Make sure team members have the information they need. To make informed decisions, team members must have a basic understanding of the prevention literature. Present the information in writing and face to face, leaving plenty of time for questions and discussion.

Keep discussions grounded in the research. Your diverse partners are likely to have many different perspectives on, and experiences with, each of the key prevention strategies. Encourage members to share their experiences with one another, but remind them (as needed) that program planning and assessment must be grounded in sound theory and empirical research.

Don't rush! Devote as much time as you need to ensuring that everyone on your planning team has a complete understanding of the research and an opportunity to share their perspectives with one another.