Capacity Building FAQ

Community engagement can be difficult. Most coalition leaders would tell you that there have been 2-3 sectors that have proven to be more difficult to bring to the coalition table. Which are those? Well…that is difficult to answer because it is likely different for every coalition and every community. One coalition leader may tell you they struggle to engage a particular sector while another may have two or three representatives in their group. The fact of the matter is that each community is different, and you will need to determine which sectors to focus on and then consider the following:

Connect the interests or work of the sector with the issue the coalition is working on. If you are struggling to engage parents in a primary prevention coalition, connecting the coalition work to the overall health of youth in the community may be a point of interest. What is it that parents want for their children, and how is the issue of preventing youth substance use important?
Attempt to connect with a new contact related to the target sector. For instance, if you have been inviting the police chief to attend your meetings and he does not seem interested, is there someone at the Sheriff’s Department who may want to attend? Remember that department leaders may not have ability to participate, but could they send a deputy or other staff? The same is true for other sectors. It is usually about finding out who could champion the cause with a particular sector.
Understand there may competing priorities, specific barriers, or other reasons for non-participation. People are busy, and responsibilities get prioritized. Try not to get frustrated if particular sector representatives do not show up to meetings. Are they able to be helpful in other ways? Do they offer meeting space when you need it or forward out event flyers to their contacts? Do they show up for events? Sometimes people cannot make the meetings work, but if they are engaged in other ways…count that as a win. Use personalized outreach
Use personalized outreach and relationship-building rather than mass communication. This is critical. Think of this in terms of group dynamics. If a mass email is sent, people are less likely to feel a personal connection to the invitation. If you really want someone to participate, it may take some time to get them there. Taking the time to build relationships can be a long process, but it is more likely to lead to successful engagement.
Highlight coalition successes and the value their participation can bring to community outcomes. Everyone wants to feel like they are a part of something valuable. Make sure to help your members and potential members feel like their efforts will help lead to positive community change. Celebrate your coalition’s successes. Share that widely with members and the community. Success often leads to even more engagement.

Capacity Building FAQ

Answers to the questions coalition leaders ask most often.

Frequently Asked Questions

Capacity Building FAQ

Answers to the questions coalition leaders ask most often.

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

How do we start a coalition?

How do I know if I am qualified to launch this effort?

Building Your Coalition

How do I get people in my community to join our coalition?

How do we engage sectors who have been non-responsive?

Why do I need so many different people involved?

Keeping Members Engaged

How do I identify what people in each sector are interested in doing?

How do we keep coalition members engaged once they join us?

Leading Change

How do I get people to care?

How do I invite people to participate without making them feel threatened by new initiatives?

Managing Coalitions

How do we move someone from being an observer to being an active participant?

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