Coalition Building & Partnerships: Community Engagement

A Coalition is…... w Individuals and organizations coming together in a common effort for a common purpose to make more effective and efficient use of resources….Working together to influence outcomes on a specific problem... w Partnership, Collaboration, Networking, Creating An Alliance…...

Coalitions should be: w Issued Oriented w Structured w Focused to Act on Specific Goals w Committed to Recruit Members and Organizations with Diverse Talents and Resources

Coalition Recruitment : “Recruiting the Right People” w Coalition should reflect the target population that one is trying to reach. w Cultural and Ethnic Representation w Community & Faith Based Organizations w Cancer Service Provider Representation

Partnerships with: w Religious Groups w Community & Faith Based Organizations w Civic & Grass Root Organizations w Community Members w Schools/ Universities w Neighborhood Associations w Sororities/Fraternities/Fellowships w Political Leaders/Teachers/Physicians w Businesses/Health Care Community, etc..

NJCEED Statewide Coalition w 150 members statewide w Grantee agencies w Public and private groups w Serve as an advisory body w Cultural and ethnic representation w Community representation w Survivors

NJCEED’s Lead Agency Coalitions w Religious groups w Community & Faith Based Organizations w Community members w Survivors w Sororities w Fraternities w Political leaders

NJCEED Coalition Members w Physicians w Teachers w Nurses w Social Workers w Businesses w Health Agencies w Hospitals

Benefits to Coalitions

Benefits of a Coalition: w More effective & efficient delivery of programs/ Innovative Ideas w Members become involved in new and broader issues without the sole responsibility for developing solutions w Elimination of Duplication of Services w Improved Communications/ Improved Public Image w Better Needs Assessment w Consistency of information and increased availability of resources

Disadvantages to Coalitions

Disadvantages : w Turf Issues w Mistrust w Limited Resources/Diverted Resources w Not Willing To Share Resources w Some Partners may not be able to move forward without higher authority approval w Leadership Issues w Outside Pressures

Remember That a Successful Coalition Must be a “Team”

Successful Coalition Have: w A Common & Unifying Purpose w Members are actively involved in goals, objectives and activities w Clearly Defined Operating Procedures w A Clear Definition of the roles members play

Successful Coalitions Have: w The support and influence of key leaders in the community w Effective communication among members w Leadership responsibility and commitment of time from all members w Procedures for measuring its progress and how well it is meeting goals and objectives

Remember Your Purpose and Remember that you are “Helping to Save Lives”