Enhancing the Capacity of Substance Abuse Prevention Coalitions Through Training and Technical Assistance

Abstract

Community capacity may be enhanced through intermediary supports that provide training and technical assistance (TA). This study used a randomized pre/posttest design to assess the impact of training and TA on coalition capacity. Seven community coalitions from the Midwest participated in the 2-year study, which included 36 hours of training, followed by monthly TA calls to support action planning implementation for prioritized processes. Collaborative processes most commonly identified as high-need areas for TA were Developing Organizational Structure, Documenting Progress, Making Outcomes Matter, and Sustaining the Work. Based on a coalition survey, the average change for processes prioritized through TA across all seven coalitions was .27 (SD = .29), while the average change for non-prioritized processes was .09 (SD = .20) (t(6) = 4.86, p = .003, d = 1.84). The findings from this study suggest that TA can increase coalition capacity for implementing collaborative processes using a participatory approach.

Improving community readiness for change through coalition capacity building: Evidence from a multisite intervention

“…The training and technical assistance component supported enhanced coalition capacity, which is consistent with previous studies (Nargiso et al., ; Riggs et al., ; Schultz, Pandya, Sims, Jones, & Fischer, ; Watson‐Thompson et al., ). The association between overall community readiness and facilitated community changes suggests that the coalition and community partners increased their capacity to support program, policy, and practice changes.…”

“…In recent years, federal, state, and local agencies have sought to understand how to enhance coalition capacity and effectiveness in bringing about change and improvements in underage drinking (Chervin et al, 2005;Keene Woods, Watson-Thompson, Schober, Markt, & Fawcett, 2014;Orwin, Stein-Seroussi, Edwards, Landy, & Flewelling, 2014; Watson-Thompson, Keene Woods, Schober, & Schultz, 2013;Williams et al, 2012). Capacity building is the process of enhancing a coalition's collective skills, capabilities, and resources to facilitate changes related to a prioritized problem or goal over time and across contexts (Watson- Thompson et al, 2013). Coalition capacity is one indicator of how well coalitions are equipped to facilitate environmental changes related to improving targeted behaviors.…”

“…Building coalition capacity results in community changes, or new programs, policies, and practices that systematically modify the environment in which underage drinking occurs (Watson- Thompson et al, 2013;Zakocs & Edwards, 2006).…”

“…Coalition capacity is one indicator of how well coalitions are equipped to facilitate environmental changes related to improving targeted behaviors. Building coalition capacity results in community changes, or new programs, policies, and practices that systematically modify the environment in which underage drinking occurs (Watson‐Thompson et al., ; Zakocs & Edwards, ).…”

Parenting and Children's Resilience in Military Families

“…TA is an important component of dissemination and implementation approaches to improve community capacity and enhance outcomes (Perkins et al, 2011 ;Watson-Thompson, Woods, Schober, & Schultz, 2013 ). The Clearinghouse provides TA via live chat, email, and toll-free telephone access.…”