ABSTRACT

This literature review explores the constructs of community coalitions, their impacts, and sustainability. It also identifies how researchers, policymakers, and practitioners have defined and measured sustainability for community coalitions. This report is part of a larger study that is funded by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This literature review includes a conceptual framework that can be used to assess the sustainability of community coalitions. The conceptual framework will guide the ASPE study, which uses the experiences of the community coalitions funded by the Community Access Program (CAP)/Healthy Communities Access Program (HCAP) to explore sustainability post federal funding.

Material contained in this publication is in the public domain and may be reproduced, fully or partially, without permission of the Federal Government. The courtesy of attribution is requested. The recommended citation follows:

Office of Health Policy, ASPE(2010) Developing a Conceptual Framework to Assess the Sustainability of Community Coalitions Post-Federal Funding.
Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Table of Exhibits

Executive Summary

A.     Introduction

B.      Summary of Major Findings

An Overview of Community Coalitions
Assessing the Impacts of Community Coalitions
Sustainability of Community Coalitions
A Conceptual Framework to Assess the Sustainability of Community Coalitions Once Initial Federal Funding Has Expired

C.      Conclusions and Implications

Chapter One: Introduction

A.     Overview

B.      Purpose and Research Questions

C.      Background on CAP/HCAP

D.     Methodology

E.      Structure of the Report

Chapter Two: An Overview of Community Coalitions

A.     Functions of Community Coalitions

B.      Theories of Community Coalitions

C.      Characteristics of Community Coalitions

Leadership
Membership
Structure
Operations and Processes
Strategic Vision
Contextual Factors

Chapter Three: Assessing the Impacts of Community Coalitions

A.     Challenges of and Approaches for Assessing the Impacts of Community Coalitions

B.      Impacts of Community Coalition Interventions at the Individual, Systems, and Policy Levels

Chapter Four: Sustainability of Community Coalitions

A.     Defining Sustainability

B.      Conceptual Models of Program Sustainability in Community Coalitions and Partnerships

Model for Sustainability in Community Health Partnerships
Partnerships for Quality Sustainability Framework
Model of Community-Based Program Sustainability
Conceptual Model for Evaluating the Sustainability of Community Health Initiatives
Framework for Conceptualizing Program Sustainability

C.      The Role of Evaluation in Supporting Sustainability in Community Coalitions

Measures and Indices Used to Measure Sustainability in Community Coalitions

D.     Predictors of Sustainability in Community Coalitions

E.      Barriers to Sustainability in Community Coalitions

Chapter Five: A Conceptual Framework to Assess the Sustainability of Community Coalitions Once Initial Federal Funding has Expired

A.     Defining Sustainability in Community Coalitions

B.      A Conceptual Framework of the Sustainability of Community Coalitions

1.    Enabling Characteristics of the Community Coalitions
2.    Community Coalition Activities
3.    Sustainability Actions
4.    Sustainability of the Community Coalition
5.    Sustainability of the Community Coalition’s Original Activities
6.    Expansion of the Community Coalition
7.    Long-Term Outcomes
8.    Contextual Factors

C.      Measures for Assessing the Sustainability of the HCAP Community Coalitions

Chapter Six: Conclusions and Implications

A.     A Model for Conceptualizing Sustainability

B.      Pragmatic Implications for Community Coalitions, Evaluators, and Funders

C.      Policy Implications

D.     Areas for Future Research

Table of Exhibits

Exhibit 1.1:       Literature Review Methodology

Exhibit 2.1:       Community Coalition Action Theory Model

Exhibit 2.2:       Dimensions of Community Empowerment Model

Exhibit 2.3:       Framework for Collaborative Empowerment

Exhibit 4.1:       Selected Operational Definitions of Sustainability in Health Programs

Exhibit 4.2:       Sustainability Conceptual Model in Community Health Partnerships

Exhibit 4.3:       Sustainability Framework

Exhibit 4.4:       Model of Community-Based Program Sustainability

Exhibit 4.5:       Model for Evaluating the Sustainability of Community Health Initiatives

Exhibit 4.6:       A Framework for Conceptualizing Program Sustainability

Exhibit 4.7:       Operationalizing Sustainability as an Outcome

Exhibit 5.1:       Sustainability of the Community Coalition

Exhibit 5.2:       Sustainability of the Community Coalition’s Activities

Exhibit 5.3:      A Conceptual Framework for the Assessment of Community Coalition Sustainability

How to Obtain a Printed Copy

How to obtain a printed copy

Where to?

Contents

Home Pages:
Office of Health Policy
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Last updated:  01/19/2011