This guide is designed to serve organizations and individuals working with youth on issues of alcohol and other drug (AOD) prevention. Chapter 1 examines why coalitions are needed, characteristics of prevention, misconceptions about alcohol and other drug use, community systems and alcohol and other drug use, definitions of coalitions and networks, and the power of youth involvement. Chapter 2 discusses developmental stages, a model for growth and development, theory and research, program strategies, giving information, building life skills, training influential people, providing healthy alternatives, early intervention, program models, influencing public policy, and creating environmental protection. Chapter 3 addresses the question of when a needs assessment should be conducted, how needs are assessed, what to do with needs assessment results, a needs assessment framework for youth prevention program development, and interactions among systems and larger systems factors. Chapter 4 explains what coalitions are and how they work, how coalitions begin, possible functions of coalitions, how coalitions are structured, possible pitfalls of coalitions, and how to make a coalition work. Chapters 5 and 6 deal with program planning and management, and evaluation, respectively. Finally, chapter 7 examines the issue of raising money. Included in this chapter is a discussion of proposal preparation, writing the proposal, and follow-up. (LLL)