REACH Coalition Building Background and Resources
Coalition building is a powerful tool to create healthy, supportive communities and environments for youth. Building successful coalitions requires deliberate and intentional processes to engage a broad array of people, ideas, relationships and actions to support youth development. Coalitions that seek community ownership, mobilize diverse strengths and assets of the community, and engage in reflection and self-evaluation are more likely to sustain their efforts and outcomes.
Core elements that contribute to effective coalition functioning include:
- Shared vision
- Sound governance and decision making
- Inclusivity and participation
- Effective communication
- Facilitative leadership
- Sustainability
Coalition Building Resources
Visioning
- Extra, Extra – Read All About It Visioning Activity
- From Vision to Outcomes
- Tips for Focusing on Shared Interests
Community Building
Working Collaboratively
- Coalition Building: A Developmental Continuum
- Working In Coalition: Some Principles to Assure Effective Functioning
- Collaborative Decision-Making
- Collaboration: Concepts to Consider
- Coalition Building for Healthy Communities
- Creating a Shared Vision
- Team Building in Coalition
- Dealing with Conflict in Coalitions
- Activity: The Balloon Game
Communication
Governance and Decision Making
- Coalition Decision Making
- Ground Rules and Agreements
- Priority Setting Methods
- Coalition Ground Rules Accountability and Workload
- Member Roles and Responsibilities
- Steps in Creating a Consensus Process
- Collaborative Decision Making Methods
- Structuring Coalitions to Maximize Participation
- Priority Setting Activity: How Are We Going to Spend the Money?
Group Facilitation
- Card Storming: A Way to Think Together
- A Gifted Facilitator
- Coping with Conflict
- Making Meetings Work
- The Consensus Process or Creative Joint Problem Solving
- Stimulating Dialogue
Coalition Assessment