title: From formation to action: How allies against asthma coalitions are getting the job done.
abstract: Coalitions develop in and recycle through stages. At each stage (formation, implementation, maintenance, and institutionalization), certain factors enhance coalition function, accomplishment of tasks, and progression to the next stage. The Allies Against Asthma coalitions assessed stages of development through annual member surveys, key informant interviews of 16 leaders from each site, and other evaluation tools. Results indicate all coalitions completed formation and implementation, six achieved maintenance, and five are in the institutionalization stage. Differences among coalitions can be attributed to their maturity and experience working within a coalition framework. Participants agreed that community mobilization around asthma would not have happened without coalitions. They attributed success to being responsive to community needs and developing comprehensive strategies, and they believed that partners' goals were more innovative and achievable than any institution could have created alone.
authors.affiliation: Consortium for Infant and Child Health (CINCH), Center for Pediatric Research at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Frances D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Butterfoss
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Gilmore
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Krieger
authors.forename: Laurie L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Lachance
authors.forename: Marielena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lara
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Meurer
authors.forename: Carlyn E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Orians
authors.forename: Jane W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Shyanika W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States