There are limited validated quantitative assessment methods to measure features of the built and social environment that might form the basis for environmental preventive interventions. This study describes a model approach for epidemiologic assessment of suspected environmental determinants of violence, alcohol and other drug (VAOD) exposure and fills this gap in current research. The investigation sought to test the feasibility of a systematic and longitudinal assessment of residential block characteristics related to physical and social disorder and indicators of VAOD exposure. Planometric data were used to establish a stratified random sample of street segments within defined neighborhoods of an urban metropolitan area. Field rater assessments of these neighborhood street segments were conducted using the Neighborhood Inventory for Environmental Typology (NIfETy). This report provides a detailed description of the NIfETy Method, including metric properties of the NIfETy Instrument and outcomes of training procedures and quality control measures. Also presented are block-level characteristics and estimates of observable signs of VAOD activity. This work is a first step toward developing

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Families of 44 preterm infants were followed to determine if there were changes over time in the amount of stress and support they reported. Primary caregivers were interviewed in their homes at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months of age. Results indicated that there were significant changes in the amount of stress reported by parents. However, these changes were tied to specific types of child problems identified by the parent. There were no significant changes in the amount of social support parents received over time. Informal social support was significantly negatively correlated with stress at 3, 12, and 24 months. A number of factors contributed significantly to the prediction of stress; however, the particular constellation of variables changed at each age. Results are interpreted in terms of their implications for intervention.