Prevention Resources

CHASCo believes that assessment is absolutely essential to the decision-making process and strategic planning of any institution interested in curtailing high-risk behaviors. Therefore, CHASCo assists institutions by providing funding for members to conduct various levels of assessment.

Population-Level Assessment

The Healthy Minds Survey is an annual web-based study examining mental health, service utilization, and related issues among undergraduate and graduate students. Since its national launch in 2007, HMS has been fielded at about 300 colleges and universities with over 300,000 survey respondents. For more information about Healthy Minds, visit their website. 



CHASCo institutions have the ability to implement the Healthy Minds Survey once every three years. CHASCo requires the Substance Use Module, the Bystander Module and a set of custom questions that campuses are required to implement. Campuses also have the ability to customize 2-3 questions of their own. For more information about participating in this study, please contact the CHASCo Director. 

Member Satisfaction Assessment

Member Survey 2016

CHASCo Resources: The Drug Free Schools & Campuses Act Resources

• Diane Berty, TICUA, presented on the Drug Free Schools and Campuses Act at our November, 2017 Membership Meeting. Here is a link to her presentation. Presentation Recording 
• This Biennial Review Development Tool was created in partnership with the Partners in Prevention Coalition. It is a guide for pulling together the information that should be included in your Biennial Review. 

Additional Articles and Resources on the DFSCA

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• Inside Higher Ed: Colleges are Facing More Consequences for Non-Compliance
• The Resurgence of the Drug Free Schools & Communities Act
• The illinois Higher Education Center for Alcohol, Other Drug and Violence Prevention has a robust list of resources which can be found here. 
• 2011 Dear Colleague Letter
• The Higher Ed Center for Alcohol & Other Drug Misuse, Prevention & Recovery Hosted a Webinar on the DFSCA. Here is a link to the recording and I have included the reference materials below. 
• DFSCA Certification Template
• DFSCA Annual Notification Template
• Biennial Review Format and Content
• DSSCA Guide from HEC

National Organizations

• Jed Campus
• Jason Foundation
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• Trevor Project
• JED: Proud and Thriving

Tennessee Resources

• TN Suicide Prevention Network
• TN Strike Team for Mental Health Disaster

Materials/Programs

• State of Suicide in TN 2019
• A Friend Asks- Jason's Foundation
• The Lighthouse Project (free training on the Columbia Scale)
• It's Real: College Students Mental Health (free youtube video)
• TSPN: TN Higher Education Protocol Guidelines For Suicide Intervention & Postvention

TN State Law on Suicide Prevention in Higher Education

Public Chapter No. 455 amends Title 49, Chapter 7 of Tennessee Code Annotated to add new section, with the language included at this link:  https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/111/pub/pc0455.pdf. This new section is effective July 1, 2019.

The new section requires institutions of higher education to develop and implement a suicide prevention plan for students, faculty, and staff, and to provide the suicide prevention plan to students, faculty, and staff at least one time each semester. The language of the new section is as follows: 

(a) Each state institution of higher education shall develop and implement a suicide prevention plan for students, faculty, and staff. The plan must be developed in consultation with campus mental health professionals and suicide prevention experts. The plan must identify procedures related to suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.

(b) Each state institution of higher education may seek assistance in developing a suicide prevention plan from an organization that engages in a variety of initiatives to improve crisis services and advance suicide prevention, such as the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network or a successor organization, and may seek information from such an organization for information on the development of training programs pursuant to § 63-1-125(c)(1).

(c) Each state institution of higher education shall provide the suicide prevention plan to students, faculty, and staff at least one (1) time each semester.

In counties and communities across Tennessee, anti-drug coalitions are working to reduce dependence on harmful and potentially lethal substances such as prescription drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. It is important for our campuses to connect and collaborate with our local Coalitions. 

• Anti-Drug Coalitions in TN

The Prevention Alliance of Tennessee (PAT) is an alliance of coalitions across Tennessee who have come together to join forces on substance abuse prevention. The mission of PAT is to inform and advocate for alcohol safety, substance abuse prevention, and public health policy concerns to Tennesseans.

• Prevention Alliance of TN

The TN Association of Alcohol, Drug & Other Addiction Substances (TAADAS)'s mission is to educate, support and engage members and the public, influence policy and advocate for prevention, treatment and recovery services.

• TN General Assembly: My Bills

​You can search here for legislation introduced in the TN General Assembly.