title: Influencing the political process through coalitions: the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health.
abstract: Building a coalition with others is an effective tool for increasing influence at the state level of the political process. It allows for the hiring of a staff who are able to maintain a constant presence in the ever-changing state political arena, which individual physicians and other caregivers simply cannot do. It allows for the development of increased sophistication among its members, which likewise increases the ability to affect the political process. It should be done with a philosophical set of standards that preserves its integrity and focuses on its goals, which must be carefully delineated from the inception. Coalitions are an effective way to deal with public issues of maternal and child health.
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002651:Child Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006293:Health Promotion; D006296:Health Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007878:Legislation as Topic; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D008824:Michigan; D011057:Politics; D014481:United States