Back to Annual Meeting

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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Ann Flynn, EdD, Vice President, Community Impact, United Way of Central Massachusetts, 484 Main Street, Suite 300, Worcester, MA 01608, 508-757-5631, aflynn@unitedwaycm.org

Getting multiple constituencies to work collectively toward achieving a common goal involves raising consciousness, communicating effectively, determining costs, and implementing effective change activities. These points will be illustrated by describing a case history of the development of the Together for Kids Coalition in Worcester, MA. This coalition currently numbers over 75 health care, mental health, early childhood education, early intervention, public school, and community agency staff, administrators and parents. It has active subcommittees in the areas of Best Practices, Community Resources, Family Involvement, Marketing/Funding, and Public Policy/Advocacy. The Coalition's first challenge was to understand the nature of the issue, as society at large does not think of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers as having mental health issues. We were challenged by needing to educate ourselves while at the same time having to educate the broader community. We started by finding the right description and definition. The second step, effective communication, required not only substance, but knowing the audience. Selected principles drawn from communication research conducted by the Frameworks Institute will be used to illustrate this. Clarity and communication will be discussed in the context of challenging an erroneous stereotype. Third, the coalition faced the question of what its activities would cost, what gains come from the investment, are there other cost effective methods, and where will the money come from? Answers to these questions will be given in the context of this specific coalition's experience. Finally, how the coalition strategized to implement institutional and policy change will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the principles of building community coalitions.
• Identify the key steps in framing and delivering the right message.
• Deciding how to select effective advocacy strategies based on cost and return.

Keywords: Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Advocacy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation