Completing this checklist will provide a general picture of the coalition’s stage of development and may point out areas in which technical assistance, training, or other support is needed. For each characteristic listed, simply put a checkmark in the box that most appropriately indicates the presence or absence of the characteristic in the coalition you are assessing: Absent, Present but limited, Present, or NA (not applicable at this stage of development). If you don’t know or are not sure, if a characteristic is present, check Don’t Know.
| Coalition Characteristics | Absent | Present but Limited |
NA | Don't Know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coalition Participant | ||||
| Lead Agency | ||||
| 1. Provides management-level commitment and support to the coalition | ||||
| 2. Commits personnel and financial resources to the coalition | ||||
| 3. Has knowledge of coalition-building process | ||||
| 4. Has collaboration experience | ||||
| 5. Replaces agency representative if vacancy occurs | ||||
| 6. Trains successive lead agency | ||||
| 7. Remains involved when no longer the lead agency | ||||
| Staff | ||||
| 1. Has knowledge of coalition building process | ||||
| 2. Demonstrates skill in writing proposals and obtaining funding/resources | ||||
| 3. Offers training to members as appropriate | ||||
| 4. Has training in assessment and research methods | ||||
| 5. Encourages collaboration and negotiation | ||||
| 6. Communicates effectively with members | ||||
| Leaders | ||||
| 1. Are committed to the coalition's mission | ||||
| 2. Provide leadership and guidance in the maintenance of the coalition | ||||
| 3. Have appropriate time | ||||
| 4. Plan effectively and efficiently | ||||
| 5. Have knowledge in the content area | ||||
| 6. Demonstrate flexibility | ||||
| 7. Demonstrate a sense of humor | ||||
| 8. Promote equal status and collaboration among member organizations | ||||
| 9. Are adept in organizational and communication skills |
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| 10. Work within influential political and community networks | ||||
| 11. Are competent in negotiation, problem solving, and conflict resolution | ||||
| 12. Are attentive to individual member concerns | ||||
| 13. Are effective in managing meetings | ||||
| 14. Are adept in garnering resources | ||||
| 15. Value members' input | ||||
| 16. Recognize members for their contributions | ||||
| Members | ||||
| 1. Share coalition's mission | ||||
| 2. Have a variety of resources and skills to offer | ||||
| 3. Clearly understand their roles | ||||
| 4. Actively plan, implement, and evaluate activities | ||||
| 5. Assume lead responsibility for tasks | ||||
| 6. Share the workload | ||||
| 7. Are regularly involved in meeting and/or activities | ||||
| 8. Communicate well with each other | ||||
| 9. Feel a sense of accomplishment | ||||
| 10. Seek out training opportunities | ||||
| Coalition Structure | ||||
| 1. Has processes for decision making | ||||
| 2. Has processes for problem-solving and conflict resolution | ||||
| 3. Has goals and objectives in writing | ||||
| 4. Provides for regular, structured meetings | ||||
| 5. Establishes effective communication mechanisms | ||||
| 6. Has organization chart | ||||
| 7. Has written job descriptions | ||||
| 8. Has a core planning group | ||||
| 9. Has committees | ||||
| Coalition Process | ||||
| 1. Has processes for decision making | ||||
| 2. Has processes for problem solving | ||||
| 3. Has process for resource allocation | ||||
| 4. Has mechanisms for evaluation | ||||
| 5. Has a mechanism for accountability of members completing assignments in a timely manner | ||||
| 6. Has a mechanism for new member orientation | ||||
| 7. Has a mechanism for training members | ||||
| Stages of Coalition Development | ||||
| Formation | ||||
| 1. Permanent staff is designated | ||||
| 2. Membership is broad-based, includes community leaders, professionals, grass-roots community organizers who represent the target channels and population, etc. | ||||
| 3. There is a designated office and/or meeting space | ||||
| 4. Coalition structures are in place, see 1-9 under "Coalition Structure" above | ||||
| Implementation | ||||
| 1. Coalition structures are in place, see 1-7 under "Coalition Processes" above | ||||
| 2. Needs assessment is conducted | ||||
| 3. Strategic Plan for implementation is developed | ||||
| 4. Strategies are implemented as planned | ||||
| Maintenance | ||||
| 1. Strategies are revised as necessary | ||||
| 2. Financial and material resources are secured | ||||
| 3. Coalition is broadly recognized as an authority on the issues it addresses | ||||
| 4. Numbers of members are maintained or increased | ||||
| 5. Membership benefits outweigh the costs | ||||
| 6. Members agree to disagree | ||||
| 7. Coalition is accessible to the community | ||||
| 8. Accomplishments are shared with members and community | ||||
| Institutionalization | ||||
| 1. Coalition is included in other collaborative efforts | ||||
| 2. Coalition's sphere of influence includes state and private agencies and governing bodies | ||||
| 3. Coalition has access to power within legislative and executive branches of agencies and the government | ||||
| 4. Coalition activities are incorporated within other agencies or institutions | ||||
| 5. Long-term funding is obtained | ||||
| 6. Mission is refined or changed to encompass other populations and issues |