Recorded presentation

Amy B. Helburn, MPH, Division of Community Health, The Medical Foundation, 622 Washington Street, Dorchester, MA 02124, 617-279-2265, ahelburn@tmfnet.org

This presentation will describe implementation of the Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol (CMCA) model in a community organizing effort to reduce youth access to alcohol in a Boston neighborhood. This model, which utilizes environmental strategies, has been adapted to include youth in the organizing role. The presenter will outline this adaptation and discuss youth and adult roles in the collaboration, as well as strategies used in recruitment and retention of youth leaders. Stages of implementation will be shared, with regard to their effectiveness in creating collaborative leadership in the community. Participants will learn practical strategies to conduct the assessment phase in a manner that elicits the community’s voice, to develop a committed group of leaders, to advocate for policy development, and to evaluate selected strategies. The presenter will describe diffusion of the CMCA model into urban communities in Boston and analyze challenges faced in the implementation process. Challenges include: adhering to a environmental strategy model in meeting the requirements of both the community and funding source; supporting cultural diversity among collaborative members; and converting opponents to allies.

Learning Objectives: