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Coalition-Building Toolbox
A coalition is an organization of diverse groups that join together to bring about a specific change that they would otherwise be unable to deliver as independent individuals or separate entities. For the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) community, a coalition is a network of support that may be broader than an EMSC advisory board or committee and can encompass both the formal and informal relationships of support and involvement. For EMSC projects, coalitions can serve as the foundation for improved pediatric emergency medical services no matter what the objectives may be.
Once EMSC leaders commit to coalition building and are successful in engaging enough of the right people in the right way, the collaborative result can be substantial and long-lasting. The ultimate outcomes of coalition building are that children receive better health care and those serving the coalition attain the highest dividends possible on their collective investment in EMSC.
HEALTHCARE PROVIDER RESOURCES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Reaching Out: A Guide to Effective Coalition Building. Developed by the EMSC National Resource Center, this guide focuses on coalition building as part of an EMSC project's strategic plan for growth, impact, and longevity. The guide defines coalition building, discusses desired outcomes of successful coalitions, and suggests the kinds of state, regional, and local organizations and individuals that can provide an EMSC project with beneficial linkages. Sections on creating an outreach plan, identifying assets and liabilities, and a checklist of coalition-building tips are included in the guide. The guide includes a bibliography and a model EMSC outreach plan. (2001)
- Coalition-Building Primer. Provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this document includes definitions, instructions, and additional resources for carrying out coalition-building efforts. (2007)
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Community How-To Guide. Developed by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, this guide focuses on coalition-building strategies for the purposes of promoting prevention but can be used as a generalized tool for overall coalition-building efforts. (2001)
The National Area Health Education Center Organization
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From the Ground Up: A Workbook on Coalition Building and Community Development Created through the Area Health Education Center Community Partners, this manual provides instructions for groups interested in building coalitions. The publication describes coalition building, assesses its value as a tool for empowerment, outlines principles in building community coalitions, identifies barriers and suggests techniques to overcome them, addresses multicultural issues and dealing with conflict, and shows how to take community assessments, develop action plans, and monitor and evaluate the coalition’s work.
Prevention Institute
Standford Health Promotions Resource Center
- Building and Maintaining Effective Coalitions. Developed by the Stanford University Health Promotion Resource Center, this publication highlights the various types of coalitions, offers strategies for formation and execution of coalitions, and provides suggestions for evaluation of coalition building efforts. (1990)
University of Kansas Work Group for Community Health Development
- The Community Tool Box. The Community Tool Box web site provides resources and information about coalition building, including step-by-step guidelines, examples, checklists of points to review, and training materials. (2007)
National Coalition Building Institute
- The Art of Coalition Building: A Guide for Community Leaders. Available through the National Coalition Building Institute, this publication offers information on all aspects of coalition building including how-to resources on starting a coalition, determining goals, and managing negotiations. The book also provides an extensive coalition-building checklist. (1984)
University of Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Prevention Resources
- Coalition Building.This section of the Clearinghouse’s web site offers links to resources from the Ohio State University, the University of Florida, and the Minnesota Department of Health, all focused on approaches to successful coalition building. (2007)
Turning Point Program
EXAMPLE PRACTICES
Wisconsin EMSC: Pediatric Equipment for Ambulances. For more than 10 years, Wisconsin EMSC has collaborated successfully with its state chapter of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC), the world’s oldest and largest volunteer organization for women. Its most recent collaboration focused on EMSC Performance Measure #66b, which addresses the percentage of basic life support and advanced life support patient care units in the state/territory that have the essential pediatric equipment and supplies.
On behalf of EMSC in Wisconsin, GFWC works to fund pediatric “jump kit” bags—specialized bags that put critical pediatric emergency supplies in one place—for Wisconsin’s 1,200 ambulances. Since its inception, the jump kit bags have supported 155 of Wisconsin’s 446 EMS departments (34 percent), representing more than $100,000 in donations to date. Recently, the local chapter of Kiwanis International pledged its support to the Pediatric Jump Kit for Ambulances Special Project.
Illinois EMSC: Facility Recognition. In 1995, the Illinois EMSC project convened its first task force to consider development of a facility recognition program. Broad-based support for the program came initially from the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians, the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Illinois College of Emergency Physicians, the Illinois Council of the Emergency Nurses Association, the Illinois Hospital Association, and the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council, among other organizations.
Representation from these organizations has been, and remains today, an integral part of the process. The program was created with input from a diverse EMSC work group with an overall goal “to decrease childhood morbidity and mortality by ensuring the availability of appropriately-trained personnel, along with appropriate emergency department resources and capabilities in order to effectively manage the critically ill and injured child.”
In 1998, the program was piloted and a year later statewide implementation began. Illinois’ facility recognition program addresses EMSC Performance Measure #66c, which requires the existence of a statewide, territorial, or regional standardized system that recognizes hospitals that are able to stabilize and/or manage pediatric emergencies. By garnering widespread “buy-in” for the program early on, the EMSC project was able to develop and implement its program and remain optimistic that it would be well received by those upon whom it had the most immediate impact. This collaborative approach proved essential to ensuring successful implementation of the program.
Florida EMSC: Advisory Committee. Florida’s EMSC project has a long history of support from a wide range of individuals and groups. Over the years, the project benefited from its collaborative efforts with other state agencies and organizations, including the Florida College of Emergency Physicians, Children’s Medical Services, Florida Pediatric Society, Florida Hospital Association, Florida Committee on Trauma, and many more. These partners committed themselves to making Florida a model EMSC state.
To meet that end, the Florida EMSC project and its greater coalition recognized the importance of establishing EMSC permanently in Florida. In working to achieve an ”institutionalized“ EMSC program within the state, the coalition also met the EMSC national performance measure requiring establishment of an EMSC advisory committee within the state/territory.
Through the efforts of the coalition, Florida now has a legislatively-mandated EMSC advisory committee and in-kind support from the Bureau of EMS by way of a permanent EMSC coordinator, a program specialist, and other administrative personnel, as well as the secondary benefits of greater integration within the EMS system through changes in committee structure, reporting procedures, and improved communication. In addition, the coalition is working to address a second EMSC national performance measure that requires the adoption of requirements by the state/territory for pediatric emergency education for the recertification of paramedics by working with the EMS Advisory Council Education and Legislative Committees to draft language that would require a minimum of two pediatric continuing education hours for recertification.
FAMILY AND CAREGIVER RESOURCES
EMSC National Resource Center
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Getting Started, Staying Involved: An EMSC Toolkit for Family Representatives. Developed by the EMSC National Resource Center, this toolkit is designed to assist parents and caregivers in their efforts to support the EMSC Program at the national and state levels. The guide contains information about the history of the U.S. emergency medical services system. It provides background information about the establishment, current status, and future endeavors of the EMSC Program and its Family Advisory Network. It addresses the importance of EMSC performance measures and how family representatives contribute to the success of each measure. Most importantly, this guide provides tips one everything needed to help family representatives get started and stay involved in the planning and implementation of state EMSC activities. (Available Spring 2008)
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Working with Families to Enhance Emergency Medical Services for Children. Developed by emergency care professionals and families who have experienced emergency care firsthand, this guide is intended to help state and local emergency medical services agencies, EMSC grantees, hospitals, and family advocates explore the concept of family-centered care and apply it to pediatric emergency medical services. Use it as a framework for facilitating discussion and collaboration. Practical information and tools for conducting internal family-centered assessments are also included. (2001)
Institute for Family-Centered Care. Through its web site, the Institute for Family-Centered Care provides a number of resources to support parents and caregivers on how to work in partnership with others to advance the interests of families as consumers of health care. Available materials include individual case studies and tip sheets for recruiting patients and families and for serving on task forces and other work groups. (2007)
Family Voices. Family Voices, a national grassroots network that serves children and youth with special health care needs and their families, offers a variety of tools through its web site to promote partnerships between families, health care professionals, and others. Online resources include tools for collaboration and strategies for building community support on behalf of children with special health care needs. (2007)
Pacer Center. Guided by a mission to encourage parents to help other parents better serve the needs of disabled children and their families, the Pacer Center offers guidance on how to work effectively with health care leaders and others by providing resources for collaboration and technical assistance on community building activities. (2007)
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