Advocating for the Nursing Role in Program Design and Implementation

Nurses Role in Program Design and Implementation
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Nurses Role in Program Design and Implementation
Tell us about a healthcare program, within your practice. What are the costs and projected outcomes of this program?
Substance or drug abuse among young people has become a significant problem in society. That is why the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) introduced a healthcare program called Talk. They Hear You. Since I specialize in the psychology of addiction, I understand how this problem can affect young individuals adversely, such that it can be difficult to eradicate it. However, early intervention and prevention strategies can reduce substance misuse or abuse in American communities. Talk. They Hear You program constitutes prevention activities that support and educate communities to avoid the development of drug disorders. Specifically, the healthcare program is expensive to maintain since it involves providing resources to caregivers and using social media to ensure that the target population is prepared and well-informed to take the right action against underage substance abuse. The primary outcome of Talk. They Hear You is to make sure that young people are not affected by drug abuse, ensure that parents talk to their children about the adverse consequences of substance misuse, support individuals suffering from addiction, and promote addiction prevention in schools (SAMHSA, 2021). Consequently, the program equips parents and educators with appropriate skills, knowledge, and other resources necessary to initiate conversations about substance abuse. 
Who is your target population?
Talk. They Hear You aims to prevent and reduce underage substance use among young people below the age of 21 years (SAMHSA, 2021). Specifically, teenagers are vulnerable to addiction and drug abuse. Adolescence contributes to their curiosity in trying many things that adults do. That explains why the healthcare program targets these young individuals so that they do not engage in substance use at a tender age. In some cases, habits and behaviors developed during teenage affect people in their entire adulthood. However, Talk. They Hear You ensures that parents and educators can talk to young people about the dangers of substance use to ensure that they refrain from drugs, which can ruin their future. 
What is the role of the nurse in providing input for the design of this healthcare program? Can you provide examples?
Caregivers play significant roles in Talk. They Hear You. In Lars Tummers and Victor Bekkers’ article, frontline employees are called “street-level bureaucrats” (Tummers & Bekkers, 2014). These workers interact with citizens directly. In reality, nurses are parents and educators who significantly impact their communities. They hold significant responsibilities in designing Talk. They Hear You. For example, since they interact with young people in different communities, they educate them about the adverse effects of drugs use or abuse. They plan drug prevention awareness campaigns and offer resources to help young individuals refrain from using drugs, such as alcohol and cocaine. Additionally, caregivers help parents understand how they should speak with their children when it comes to substance abuse issues. In other words, these healthcare professionals are crucial when it comes to preventing addiction and helping young addicts.
What is your role as an advocate for your target population for this healthcare program? Do you have input into design decisions? How els...