*NEW* 2009-2010 Local Coalition Dashboard!

Click here to find the local coalition in your area

What is a Coaltion?

A coalition is a group of individuals and groups representing all sectors of the community who are working collaboratively to design and implement comprehensive, community wide substance abuse prevention strategies intended to change community norms and standards of conduct relating to substance abuse among residents. A coalition is not known so much as an individual entity but the sum of its total membership.

How Do I Start a Coalition

CDFGC is dedicated to establishing and supporting local, grassroots community anti-drug coalitions in neighborhoods across the tri-state 10-county region. Coalitions can range is geographic reach from a several block area within the city to multiple jurisdictions crossing county lines. Persons or groups interested in starting a coalition, can contact Stacy Mathis, Community Coordinator, at 513-751-8000 to complete an exploratory assessment form.

Who is a Coalition?

• Parents
• Youth
• Law Enforcement Agency
• Government
• Religious
• Business
• Medical
  
• Schools
• Senior Citizens
• Media
• Service Organizations

It's key to remember that anyone who will be affected by what happens in the community should be involved with the coalition.

Importance of Coalitions

• Build community consensus of non-use
• Support messages youth receive in individual programs
• Understand and promote community decision making, ownership and collaboration
• Substance abuse is a multi-faceted problem with many and inter-related causes, therefore no single agency or their governing boards are solely responsible for the implementation or outcome of the coalition initiatives.
• Integrates prevention into the very fabric of a community

Effectiveness of Coalitions

• Coalitions are researched based * (expand on this area)
  • Past approaches to prevention-strengths and flaws
  • Current research on effectiveness
    • Environmental Prevention
    • Integrated Theoretical Model For Alcohol and Drug Prevention
• Coalitions affect the entire social environment and are oriented toward changing community norms, values and policies
• Don’t do a program to a community, they build community around a program
• Coalitions develop a broad base of support and collaboration, they provide opportunities for widespread involvement and every one has a stake in the issues
• Coalitions result in systematic and cultural changes that are long lasting because they
  • Understand the present system
  • Plan changes in the system
  • Begin to change the system

Advantages of Coalitions

• Permits organizations to get involved in new and broader issues without taking sole responsibility
• Maximize the power of individuals and groups through joint action
• Mobilize more talents, resources and approaches to influence an issue than any single organization could achieve alone
• Recruit participants from diverse communities
• Focus on comprehensive approaches including skills, information and support

Role of Coalitions

• Build relationships within the community
• Deliver clear and consistent messages overtime across the entire community on substance abuse
• Raise awareness of substance abuse in the community
• Educate people in the community about substance abuse and show them how they could make positive
• changes in the community
• Look at challenges within the community and create a plan
• Keep the youth involved
• Role model behavior for the community
• Exploratory Assessment Form
• Start up kit - Coming Soon
• Building a Community Anti-Drug Coalition Training series (under development)
  • Introductory Training, ½ day, (What & Why a Coalition, action planning for next steps to develop a coalition)
  • Coalition–building Team Training, 2 days, 5-10 people teams