Submission Deadline: Extended to Monday, May 21, 2007

The Department of Education invites presentation proposals with specific emphasis on effective strategies and comprehensive programming.

If you plan to submit a proposal, please keep in mind…

We will review no more than two proposals per lead presenter, and we are unable to accept faxed submissions.

We will not consider proposals where it appears that the focus of the session is primarily on promoting a specific commercial product. This policy does not preclude inclusion of sessions in which presenters discuss specific products and other resources. Indeed, one of the benefits of bringing together so many experts is to provide participants with an opportunity to share a wide range of knowledge and experiences.

In our view, there is a significant difference between sharing information and promoting a product. Therefore, for instance, a proposal from someone who has written a book will be considered as long as the purpose of the presentation is to share the research described in the book. The fact that the book is for sale is incidental. Likewise, a proposal to present a session that focuses on the benefits and drawbacks of using online programs generally will be considered even if it is likely, or even certain, that the presenters will share information about a number of commercial products. These examples are distinct from a session where the focus is on a single commercial product and how that product can enhance a school’s performance and results. Proposals for such sessions will not be considered.

The Program Subcommittee is accepting presentation proposals for the U.S. Department of Education's 21st Annual National Meeting On Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention. The theme is Harvesting Ideas for Safe and Healthy Campuses: Effective Strategies Built on Research and Practice. The subcommittee is considering proposals primarily for workshops and poster sessions and will consider all proposals that address the four review criteria indicated below. For both poster and workshop sessions, students are encouraged to submit proposals for the subcommittee’s consideration.

• Poster (90 minutes): Poster sessions illustrate prevention principles in research and practice. This visual and interactive format focuses on specific programs or recent findings. Presenters illustrate their findings by displaying charts, photographs, diagrams, and limited text on poster boards, and hold discussions with attendees who circulate among the poster boards.
• Workshop (90 minutes): This is an opportunity for the presenter(s) to describe demonstrated or potentially effective strategies, programs, theories, models, and/or concepts. A workshop also may emphasize skill building by conveying practical, hands-on knowledge of a specific and focused prevention technique or approach.

Potential presenters are encouraged to develop their abstract offline before using the online submission form to cut-and-paste into the fields provided. Use regular case type, avoid acronyms unless initially spelled out, and exclude punctuation within degrees (e.g., PhD). Use the spell check and word count feature of your word processing software to check the text of the abstract before submitting your proposal, as it becomes the basis for the National Meeting program book, if accepted. A complete proposal consists of these six elements:

1. Presenter contact data.
2. Presentation Title. Please do not begin session titles with "The" or end titles with a period.
3. Summary description of the presentation ready for printing in the final program (maximum of 100 words)
4. Narrative response to review criteria, including consistency with conference theme; theoretical basis or context; replicability and adaptability across settings; evidence of lessons learned.
5. Cite any recent conference presentations you conducted that are similar to this proposal.
6. Biographical sketch for each presenter (maximum of 50 words each). Please note that a co-presenter is someone who will register for the National Meeting and be present to share in on-site delivery of the presentation (i.e., not merely a co-author).

Note: Expect e-mail notice of acceptance by approximately June 18, 2007. Each presenter must register for the conference no later than July 27, 2007, and is responsible for paying registration fees and applicable travel and lodging expenses.

Audio-visual equipment and handouts. Overhead projectors with screens and newsprint, markers, and easels will be made available to workshop presenters as requested in the presentation proposal. LCD projectors, audio recorders, and/or VCRs/monitors will be presenters' responsibility to furnish or rent. Please plan to provide at least 50 sets of professional-quality handouts for attendees.

Please be flexible. Although you are asked to indicate your preferred presentation format (workshop, poster, either), the Program Subcommittee reserves the right to recommend final session assignment and format determinations to the U.S. Department of Education. The subcommittee may consolidate proposals to include as many quality offerings as possible. The Program Subcommittee reads, ranks, and discusses each proposal with the aim of being inclusive, expanding opportunities for quality presentations, achieving balance, and striving to make the National Meeting as effective as possible in advancing prevention practice.

Review criteria: Consistency with conference theme; theoretical basis or context; replicability and adaptability across settings; evidence of lessons learned.

An * indicates a required entry