Community Mobilization for Prevention Online Guide

Overview Of Community
Mobilization for Prevention

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,

committed citizens can change the world. 

Indeed it's the only thing that ever has."

-Margaret Mead

Change is difficult, but that hasn't stopped some individuals and groups. They are learning and using strategies to reduce their children's risk of making unhealthy choices that lead to dropping out of school, abusing substances, participating in illegal behavior, and more. Concerned individuals and groups are creating the conditions that promote and support the welfare of their children and young people. They are making a difference-they are mobilizing.

If you are interested in mobilizing your community, this guide provides information, tools and resources to move you forward on your journey, whether you are just beginning or are well on your way!

The basic assumptions fundamental to this guide are:

1. Local people, equipped with current prevention knowledge and skills, are in the best position to solve local problems.
2. People support what they help create.
3. All facets of a community must be involved.
4. There is no one strategy or initiative that can create the desired conditions.
5. A comprehensive, inclusive, developmentally sound plan is needed as a foundation.
6. Accountability, assessment and evaluation are essential for success.

The mobilization process is broken into six stages: Initiating, Readiness, Assessment, Planning, Implementation, and Sustaining

For each stage:

1. The Introduction provides a brief overview and focus.
2. Stories illustrate what real communities are doing to address issues of concern.
3. Outcomes outline what successful completion of the stage will help you achieve.
4. Commentaries guide you through the stage, providing information, suggestions, tools and activities to help you along the way.
5. A Self-Check list assists you in monitoring your community's progress and efforts.

In addition, the Glossary provides definitions of key terms, as well as explanations of commonly used acronyms.

The Tool Box gives you access to all of the tools listed in the Commentaries.

Whether you are a small group of individuals trying to get started or an established group looking for a specific tool, this guide is designed to help you. Bringing a group together to make positive changes in a community is not an easy task. Your successful efforts bring us all closer to the communities we envision for our children and ourselves.

Synopsis Of The Six Stages

Of Community Mobilization

Stage 1:  Initiating

Initiating is the beginning stage in which individuals within a community come together to address a common concern.

Stage 2:  Readiness

Readiness is focused on team building and developing a shared vision. It is also focused on determining how ready the greater community is to begin prevention efforts and the capacity of the coalition to mobilize the community.

Stage 3:  Assessment

Assessment lays the groundwork for future planning, implementation and evaluation. The community gains a clear picture of current conditions, including strengths, needs, resources and program/system gaps.

Stage 4:  Planning

Planning" focuses on the development of a comprehensive prevention plan based on the level of community readiness and assessment results from Stages Two and Three. It involves selecting appropriate evidence-based strategies, programs, practices and principles; developing goals, objectives and outcomes with measurable indicators; and incorporating evaluation at every level.

Stage 5:  Implementation

Implementation moves the community into action. Resources, roles, responsibilities, training and ongoing evaluation are key components.

Stage 6:  Sustaining

Sustaining activities support long-term systemic change through the development of community resources and commitment to ongoing prevention efforts.

Outcomes for Stages 1-3

STAGE ONE:  INITIATING

Outcomes:

1. A need(s) has been identified by one or more individuals.
2. Key individuals and groups representative of the community have been identified and invited to an initial meeting.
3. Issues of common concern have been explored.
4. Characteristics of the community to be mobilized have been discussed and documented.
5. A core group of individuals has committed to continue the mobilization process.

STAGE TWO:  READINESS

Outcomes:

1. Initial group development activities have been completed and operational guidelines created.
2. Vision and mission statements have been developed and adopted.
3. An assessment of community readiness has been completed.
4. Education of the community on the need for prevention has begun.

STAGE THREE:  ASSESSMENT

Outcomes:

1. Prevention and social change theories have been reviewed, and an approach has been selected.
2. The process of defining the parameters of the community has been completed.
3. Identification, collection and organization of relevant needs assessment data have been completed.
4. Areas of priority have been determined, and have been shared with key stakeholders.
5. An inventory of current community resources has been completed.
6. Resource gaps and needs have been identified.
7. A comprehensive, user-friendly document organizing all assessment information has been completed.
8. Results of the community assessment have been shared with the community.
   
   

Outcomes for Stages 4-6

STAGE FOUR:  PLANNING

Outcomes:

1. Those involved in the development of the prevention plan have been identified and engaged.
2. Goals have been developed, and corresponding long-term outcomes have been determined.
3. Objectives have been developed, and corresponding intermediate outcomes have been determined.
4. Appropriate evidence-based strategies and specific programs, principles and practices related to priority areas have been selected.
5. Immediate outcomes for selected programs, principles and practices have been determined.
6. An evaluation plan has been developed.
7. The group has developed and committed to action plans for implementation.
8. A comprehensive, user-friendly document organizing all of the planning information has been completed.
9. The plan has been shared with the community.

STAGE FIVE:  IMPLEMENTATION

Outcomes:

1. Training related to implementation and evaluation has been provided.
2. Actions plans are being implemented, monitored and refined as needed.
3. Outcomes are being measured.
4. Implementation and evaluation results have been shared with the community.

STAGE SIX:  SUSTAINING

Outcomes:

1. Regular leadership development and group maintenance activities take place.
2. Prevention plan is reviewed and updated annually.
3. Resources needed to sustain efforts have been identified and obtained.
4. The group engages in activities that support long-term, systemic change.

Acknowledgements

While there have been many who have taught and mentored us as we have worked with community groups over the years, we would particularly like to thank the following individuals and agencies that have supported our efforts to make this guide possible.

Thank you to Margretta Bartlett, LaDonna Coy, Janette Cline, Karen Abrams, and Suzanne Hughes for consistently providing us with timely and valuable feedback for our every request - and there have been many. Thank you to Sondra Cook, Christina Pestana and the Colorado Kids Ignore Drugs Action Team for their encouragement and support. And most especially, a big thank you to all the extraordinary Colorado community groups and individuals that we have had the wonderful opportunity to work with and who have taught us so much.

Thank you also to the following organizations and agencies:

1. The Colorado Department of Human Services, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division
2. Colorado Kids Ignore Drugs
3. OMNI
4. The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention's Southwest Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies
5. The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
6. The University of Oklahoma, Southwest Prevention Center

Sincerely,

Joan Liebman and Bethany Thomas

Continue on to STAGE 1

Privacy Policy | Site Disclaimer | Site Accessibility

SAMHSA | NCADI | National Mental Health Information Center | USA.gov Page last updated: 01/07/2008