Improvements in Capacity Among Community Coalitions Receiving Technical Assistance Through the Coalition Check-Up

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Community Psychology
• Organizational Development

Background:

• Community coalitions are vital for prevention delivery systems.
• Effective strategy implementation and sustainability rely on technical assistance (TA).
• Existing TA models are often resource-intensive, and many coalitions lack access.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the Coalition Check-Up (CoCU) as a low-intensity TA model.
• To assess if CoCU enhances coalition capacity over time.
• To determine the model's impact on strategic capacity development.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study using up to three years of data from 32 coalitions in PA and MO.
• Coalitions received yearly TA via the CoCU model, reviewing data and prioritizing capacity for action planning.
• Analyses examined changes in prioritized capacities from multiple baselines.

Main Results:

• Coalitions showed statistically significant improvements in prioritized capacities over time.
• Capacities selected in year 1, 2, and 3 all demonstrated significant longitudinal gains.
• The CoCU model guided strategic capacity development effectively.

Conclusions:

• Low-intensity TA, such as the CoCU model, can effectively strengthen coalition capacity.
• This approach supports strategic development, enhancing prevention initiatives.
• CoCU offers a scalable and sustainable TA solution for community coalitions.