Health and Science
Module 1
SLP
Ashley Howard
Coalition
Coalition is a term used for some events in the community. Coalition means the bringing together of people in one place. This could be a community or even a support group.
A coalition is a prevention tool, so groups must be specific about what needs to
be accomplished. After the needs have been determined, the group must consider if a coalition is the best approach to meet the identified needs. Groups must ask the following questions:
What are we trying to accomplish? What are our community’s strengths and needs? What are the pros and cons associated with the proposed collaboration? What are our objectives and what types of activities seem logical?
Recruit the right people
The group’s objectives will prescribe the type of coalition developed. Some
groups may choose to start small to accomplish specific tasks and then strategically
expand. Depending on the needs of the coalition, either program directors
or front-line staff should be encouraged to attend. In addition, invite community
members, youth leaders, and politicians. The size of the group matters. It
takes large groups longer to define and agree on common objectives and activities.
Yet large groups may have access to greater resources that may be required
for accomplishing certain tasks.
THE EIGHT STEPS TO EFFECTIVE COALITION BUILDING
Adopt more detailed activities and objectives suiting the needs, interests, strengths,
and diversity of the membership. A key to a successful coalition is the early identification of common goals and benefits of working together. The coalition must avoid competing
with its members for funding. An important consideration for adopting specific coalition
activities is to identify some short-term outcomes. For example, if a coalition’s objective
is to increase public knowledge about chronic disease as a preventable community
problem, a short-term...