Addressing disparities through coalition building: Alabama REACH 2010 lessons learned.
Community-based coalitions have become accepted vehicles for addressing complex health problems. Few articles have described the challenges and lessons learned from such a process. The purpose of this paper is two-fold: 1) to describe the processes involved in building and maintaining the REACH 2010 Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Coalition (ABCCCC) and 2) to highlight the lessons learned from this venture. Principles from community-based participatory research were used 1) to establish and maintain the ABCCCC, 2) to build coalition capacity, and 3) to develop breast and cervical cancer interventions. Over 95% of our coalition has been maintained over a 7-year period. The ABCCCC received a total of 17 breast and cervical cancer mini-grants. Adherence to ground rules such as exhibiting respect and trust and practicing open communication helped to solidify our partnership. Lessons learned from the ABCCCC can provide others with an in-depth exploration of the processes involved in coalition formation and maintenance.
Wynn
Theresa Ann
TA
Division of Preventive Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, USA. twynn@uab.edu
Johnson
Rhoda E
RE
Fouad
Mona
M
Holt
Cheryl
C
Scarinci
Isabel
I
Nagy
Christine
C
Partridge
Edward
E
Dignan
Mark B
MB
Person
Sharina
S
Parham
Groesbeck
G
D000407:Alabama; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003256:Community Participation; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D006265:Health Care Coalitions / Q000458:organization & administration*; D040361:Healthy People Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D016730:Program Development; D011788:Quality of Life; D012109:Research Support as Topic; D012922:Social Change; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013219:State Government; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control