Measuring Dimensions of Coalition Functioning for Effective and Participatory Community Practice

Area of Science:

• Social Work
• Community Psychology
• Program Evaluation

Background:

• Social Work has a history of community practice, but models remain understudied.
• Psychometrically sound measures are needed for evaluating community practice.
• Communities That Care (CTC) is a coalition-based model effective in community transformation and reducing youth problem behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish psychometrically sound measures for evaluating community practice.
• To confirm a four-dimensional model of coalition functioning within the CTC intervention.
• To test the validity and invariance of the coalition functioning model across time.

Main Methods:

• Data collected from coalition members in 12 communities during the CTC intervention.
• Factor analysis used to confirm a four-dimensional model of coalition functioning.
• Invariance testing across time and correlation with external observer ratings used for validity.

Main Results:

• A four-dimensional model of coalition functioning (goal-directedness, efficiency, participation opportunities, cohesion) was confirmed.
• The four dimensions were found to be invariant across different phases of intervention implementation.
• Initial validity testing showed correlations between member and observer ratings.

Conclusions:

• The validated four-dimensional model provides a reliable tool for assessing coalition functioning in community practice.
• This model is essential for rigorous evaluation of coalition-based interventions like CTC.
• Further research should continue to refine and validate measures for community practice.