Starting a Community Coalition
What is a community coalition?
Where can I find out about other coalitions in my community?
How can I start a coalition in my community?
Where can I find more information on building an effective coalition in my community?
What is a community coalition?
A community coalition is a group of community partners who work together to solve a shared problem. The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) defines a coalition as a cooperative agreement between groups or sectors of a community, in which each group retains its identity but all agree to work together toward a common goal of building a safe, healthy and drug-free community.
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Where can I find out about other coalitions in my community?
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) is the membership organization of more than 5,000 community coalitions nationwide trying to combat the problems of drugs and violence in their communities. To locate information on existing coalitions in your community contact Jennifer Zimmermann at 1-800-54-CADCA ext. 228.
If there is a coalition in your state, call them directly to see if they have a chapter in your community. State coalitions can also be located in our In Your State section.
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How can I start a coalition in my community?
Steps to building an effective coalition:
1. Decide specifically what harms from substance misuse you are trying to reduce in your community. Find out how this problem is currently being dealt with.
2. Make sure you incorporate the key components of a good coalition such as strategy, leadership, public/private partnerships, and community accountability. For more information read the Join Together booklet Lessons Learned: Strengthening Civic Infrastructure.
3. Find out what is already happening in your community. What other groups in your community are already involved? Could you get involved with existing groups? How could you work collaboratively with other groups?
4. Learn from those who have experience building coalitions in other communities.
5. Ask yourself how you will know your coalition is making a difference. How will you measure your success?
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Where can I find more information on building an effective coalition in my community?
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