Keri-Lyn Coleman, MSWOctober 16, 2014

Developing an Action-Oriented Coalition

Objectives

• Participants will learn what coalitions are and how they are effective• Participants will identify the key differences between a coalition and a program• Participants will learn the steps in the SPF and coalition building

Definition of Community Coalition

“A coalition is a formal agreement and collaboration between groups or sectors of a community in which each group retains its identity but all agree to work together toward a common goal of building a safe, healthy, and drug-free community.”

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)

What do Coalitions Do?

Coalitions develop and implement

comprehensive community action plans to change behaviors at

the population level

Percentage Decline in Alcohol, Tobacco, & Marijuana Use: From Grantee’s First Report to Their Most Recent Report

Difference Between a Coalition and a Program

Target and Reach Approach Responsibility

Shift from Individual to Population Level

Difference Between a Coalition and a Program: Approach

Multiple Strategies Across Multiple Sectors

Environmental Strategies

Difference Between a Coalition and a Program: Responsibility

Diffused throughout the community

Environmental Strategies

Advantages– Effective and Efficient– Immediate Results– Inherently Sustainable

Systems Model for ATOD Prevention

What Coalitions Offer

Coalitions can: Create more public recognition and visibility Create a coordinated plan, a united front, and a

consistent message Enhance clout in advocacy and resource

development Avoid duplication of services and fill gaps in

service delivery Accomplish what single members cannot

Where to Begin?

Define problem Recruit a core group of people Hold an effective meeting

– Have a Goal– Have an Agenda– Send Reminders– Invite Strategically

Common Barriers to Starting Coalitions

Community is not ready to address the problem

“Turf” issues Difficulty engaging diverse communities Lack of financial resources Few connections within the community History (organizational or community)

Common Challenges Faced by Coalition Staff

Engaging VolunteersDefining Role(s)“Shiny Objects”

Strategic Prevention Framework

Assessment

A comprehensive community assessment will help you identify:– The prevalence of the problem in your

community; – Which youth and families are most affected by the

problem; – The root causes of the problem; and – What resources and strengths your community

has to address the problem

Assessment

Steps to a Community Assessment1. Create an Assessment Team

2. Determine What Questions you Want Answered

3. Identify Sources for Data

4. Collect Data from Multiple Sources

5. Analyze Data

6. Share Information

7. Develop Plan of Action

Capacity

The ability of the coalition to make a difference over time and

across different issues

Community Representation (12 Sectors)

• Youth • Parents• Business community• Media• Schools• Youth-serving organizations• Law enforcement agencies• Religious or fraternal organizations• Civic and volunteer groups• Healthcare professionals• State, local, and/or tribal governmental agencies • Other organizations involved in reducing substance abuse

Coalition Member Recruitment

Who is directly affected by the problem(s)? Who else cares enough to want to solve the

problem(s)? Who benefits if the problem(s) is solved? What individuals or groups can resolve the

problem?

Coalition Member Recruitment

Find the right person in the organization Attend their functions, meetings, trainings, etc. Take them to lunch Ask what they need Follow Up

Effective Coalitions

Enact Formal Governance Procedures Encourage Strong Leadership Foster Active Participation of Members Cultivate Diverse Membership Promote Collaboration Among Member Agencies Facilitate Group Cohesion

Zakocs, Rhonda, Edwards, Erikia, Am J Prev Med 2006;30(4):351–361

We know the problem and we have the people.

Now what do we do?

Planning

Develop Coalition Mission and Vision Statements

Create Coalition Logic Model based on Assessment Data

Develop Coalition Goals and Objectives Choose Array of Evidence-Based Strategies

to Address each Goal

What is Effective Prevention?

Sobriety checkpoints Peer refusalSelf esteem

Server Training

Sobriety checkpointsMedia campaigns

After school programsKeg registration

Increase legal age

Social host policies

Information dissemination

Comprehensive Community Action Plan

Goal 1: Reduce alcohol and drug related deaths and other serious consequences in Broward County by 5-% in two years (FL-MEC et al)

Goal 2: Reduce underage drinking among Broward County youth by 10-% (FYSAS)

Comprehensive Community Action Plan

Goal 3: Reduce the increasing prevalence of Broward County youth reporting marijuana use by 10-% (FYSAS)

Goal 4: Reduce mental health risk among Broward County youth by 5-%. (FYSAS & YRBSS)

Comprehensive Community Action Plan

Goal 5: Build community capacity to promote community wellness (Community capacity is defined by increased funding, implementation of evidence-based interventions, applied research, and quantified impact)

Planning

When choosing strategies, think about:– Does the proposed strategy meet the identified

need?– Is there evidence that this strategy will work to

solve the identified problem?– Does your coalition have the capacity to

effectively implement the strategy?– Is the community ready to implement this

strategy?

Implementation

Develop Work Plan– Sets Timelines– Allocates Resources– Assigns Responsibilities

Follow Work Plan

Evaluation

Are we reaching our goals and objectives?

Evaluation

Coalition Process EvaluationCoalition Outcome Evaluation

Communities and Coalitions Need Information at Each Step of the Process

What are the substance use problems in our target area?– YRBSS– FYSAS– School Data– Community Data– Law Enforcement Data

What strategies and activities did the coalition implement?

How do the strategies and activities relate to the problems identified?

Were the strategies and activities implemented as planned (i.e. on-time, with identified partners, etc.)

How many people (youth and adults) did the coalition/provider reach with services?

How many people did the coalition/provider reach through media (media impressions)?

How many resources did the coalition/provider generate (cash, in-kind, volunteer hours)?

How many community actions did the coalition/provider generate?

Did the Coalition/ provider create Community Change (changes in laws/ policies)?

Did the activities lead to results?– Short– Intermediate– Long Term

Levels of Data

Program Neighborhood/ City (Provider/Coalition) County (Coalition , Multiple Coalitions and/or

Managing Entity) Region (Managing Entity) State

Who Needs the Data?

Provider and Coalition Staff Stakeholders/ Partners Community Members Funders Policy-Makers (Local, State and Federal) Researchers

Sustainability/ Maintenance

FinancialLeadership/ MembershipStructureVision, Mission, Goals, Objectives

What Are the Alternatives to Maintenance?

Growing Spinning Off Changing Focus Cutting Back Ending Staying the Way You Are

Questions?