meeting where the general session and concurrent sessions will be held. The evening poster sessions will be held in the adjoining Quebec City Convention Center. As of April 2, 2004 the Hilton Quebec SPR guest room block has been sold out. We have reserved a guest room block at the Loews Le Concorde, Quebec. The Lowes is a five minute walk from the Hilton and the convention center. For those of you who know Quebec City, the Lowes is the hotel with the revolving restaurant providing a superb view of the city and the St. Lawrence River.

Please call the Loews directly at 1-800-463-5256 for reservations and state you are with the Society for Prevention Research to get the special rate. Guest room rates are the same as at the Hilton: CAD $199 (approximately US $153).

If you care to check with the Hilton Quebec to see if cancellations have freed up any of the SPR room block you can call Sylvie Parent directly at 418-648-6497.

AIR TRAVEL

We have appointed Air Canada as the official airline of the 12th Annual Meeting in Quebec City on May 26-28, 2003. Simply contact Air Canada's North America toll free number at 1 800-361-7585 or local number 514-393-9494 or your travel agent and take advantage of Special Discounted Airfares. Our convention number is CV042097.

By ensuring that the convention number appears on your tickret, you will be supporting our organization. We thank you.

Canadian Customs and Tax Rebates for Non-Residents

All visitors to Canada need a valid passport. Citizens of some countries also need visas to enter Canada. It is suggested that visitors from a country other than the U.S. should ask about visa requirements at the Canadian embassy or consulate in their home countries before departing. Non-resident participants may be eligible for a rebate of taxes they pay on certain goods and services obtained in Canada. Go to http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/E/pub/tg/rc4031/rc4031-e.html to learn more. Another source of information is US Department of State's "Tips for Travelers to Canada" at http://travel.state.gov/tips_canada.html.

Each participant will receive from SPR, along with acknowledgement of registration, an official letter identifying one as attendee of the 12th SPR Annual Meeting and, as such, eligible for certain customs waivers (for conference presentation materials, for example). This letter is to be carried across the border, as suggested by the Canadian Customs and Revenue Agency.

What to Expect in Quebec City

For information on Quebec City visit the Quebec City and Area Tourism and Convention Bureau. The website includes a visitor’s guide with information on restaurants, shopping, attractions, sports and outdoor activities, and guided tours.

Attire

Suggested dress for the SPR meeting, receptions, and dinner is business casual.

No Smoking Policy

Smoking is prohibited during all sessions and in public areas of the hotel.

Accessibility

Anyone requiring special assistance in order to participate in the SPR Annual Meeting is asked to contact the SPR Administrative Office, 703-288-0801 or email jenniferlewis@preventionresearch.org.

Future Meetings

SPR's 13th Annual Meeting will be held May 25th to 27th, 2005, at Hyatt Regency Washington in Washington, DC. Click here for 2005 Call for Papers
SPR's 14th Annual Meeting will be held May 31 to June 2, 2006, at Hyatt Regency San Antonio in San Antonio, TX.

QUESTIONS

Please address questions to:

Society for Prevention Research
7531 Leesburg Pike, Suite 300
Falls Church, VA 22043
Phone: 703-288-0801
fax:703-288-0802
info@preventionresearch.org

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