Lynn’s Communities that Care Coalition:

Building Capacity for Successful Community

Initiatives

Presented By: Laura Hillier, MPH; Rebecca Osborn MSW, MPH

September 23, 2009

Context for Training

• Review– CTC Survey 2009

• Future Directions…

A coalition is an organization of individuals representing diverse

organizations, factions, or constituencies who agree to work

together in order to achieve a common goal.

WHAT IS A COMMUNITY COALITION’S

PURPOSE?

Coalitions VARY in their PURPOSE…

• Information exchange/networking

• Addressing community crisis/need

• Coordinating existing services and resources

• Implementing of joint programs

• Outreach and/or advocacy

• Building community support for policy change

CTC Mission/Purpose

CTC 's mission is to promote a

safe, healthy, and substance abuse free environment that supports positive youth, family, and community development.

WHO SHOULD BE PART OF YOUR COALITION?

That all depends…

“The strength of a coalition is really the SUM of the capacities of

its MEMBERS. Seeking a broad representation of active members and maintaining an open door are

critical to coalition success.”-Tom Wolff

People SUPPORT What they HELP to

CREATE

Coalition:Purpose:

Members Member Roles

Recruitment & Participation

WHO needs to

be involved?

WHY should they be

involved?

HOW do you get them involved?

WHO should get them involved?

Membership Brainstorming Activity

Recruitment•Personal relationships

•Interest surveys

•Responding to a need

•Showing a benefit

•Securing a commitment

•Increasing exposure

•Offering a product

Orientation •Mission

•Logistics

•Other members

•Goals Projects

Participation: The 6 R’s•Recognition

•Respect

•Role

•Relationship

•Reward

•Results

• Working Agreements (aka “ground rules”)

• Coalition Vision/Mission

• Action Plan/Work Plan

• Engage the Community

•Dialogue Boxes

•Effective Facilitation

• Worthwhile meetings

• Celebrate!!

TOOLS to “Get the Job Done”

• Respect other ideas

• Communicate respectfully (One speaker at a time)

• No side conversations

• Take risks

• Check your assumptions

• Be willing to compromise

• Participate as fully as possible

Working AGREEMENTS

(Examples…)

Objective: What will be done?Example – To throw a fun & spooky Halloween party

ACTION Plan/WORK Plan

Action Step

How will it be

done?

Timeline

When will it be

done?

Role

Who will do

it?

Partners

Who else should be involved, informed

?

“Things to Consider”

What are the assets, resources, limitations

?

Assessment

How will you assess what has

been done?

Decorate the house

October 30th (Thursday)

Myself and my kids

Next door neighbor

Good ideas in magazines, craftiness

Feedback from guests

Engage the Community

•Insight

•Ownership & investment

•Networks

Participant Dialogue

Is there anything you’d like to say to……

Thanks for your feedback!

Your comments help support parity, inclusion, and representation in the planning process.

NCHC Staff Person(s)

Evaluators

Youth Group

Community Coordinator

City Council Members

DPH Staff

Dialogue Boxes: A Tool for Collaborative Process Evaluation1

Adapted from: Roe, et.al. (2004) Dialogue Boxes: a tool for collaborative process evaluation. Health Promotion Practice, 5, No 2. 138-150.

Effective Facilitation

• Process vs. Product• Conflict Resolution• Different strategic pathways to

desired outcomes/results

• PREPARATION•*Agenda•Minutes•Follow up•Planning

•NETWORKING & RELATIONSHIPS•“Talk time”•Introductions & connections

•ACCOMPLISHMENT

Worthwhile Meetings

Storming

NormingPerforming

Evolving/Ending

Forming

STAGES of Coalition Development

• Assess coalition at regular intervals

• Revisit mission/goals annually

• Update workplan as needed

• Future directions reviewed/modified every two years

• Be amenable to change at all levels

“CHECKING In”

CELEBRATE/MEMBER RECOGNITION

• Turf issues/competition

• Process vs. product

• Conflicts of interest

• Disputes over resource allocation

• Not adapting to changes in the environment

• Weak leadership

CHALLENGES to Collaboration

BARRIER BUSTERS

• Avoid jumping straight to solutions - Spend time on the “how” not just the “what”

• Look for allies among diverse groups

• On-going planning and evaluation of coalition processes

• Create short-term goals that allow for frequent success. Then celebrate accomplishments whenever possible

• Remember, long-term change takes time and persistence

Other Coalition PRINCIPLES to Keep in

Mind…

Silent Brainstorm: What Next?

1.Think of other skills you would like to develop as a member of CTC?

2.What other needs does coalition have related to training/support?

** Over the next year 2009-2010

Review KEY HANDOUTS

Evaluation

massachusetts centers for

The Northeast Center for Healthy Communities1 Canal Street

Lawrence, MA 01840978-688-2323 phone

978-975-7779 faxwww.nc4hc.org