Determinants of community coalition ability to support evidence-based programs

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Community Psychology
• Program Implementation Science

Background:

• Effective implementation of evidence-based programs (EBPs) is crucial for improving community outcomes.
• Coalitions play a vital role in facilitating EBP adoption and sustainability.
• Understanding factors that enhance coalition effectiveness is essential for successful public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how coalition functioning predicts the quality of EBP implementation.
• To identify specific aspects of coalition functioning that support high-quality EBP implementation.
• To explore the influence of community characteristics and coalition longevity on EBP support.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study of 62 Communities That Care (CTC) coalitions in Pennsylvania from 2003-2007.
• Annual data collection on coalition functioning and EBP implementation support.
• Statistical analysis to determine predictors of high-quality EBP implementation.

Main Results:

• Higher poverty rates and longer coalition existence were associated with lower support for EBP implementation.
• Key predictors of strong EBP implementation support included: increased funding, strong leadership, efficient board operations, robust internal/external relationships, and fidelity to the CTC model.
• Earlier assessments of coalition functioning (2003-2004, 2005-2006) were stronger predictors of 2007 EBP implementation than concurrent assessments.

Conclusions:

• Coalition functioning significantly impacts the successful implementation of EBPs.
• Investing in coalition capacity, leadership, and relationships is vital for enhancing EBP support.
• Technical assistance providers should consider the timing of coalition assessments and focus on strengthening core functioning for sustained EBP implementation.