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National Organizations & Programs

• Federal Government
  •  Model Programs listings for mental health and substance disorders (abuse and addiction), as listed by the federal agency SAMHSA (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).   
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) - this link takes you directly to the "States in Brief" map which contains a brief overview of the substance abuse and mental health issues within a single state, including the prevalence of substance use and abuse, treatment resources, mental health indicators, and SAMHSA grant funding. The site also provides much additional information by topic, grant programs, statistics, and news items.   
• Think Tanks / Research Centers
  • The Center for Science in the Public Interest , founded in the 1970's, is a Washington, D.C.-based consumer advocacy organization whose twin missions are to provide innovative research and advocacy programs in health (such as nutrition, food safety, agricultural biotechnology, alcohol, the environment, and other issues related to science and technology & integrity in science).
  • The Kaiser Family Foundation is a nonpartisan, non-profit, private operating foundation focusing on the major health care issues facing the U.S., as well as the U.S. role in global health policy. Unlike grant-making foundations, Kaiser develops and runs its own research and communications programs, sometimes in partnership with other non-profit research organizations or major media companies. (The Kaiser Family Foundation is not associated with Kaiser Permanente or Kaiser Industries.) KFF's three major areas of focus are: 1) producing research and analysis of domestic and global health policy issues; 2) operating a large-scale health news and information service on the web; and 3) developing and running public health information campaigns in the U.S. and around the world.  
  • State Health Facts: 
• National Associations / Advocacy
  • JoinTogether.org . Since 1991, JoinTogether has supported community-based efforts to advance effective alcohol and drug policy, treatment, and prevention. The online resources include news, policy, and research summaries and archives, online support for community initiatives, and the database is searchable by state. In May 2009, JoinTogether will merge with the National Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.
  • The National Health Council: The mission of the NHC is to provide a united voice for people with chronic diseases and disabilities and their family caregivers. We envision a world in which all people receive health care that meets their personal needs and goals. We strive to enact meaningful health care reform legislation that will Put Patients First.
  • Americans for Stable Quality Care: their website outlines the favorable potential outcomes of healthcare reform in the U.S.  
  • Community Food Security Coalition: The Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC) is a North American coalition of diverse people and organizations working from the local to international levels to build community food security.
  • Slow Food USA: Slow Food USA seeks to create dramatic and lasting change in the food system. We reconnect Americans with the people, traditions, plants, animals, fertile soils and waters that produce our food. We seek to inspire a transformation in food policy, production practices and market forces so that they ensure equity, sustainability and pleasure in the food we eat.
• Other
  •  The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.  The mission of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is to improve the health and healthcare of all Americans. In 2007, RWJF awarded approximately $480 million in grants that fell within seven program areas.

Research Reports / Policy Analysis

• Teen Pregnancy Prevention. The latest reports from The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy provides an overview of curriculum-based programs that are working to prevent teen pregnancy. 
• Publications by Families USA on topics ranging from children's health to medicare. There are reports with global, national, and statewide scopes of interest. 

• Health Affairs: The Policy Journal of the Health Sphere: A bi-monthly, peer-reviewed journaln that explores health policy issues of current concern. The website has a comprehensive listing of Topic Collections with archives since 1981.  

Statistical Data

Funding Opportunities

•  See www.samhsa.gov (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) for federal grant opportunities which support efforts in the fields of substance abuse and mental health services.
• See the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (www.rwjf.org) for grant opportunities in a wide range of program areas having to do with healthy communities.

Miscellaneous

•  The Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (a well-known model of its kind) hosted webinar on "Building New Farm Incubation Programs" -- included nationally-known leaders in the field and representatives from all 50 states and other countries as well.