Strengthening Partnerships Toolkit

In fighting the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, local coalitions must have every tool available to succeed in their mission. To that end CADCA is always looking for new ways to help coalitions achieve their goals.

One sign of a successful coalition is that it develops strategic partnerships with local organizations to accomplish its mission. These partner organizations usually represent a broad base of community sectors and they recognize a connection between substance abuse prevention and their mission. When properly cultivated, these win/win relationships can be a powerful force for change in the community.

This toolkit is designed as a guide to assist your coalition in securing the commitment of these important local partners. We have chosen to focus on eight of the twelve sectors on the community wheel.

The kit incorporates materials to prepare your coalition to meet with potential partners (in the left pocket), case studies and planning worksheets for the eight sectors (in the center pocket), and template materials for use after a new partnership is developed (in the right pocket).

Sample materials in the left pocket include an introduction to the Strengthening Partnerships project, a meeting checklist, introductory letter and one-page coalition description. Among the templates provided in the right pocket are a planning worksheet, membership commitment form, Memorandum of Understanding and press release. We hope you will find this toolkit useful in expanding your local partner base.

CADCA and its National Coalition Institute value and support your ongoing work in the community to reduce substance abuse and its related effects. As your voice in the national public policy domain, CADCA will continue our efforts to secure funding and support legislation to fund coalitions, prevention, research and treatment.

CADCA National Coalition Institute

NOTE:
Case Statement pages are geared to specific national organizations, for example, the National District Attorney’s Association for the law and justice sector, and National Association of Counties for the government sector. Templates are available online to make it easy for your coalition to change the information to solicit any appropriate organization or agency or to create a Case Statement for a different sector.

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