Sustaining Comprehensive Community Initiatives

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Sustaining Comprehensive Community Initiatives

• A Sustainability Framework to Promote Healthy and
  Safe Communities.

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Tool 1 Vision for Coalitions

• The coalition should have a clear-cut objective
  that articulates how its programs or activities
  will improve the lives of families and
  communities.
• Develop a mission statement for the coalition
  with input from members.
• Use the mission statement on published
  materials, agendas, meeting announcement and all
  media materials, etc.

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Tool 1 Vision for Coalitions

• Sample Mission Statement
• San Antonio Traffic Jam Coalition
• To reduce fatalities and injuries attributed to
  automobile crashes by altering the publics
  behavior and perception through education and
  thus saving human lives and economic loss and
  thereby creating a safer community for all.

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Tool 2 Key Champions

• Key champions can recruit other leaders to invest
  time and resources.
• Examples key business leaders, faith-based
  agencies, government and others committed to a
  programs vision.
• Select key champions based on the audience that
  the initiative is attempting to reach and develop
  an outreach plan.

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Tool 2 Key Champions

• Research backgrounds and interest of high profile
  community leaders to find the hook that will
  get them involved.
• Example Texas Denton Family Resource Center
  started coalition and programs by creating the
  Infant Mortality Task Force to address the high
  infant mortality rate.

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Tool 3 Broad Community Support

• Engage stakeholders in the planning,
  implementation and evaluation of program
  activities.
• Work in partnership with other community
  organizations that serve the same population.
• Develop leadership skills among parents and other
  stakeholders who can advocate for policies and
  services.

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Tool 3 Broad Community Support

• Model Injury Prevention Coalition of North
  Texas
• Strong collaboration with other groups is a
  coalition asset.
• Groups consist of North Texas Regional Advisory
  Council, Wichita County Medical Alliance,
  Sheppard AFB Safety and Family Advocacy Offices,
  Rural TDH Nurses, MADD Chapter, North Texas
  Emergency Nurses Association etc.

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Tool 4 Strong Internal Systems

• Create a written guide on coalition policies and
  procedures that documents vision/ mission and key
  policies and operations Needed for nonprofit
  status.
• A leadership succession plan should be created.
  Coalitions can form working teams with a
  facilitator, president, vice-president structure,
  or coordinator, note taker format.

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Tool 4 Strong Internal Systems

• Use regularly scheduled meetings with coalition
  leaders to alert any impending financial or
  administrative problems and seek recommendations
  for improvement.
• Use data to provide information to refine program
  activities. This requires regularly monitoring
  and making adjustments to strengthen program
  activities.
• Create a communication plan.

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Tool 5 Justify the Need

• Identify key data sources from the ACTS, from
  hospitals, the Trauma Registry, from local police
  and transportation organizations, and others
• Display the data in an easy-to-read format to
  clarify your injury challenges. Data get
  peoples attention.

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Tool 5 Justify the Need

• Share data about needs and results with the
  community and funders. Develop channels of
  communication such as publishing newsletters,
  submitting stories to local newspapers.
• Texas example San Antonio Traffic Jam coalition
  receives free advertising to promote public
  information and education programs. News
  releases are submitted and printed.

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Tool 6 Strategic Financing Orientation

• Purpose Enables program leaders to identify the
  resources they need to sustain their activities
  and develop a plan to bring these resources
  together.
• Consider a range of financing options (monetary
  and in-kind)
• In-kind examples may include volunteer staff,
  donated equipment and technical support, space,
• Maximize available funding sources (public and
  private sectors)

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Tool 6 Strategic Financing Orientation

• Develop a business plan for the coalition.
• Components include Vision, mission and goals,
  leadership, community support, internal
  structure, demonstration of the need, strategies
  for addressing the need, budget for coalition
  operation (personnel, office, programming,
  evaluation), financing strategies, and a
  communication and marketing plan.
• Business plan could be shared with coalition as
  part of the treasurers report and potential
  funders.

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Tool 7 Adaptability to Changing Conditions

• Successful coalitions should anticipate and
  respond to new opportunities as the world is
  constantly changing.
• Stay informed of current research and data.
• Join other groups that focus on families and
  communities.
• Use list servs that disseminate up-to-date
  information.
• Research new funding opportunities (review grant
  alerts and research community foundations)

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Tool 8 The Sustainability Plan

• Finalize the Business Plan.
• Identify funding resources, key champions and
  other organizations with a common interest.
  Include employers.
• Search for other funding opportunities and
  identify a grant writer.
• Present the Business Plan to key funding sources.

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Tool 8 The Sustainability Plan

• Example Denton Family Resource Center
• Over 70 organizations belong to the coalition.
  Work teams have been formed to create peer
  relationships. Facilitator of team coordinates
  activities.
• Snapshot of accomplishments are used to
  promote coalition and recruit members.

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Tool 8 The Sustainability Plan

• Recommendation
• Work with local officials to establish a 5.00
  surcharge on traffic citations. This funding can
  be used to establish a permanent revenue for
  injury prevention programs. Coalitions apply for
  funding and implement programs based on their
  data.

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Network of Employers for Traffic Safety NETS

• Partner with local employers and get them
  involved in traffic safety solutions.
• NETS is the most effective way of reaching the
  21-34 year olds (overrepresented in traffic
  crashes).
• Workplace programs and campaigns are easy to
  implement.
• Employers can help increase the safety belt use
  and reduce alcohol-related injuries statewide.

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Network of Employers for Traffic Safety NETS

• Identify a coalition member(s) to meet with
  employers and explain the traffic crash problem.
  Use local data to demonstrate. Prepare handouts
  and materials.
• Identify a leader at each business and conduct
  training for employees. Ask leader to distribute
  traffic safety materials and facilitate traffic
  safety campaigns (set belt use surveys,
  mobilization). Create incentive programs for
  safety belt use.

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Network of Employers for Traffic Safety NETS

• Model Injury Prevention Coalition of North
  Texas
• Work with local employers to provide
  presentations on safety (safe communities, water
  safety, summer safety, child passenger safety)
• Distribute handouts to employers as resources.