March 4, 2025
Dear Society for Prevention Research Members and Colleagues,
On behalf of the SPR Board of Directors, we want to take this opportunity to reaffirm our mission, vision, and values. The Society for Prevention Research (SPR) is dedicated to advancing scientific investigation about how to prevent negative outcomes and foster well-being for individuals, families, and communities.
We want to acknowledge recent executive orders that impact higher education and scientific research. Information seems to come quickly, and it can be challenging to wade through what we know and what it means for scientific infrastructure in general and for prevention scientists specifically.
One thing we can do as prevention scientists is to continue conducting and applying innovative prevention science research. Our work is critical to illustrating the impact that federal funding has on society and the potential loss if we are not able to continue to do this work. Our commitment to rigorous solutions-oriented research is our greatest strength in this moment.
In line with SPR’s mission, vision, and values, we encourage you to join us in our continued commitment to using science to create, test, and disseminate interventions that foster equitable health and well-being for all people. Our 2024-2028 Strategic Plan will continue to guide our efforts in this regard. Specifically, over the next year, we commit to:
- Providing multiple forums – including the annual conference, regular webinars, and the Prevention Science journal – for exchanging information on the latest prevention science research and its implications for the health and well-being of all people.
- Engaging in efforts aimed at translating prevention science for use in diverse settings.
- Advocating for funding and infrastructure necessary for high quality prevention science research and effective practice.
As part of the SPR community, you can support us by:
- Registering for the SPR conference and submitting your research to Prevention Science
- Sharing your ideas for how SPR can support the prevention science community by submitting them confidentially through this form or emailing them to our Executive Director, Jennifer Lewis at jenniferlewis@preventionresearch.org
- Engaging in continued efforts to advocate with local, state, and federal officials for prevention funding and infrastructure
- For example, see resources provided by National Prevention Science Coalition to communicate to elected officials regarding NIH-funded research.
In closing, we want to assure our SPR members and colleagues that we remain deeply committed to advancing prevention science for a just and healthy world and it is only together that we can achieve these goals.
Thank you,
Brittany Cooper, PhD
SPR President
Phillip Graham, DrPH, MPH
SPR President Elect