8 Steps to Effective Coalition Building

1. 8 Steps to Effective Coalition Building Building and Nurturing Coalitions to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity September 11, 2008 Linda Shak, MSW

4. Time intensive Frustrating Inefficient Poorly utilized "This coalition used to be worthwhile, but now it is a waste of time." Coalitions can be... "Another meeting?I'd like to attend but I have real work to do.” But they can also be...

5. …a roadmap to achieving effectiveness and sustainability Effective coalitions allow you to... • Accomplish a broad range of goals • Broaden buy-in • Identify areas for focus • Concentrate on comprehensiveapproaches

6. “ T hese Americans are a peculiar people….If, in a local community, a citizen becomes aware of a human need that is not met, he thereupon discusses the situation with his neighbors. Suddenly a committee comes into existence. The committee thereupon begins to operate on behalf of the need and a new community function is established. It is like watching a miracle.” Alexis de Tocqueville 1840

7. Interdisciplinary Collaboration Strengthens Outcomes • Brings together diverse expertise • Combines advocacy power • Provides access to more constituencies and networks • Creates greater focus on common goals • Fosters sustainability • Appeals to many funders

8. Developing Effective Coalitions:The 8-Step Process 8. Improve through evaluation 7. Maintain coalition vitality 6. Develop a successful structure 5. Anticipate necessary resources 4. Convene the coalition 3. Devise preliminary objectives and activities 2. Recruit the right people 1.Analyze program objectives, determine whether to form a coalition

9. STEP 1 Developing Effective Coalitions A nalyze your program’s objectives and determine whether to form a coalition. • Clarify current objectives • Examine approaches which might be effective • Assess current community strengths and needs

10. Reframing the nutrition & physical activity debate ...to corporate& governmentresponsibility from simply a matter of individual choice...

11. 6 Taking Action for a Healthier California

12. 2 STEP Developing Effective Coalitions Recruit the right people. • Identify people working on the issue • Consider who has influence • Determine who will be supportive • Identify who may put obstacles in your path • Consider how many people should be involved

13. Steering Committee • California Adolescent Nutrition and Fitness Program (CANFit) • California Center for Public Health Advocacy • California Food Policy Advocates • California Pan-Ethnic Health Network • California Park and Recreation Society • California Project LEAN • California WIC Association • Child Care Food Program Roundtable • Latino Health Access • Prevention Institute • Samuels & Associates • YMCA of the East Bay www.eatbettermovemore.org NPA1002 05/04

14. Developing Networks of Service Providers Economic Dev. Group Public Health Department Social Justice Group Economic Development Group Public Health Department Social Justice Group PREVENTIONPROGRAM Youth Group Youth Group Community Leaders Local Officials Community Leaders Local Officials Individual Agencies Potential Coalition Partners

15. Community-Based Organizations Grassroots Governmental Organizations Types of Groups

16. Health & Public Health Justice & Enforcement Education Social Services Partnerships among Sectors

17. Forming Broader Partnerships to Meet Mutual Goals

18. Reasons People Join Coalitions • Accomplish something important • Passionately believe in coalition’s cause • To be up to date on an issue • Friends/colleagues see issue as important • To be involved in movement • A place to get funding • To not be left out or perceived as outside the movement

19. Coalition Members Wear 2 Hats

20. 3 STEP Developing Effective Coalitions Set preliminary objectives and activities. • Propose a variety of activities to meet members’ needs and skills • Identify short-term successes

21. The Spectrum of Prevention Influencing Policy and Legislation Changing Organizational Practices Fostering Coalitions and Networks Educating Providers Promoting Community Education Strengthening Individual Knowledge and Skills

23. 4 STEP Developing Effective Coalitions Convene the coalition... • through a meeting x through a workshop x through a conference

24. 5 STEP Developing Effective Coalitions Anticipate the necessary resources. • Clerical • Meeting planning, preparation and facilitation • Membership recruitment, orientation and encouragement • Research and data collection • Participation in activities and projects

25. 6 STEP Developing Effective Coalitions Devise a successful coalition structure. • Should coalition be ad hoc or ongoing? • How long and frequent should meetings be? • Should agencies officially join the coalition? • How will decisions be made? • How will agendas be structured? • How much will members realistically participate between meetings?

26. It Depends!

27. 6 STEP Developing Effective Coalitions Devise a successful coalition structure. • Should coalition be ad hoc or ongoing? • How long and frequent should meetings be? • Should agencies officially join the coalition? • How will decisions be made? • How will agendas be structured? • How much will members realistically participate between meetings?

28. 7 STEP Developing Effective Coalitions Maintain the coalition’s vitality. • Difficulties generally arise due to: • poor group dynamics • inadequate membership participation • ineffective coalition activities • external changes which affect the coalition’s mission

29. The Tensionof Turf

30. TURF “The conflict between organizations with seemingly common goals.” --Peck and Hague

31. Strategic Partnerships Why Do Turf Issues Arise? • Coalitions tend to be made up of passionate members • Non-coalition related issues are brought into the coalition • Conflicting agendas • Previous bad relations • Control over the coalition (identity, ideology, and strategy) • Who gets recognition and resources

32. Types of Turf Battles • Member vs. member:often unrelated to the coalition • Members vs. coalition:members compete for the same pool of resources as the coalition • Members vs. lead agency:lead agency may acquire resources at the expense of individual members

33. RECOMMENDATION The Big Picture • When turf issues arise, utilize perceived neutrality of certain members (youth, survivors) to bring the coalition back to its purpose. • Try this: If the chair senses turf issues are arising, space should be made during a meeting for a speaker who can remind the coalition of its purpose.

34. RECOMMENDATION Make Struggles Overt • Turf battles can only be addressed if members admit that they exist. Acknowledge that conflict exists and discuss potential causes. • Try this: Coalition leadership should set the tone that turf is “not a four letter word.”

35. How to Manage Turf: Tips for Coalition Leaders • Acknowledge potential turf issues. • Shape collective identity. • Secure funding. • Remind participants of the big picture.

36. 8 STEP Developing Effective Coalitions Make improvements through evaluation. • Ask for feedback • Evaluate the effectiveness of specific activities • Know when it is time to dissolve, disband, or change the structure of the coalition

37. Evaluation of Collaboratives Examines: • Effective partnerships • Collaborative achievements • How to further strengthen collaboratives

38. Now, how do you evaluate coalitions?!

39. Types of Evaluations • Impact Evaluation assesses the ultimate effect of program activity on a specific community or target group. • Outcome Evaluations assess whether the specific interventions had the intended impact. • Process Evaluations monitor and document the specific activities and interactions taken to achieve a given outcome or impact.

40. Avoid burnout… …Find ways to take care of yourself and support your co-workers.

41. “ Coalition organizers should avoid getting so caught up in any one effort as to view it as ‘make or break.’ Every effort prepares for greater and more sustained efforts in the future. ” CherieR. Brown -Author of The Art of Coalition Building

42. The Built Environment South LA Community Coalition • Shut down 200 liquor stores in 3 years • An average 27% reduction in crime within a four-block radius of each closed liquor outlet

43. Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.-Robert F. Kennedy

44. TOOLS www.preventioninstitute.org www.eatbettermovemore.org

45. Developing Effective Coalitions:The 8-Step Process 8. Improve through evaluation 7. Maintain coalition vitality 6. Develop a successful structure 5. Anticipate necessary resources 4. Convene the coalition 3. Devise preliminary objectives and activities 2. Recruit the right people 1.Analyze program objectives, determine whether to form a coalition

46. Data Concepts Funding Training Partners Key Issues Outcomes Health Education Justice Mental Health Social Services Alcohol/Drugs Business Media TOTALS Sum Remainder: Average: Sum: Product: Sum: Sum: Exponential Product: Collaboration Math

47. The Tensionof Turf

48. ENACT

49. www.preventioninstitute.org/sa/enact

50. 13 Promising Practices in Nutrition and Physical Activity ENACT Local Policy Database Will catalogue promising policies in nutrition and activity at the local level www.preventioninstitute.org/sa/policies