Presentation developed for the Sustainability Task Force of IMPACT Grand Prairie, a community coalition formed to prevent and reduce youth substance abuse.

1. Sustainability
Self-A ssessm ent
Sarah Pahl, LMSW
Drug Prevention Resources, Inc.
Drug Prevention Resources, Inc.

2. Coalitions 101
• Coalition defined: “a voluntary strategic
alliance…to enhance [our ability] to achieve a
common purpose by sharing risks, responsibilities,
resources, and rewards.” (Himmelman)
• Difference between coalitions and programs:
Coalitions Programs
Scale: Coalitions measure success by Programs measure change in individuals
examining community-level indicators. who have been directly affected by the
intervention.
Address multiple causes: Coalitions Programs focus on single strategies, e.g.,
seek to ensure that all causes are parenting classes or peer mentoring.
addressed.
Actors: Coalition activities are diffused Program staff lead the process and are
and taken by all members with staff responsible for implementing
playing a coordinating or supporting role. interventions.
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3. Strategic Prevention Fram ew ork
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4. Sustainability
• Purpose: Learn about the key elements of
sustainability and identify which elements need to be
sustained for IMPACT Grand Prairie to continue.
• Outcomes:
– Describe why sustainability is important
– Assess the key elements of sustaining a coalition
– Identify which aspects of sustainability to plan for
Drug Prevention Resources, Inc.

5. Sustainability
• Sustainability defined: “The ability to maintain the
human, social and material resources to achieve
your coalition’s long-term goals.”
• Six Steps to Foster Coalition Sustainability:
– Identify what must be sustained
– Identify what resources are required
– Create case statements
– Determine funding strategies
– Identify potential partners
– Develop an Action Plan
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6. Step 1: Identify W hat M ust Be Sustained
• The coalition must sustain its “internal vitality” – the
extent to which the coalition can:
– Sustain the efforts of members and partners toward the
larger goals of the coalition
– Maintain a functional base of operations by supporting core
support roles and administrative resources
– Build key elements of coalition sustainability
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7. E lem ents of Sustainability
• Leaders take responsibility for their coalition’s
success
• Involvement of community leaders, partner
organizations, and community members
• Diversified funding from the start
• Solid infrastructure
• A clear focus on the coalition’s goals
• Address problems the community cares about &
demonstrates results
• Comprehensive coalition planning
• Ability to adapt to changing community needs
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8. 1: Leadership
Leaders w ho take responsibility for their coalition’s success
• Collaborative Leadership:
– Focus the coalition on the goal
– Build champions/partners in the community
– Promote collaborative decision making, planning, etc.
– Diversify, motivate & energize the volunteer base
– Help resolve member conflicts
– Communicate with the community
– Cultivate leadership in coalition members
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9. 1: Leadership
Leaders w ho take responsibility for their coalition’s success
• Cultivating Leadership:
– Identify leadership strengths and preferred roles
– Create multiple leadership roles
– Plan for succession
– Provide training
– Conduct leadership retreats
– Create mentoring opportunities
– Develop a youth leadership program
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10. 1: Leadership
Leaders w ho take responsibility for their coalition’s success
• Community “Champions”
– Different from positional leaders
– Have a close relationship with the coalition and/or
programs/strategies
– Understand the benefits of the coalition
– Can help with strategies and/or overcome barriers
– Can influence others in the community
– Can communicate to a broad audience
– Will be furious if the coalition does not succeed
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11. 1: Leadership
Leaders w ho take responsibility for their coalition’s success
• “Leader” vs. “Champion”
• What types of leaders do we have in the coalition?
• What roles do these leaders play?
• Coalition Leadership Functions Worksheet
• Self-Assessment
Drug Prevention Resources, Inc.

12. 2: Involvem ent
Involvem ent of com m unity leaders, partner organizations and com m unity m em bers
• Initiatives & Coalitions
– What other efforts address substance abuse and related
health issues?
– What other organizations have similar goals, objectives
and/or strategies?
– Who might oppose the effort?
• Community Initiatives worksheet
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13. 2: Involvem ent
Involvem ent of com m unity leaders, partner organizations and com m unity m em bers
• Community Sectors
– Youth — Youth serving organizations
– Parents — Religious/fraternal organizations
– Businesses — Civic/volunteer groups
– Media — Healthcare professionals
– Schools — Law enforcement
– Government — Others addressing substance abuse
• Community Sector Worksheet
• Member Recruitment worksheet
Drug Prevention Resources, Inc.

14. 2: Involvem ent
Involvem ent of com m unity leaders, partner organizations and com m unity m em bers
• Coalition Needs
– Consider the abilities, skills, knowledge and other resources
the coalition needs to work effectively.
– Identify which are needed for your coalition’s effort.
– Determine which are not currently possessed by your
coalition.
• Coalition Resources worksheet
• Self-Assessment
Drug Prevention Resources, Inc.

15. 3: D iversification
D iversified funding from the start
• Diversified funding plan includes
– Developing a long-term budget (5 year)
– Identifying and pursuing diversified funding sources:
• Local fund raising activities
• Grant writing
• Professional fund development activities
• Organizational budgets
• Fee for services
• For-profit activities
– Share, Ask, Charge, Earn
• Self-Assessment
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16. 4: Infrastructure
Solid Infrastructure
• Clear roles and organizational structure
– Identify roles and responsibilities
– Create written “job descriptions” for all roles created by the
coalition
– Get members’ agreement on the expectations for active
membership
– Establish the objectives and authority of each
committee/workgroup
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17. 4: Infrastructure
Solid Infrastructure
• Communication with coalition members
– Holding meetings regularly
– Using an agenda – distribute early
– Keeping the meeting on track/keep minutes
– Agreeing upon decision making process
– Using e-mail lists, online groups, blogs, etc.
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18. 4: Infrastructure
Solid Infrastructure
• Communication with the community
– Identify “key” audiences
– Target communications to each audience
– Use a variety of communication techniques
• One-on-one meetings or phone calls
• Blogs or myspace/facebook page
• Articles in local newspaper
• Paper and e-newsletters
– LISTEN to the community
• Targeted Communications worksheet
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19. 4: Infrastructure
Solid Infrastructure
• Fiscal and legal considerations
– Fiscal accounting
– 501(c)(3) status
– Insurance/liability coverage
– Fiscal agent?
– “In house” operations?
• Self-Assessment
Drug Prevention Resources, Inc.

20. 5: G oals
A clear focus on the coalition’s goals
• Vision
• Mission
• Specific goals and objectives
• Considerations
• Potential interference
• Self-Assessment
Drug Prevention Resources, Inc.

21. 6: Com m unity
A ddress problem s the com m unity cares about and dem onstrate results
• Inform the community about substance abuse
problems.
• Find out what problems the community cares about.
• Communicate what is being done about the
problem by the coalition and its partners.
• Demonstrate results/outcomes from coalition
and partner efforts.
• Brainstorming worksheet
• Self Assessment
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22. 7: Planning
Com prehensive coalition planning
• Planning priorities include:
– Short-term funding and resources
– Communications/marketing
– Evaluation and data collection
– Training and technical assistance
– Fund raising
– Administration and operations
– Program/strategy implementation
– Strategic planning process
• Self-Assessment
Drug Prevention Resources, Inc.

23. 8: A dapt
A bility to adapt to changing com m unity needs
• Adaptation tasks:
– Stay current with changing community needs
– Modify strategies and procedures (as needed)
– View the community as a living entity that changes regularly
– Form effective partnerships
– Provide training/coaching to members
– Strive to become and maintain cultural competence
– Arrange for technical assistance
– Be prepared to respond potential barriers
• Self-Assessment
Drug Prevention Resources, Inc.

24. Prioritize!
• Review Coalition Sustainability Checklist
– Prioritize! What elements need to be addressed first?
• Compile prioritized short list of elements to be
sustained
Drug Prevention Resources, Inc.