Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Assessing Community Coalition Capacity and its Association with Underage Drinking Prevention Effectiveness in the Context of the SPF SIG

  • Published:
Prevention Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Community coalitions are a prominent organizational structure through which community-based substance abuse prevention efforts are implemented. There is little empirical evidence, however, regarding the association between coalition attributes and success in achieving community-level reductions in substance abuse behaviors. In this study, we assessed the relationship between coalition capacity, based on coalition coordinator responses to 16 survey items, and reductions in underage drinking prevalence rates. The coalitions were funded through the federally sponsored Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant (SPF SIG). We first examined whether coalition capacity increased over the life of the projects. Mean capacity scores increased for all 16 capacity items examined (N = 318 coalitions), the majority of which were statistically significant. Analysis of the associations between capacity and reductions in underage drinking was limited to coalitions that targeted underage drinking and provided usable outcome measures based on student survey data for either past 30-day alcohol use (N = 129) or binge drinking (N = 100). Bivariate associations between the capacity items and prevalence reductions for each outcome were consistently positive, although many were not statistically significant. Composite measures of correlated items were then created to represent six different capacity constructs, and included in multivariate models to predict reductions in the targeted outcomes. Constructs that significantly predicted reductions in one or both outcome measures included internal organization and structure, community connections and outreach, and funding from multiple sources. The findings provide support for the expectation that high functioning community coalitions can be effective agents for producing desirable community-level changes in targeted substance abuse behaviors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. For most measures, their exact definition is apparent from the information provided in Table 1. For measures based on counts, however, the specific elements that contribute to each measure are not listed. This information is available in the CLI instrument, which can be obtained from the corresponding author.

  2. For internal organization and structure, the score was the mean value of its three component domain scores.

  3. In addition, regression models that tested all the capacity measures simultaneously showed that the entire set was highly significant (p < .001) in predicting changes in both outcome measures (detailed findings not shown).

References

  • Brown, L. D., Feinberg, M., & Greenberg, M. (2010). Determinants of community coalition ability to support evidence-based programs. Prevention Science, 11, 287–297.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, L. D., Feinberg, M., & Greenberg, M. (2012). Measuring coalition functioning: Refining constructs through factor analysis. Health Education & Behavior, 39, 486–497.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan, R. M., Edwards, J. M., Flanagan, S. P., Flewelling, R. L., Kowalczyk, S. M., Sonnefeld, L. J., Stein-Seroussi, A. D., & Orwin, R. G. (2010). SPF SIG national cross-site evaluation: Phase I Final Report. Rockville, MD: SAMHSA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butterfoss, F. D., & Kegler, M. C. (2009). The community coalition action theory. In R. J. DiClemente, R. A. Crosby, & M. C. Kegler (Eds.), Emerging theories in health promotion practice and research (2nd ed., pp. 237–276). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carleton, R. A., Lasater, T., Assaf, A., Feldman, H., & McKinlay, S. (1995). The Pawtucket Heart Health Program: Community changes in cardiovascular risk factors and projected disease risk. American Journal of Public Health, 85, 777–785.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. (2009). Identifying and selecting evidence-based interventions revised guidance document for the Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant Program (HHS Pub. No. (SMA)09-4205). Rockville, MD: CSAP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chilenski, S. M., Greenberg, M., & Feinberg, M. (2007). Community readiness as a multidimensional construct. Journal of Community Psychology, 35, 347–365.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Chinman, M., Hannah, G., Wandersman, A., Ebener, P., Hunter, S. B., Imm, P., & Sheldon, J. (2005). Developing a community science research agenda for building community capacity for effective preventive interventions. American Journal of Community Psychology, 35, 143–157.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Collins, D., Johnson, K., & Becker, B. (2007). A meta-analysis of direct and mediating effects of community coalitions that implemented science-based substance abuse prevention interventions. Substance Use & Misuse, 42, 985–1007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America. (2005). Capacity primer: Building membership, structure, leadership, and cultural competence. Washington, D.C.: CADCA.

  • Edwards, J. M., Stein-Seroussi, A., Flewelling, R. L., Orwin, R. G., & Zhang, L. (2015). Sustainability of state-level substance abuse prevention infrastructure after the completion of the SPF SIG. Journal of Primary Prevention, 36, 177–186.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, R., Jumper-Thurman, P., Plested, B., Oetting, E., & Swanson, L. (2000). Community readiness: Research to practice. Journal of Community Psychology, 28, 291–307.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farquhar, J., Fortmann, S., Flora, J., Taylor, C., Haskell, W., Williams, C., & Wood, P. (1990). Effects of communitywide education on cardiovascular disease risk factors. The Stanford Five-City Project. JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association, 264, 359–365.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Flewelling, R., Grube, J., Paschall, M. J., Biglan, A., Kraft, A., Black, C., & Ruscoe, J. (2013). Reducing youth access to alcohol: Findings from a community-based randomized trial. American Journal of Community Psychology, 51, 264–277.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Flewelling, R. L., Austin, D., Hale, K., LaPlante, M., Liebig, M., Piasecki, L., & Uerz, L. (2005). Implementing research-based substance abuse prevention in communities: Effects of a coalition-based prevention initiative in Vermont. Journal of Community Psychology, 33, 333–353.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Florin, P., Mitchell, R., Stevenson, J., & Klein, I. (2000). Predicting intermediate outcomes for prevention coalitions: A developmental perspective. Evaluation and Program Planning, 23, 341–346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Florin, P., Friend, K. B., Buka, S., Egan, C., Barovier, L., & Amodei, B. (2012). The interactive systems framework applied to the strategic prevention framework: The Rhode Island experience. American Journal of Community Psychology, 50, 402–414.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goodman, R. M., Speers, M., McLeroy, K., Fawcett, S., Kegler, M., Parker, E., & Wallerstein, N. (1998). Identifying and defining the dimensions of community capacity to provide a basis for measurement. Health Education & Behavior, 25, 258–278.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hallfors, D., Cho, H., Livert, D., & Kadushin, C. (2002). Fighting back against substance abuse: Are community coalitions winning? American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 23, 237–245.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins, J. D., Oesterle, S., Brown, E. C., Abbott, R. D., & Catalano, R. F. (2014). Youth problem behaviors 8 years after implementing the Communities That Care prevention system. A community-randomized trial. JAMA Pediatrics, 168(2), 122–129.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hays, C. E., Hays, S. P., DeVille, J. O., & Mulhall, P. F. (2000). Capacity for effectiveness: The relationship between coalition structure and community impact. Evaluation and Program Planning, 23, 373–379.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holder, H. D., Gruenewald, P., Ponicki, W., Treno, A., Gribe, J., Saltz, R., & Roeper, P. (2000). Effect of community-based interventions on high-risk drinking and alcohol-related injuries. JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association, 284, 2341–2347.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • ICF International. (2012). Drug Free Communities Support Program: National evaluation 2011 interim findings report. Fairfax, VA: ICF International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Institute of Medicine. (2012). An integrated framework for assessing the value of community-based prevention. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kegler, M. C., Steckler, A., McLeroy, K., & Malek, S. (1998). Factors that contribute to effective community health promotion coalitions: A study of 10 Project ASSIST coalitions in North Carolina. Health Education & Behavior, 25, 338–353.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luepker, R. V., Murray, D., Jacobs, D., Mittlemark, M., Bracht, N., Carlaw, R., & Finnegan, J. (1994). Community education for cardiovascular disease prevention: Risk factor changes in the Minnesota Heart Health Program. American Journal of Public Health, 84, 1383–1393.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Nargiso, J., Friend, K., Egan, C., Florin, P., Stevenson, J., Amodei, B., & Barovier, L. (2013). Coalitional capacities and environmental strategies to prevent underage drinking. American Journal of Community Psychology, 51, 222–231.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Orwin, R. G., Stein-Seroussi, A., Edwards, J. M., Landy, A. L., & Flewelling, R. L. (2014). Effects of the Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentives Grant (SPF SIG) on state prevention infrastructure in 26 states. Journal of Primary Prevention, 35, 163–180.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pentz, M. A., Dwyer, J., MacKinnon, D., Flay, B., Hansen, W., Wang, E., & Johnson, C. (1989). A multicommunity trial for primary prevention of adolescent drug abuse. Effects on drug use prevalence. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 261, 3259–3266.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Perry, C., Williams, C., Veblen Mortenson, S., Toomet, T., Komro, K., Anstine, P., & Wolfson, M. (1996). Project Northland: Outcomes of a communitywide alcohol use prevention program during early adolescence. American Journal of Public Health, 86, 956–965.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Puska, P., Nissinen, A., Tuomilehto, J., Salonen, J., Koskela, K., McAlister, A., & Farquar, J. (1985). The community-based strategy to prevent coronary heart disease: Conclusions from ten years of the North Karelia Project. Annual Review of Public Health, 6, 147–193.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roussos, S. T., & Fawcett, S. B. (2000). A review of collaborative partnerships as a strategy for improving community health. Annual Review of Public Health, 21, 369–402.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • SAMHSA. (2000). Prevention works through community partnerships: findings from SAMHSA/CSAP’s national evaluation. Washington DC: SAMHSA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saxe, L., Kadushin, C., Tighe, E., Beveridge, A., Livert, D., Brodsky, A., & Rindskopf, D. (2006). Community-based prevention programs in the war on drugs: Findings from the "Fighting Back" demonstration. Journal of Drug Issues, 36, 263–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, V. B., Oesterle, S., Abbott, R. D., Arthur, M. W., & Hawkins, J. D. (2013). Measuring dimensions of coalition functioning for effective and participatory community practice. Social Work Research, 37, 349–359.

  • Shapiro, V. B., Oesterle, S., & Hawkins, J. D. (2015). Relating coalition capacity to the adoption of science-based prevention in communities: Evidence from a randomized trial of Communities That Care. American Journal of Community Psychology, 50, 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spoth, R. L., Redmond, C., Shin, C., Greenberg, M., Feinberg, M., & Schainker, L. (2013). PROSPER community-university partnership delivery system substance misuse outcomes through 6½ years past baseline. Preventive Medicine, 56, 190–196.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stern, M. P., Farquhar, J., McCoby, N., & Russel, S. (1976). Results of a two-year health education campaign on dietary behavior: The Stanford Three Community Study. Circulation, 54, 826–833.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wagenaar, A. C., Murray, D., Gehan, J., Wolfson, M., Forster, J., Toomey, T., & Jones-Webb, R. (2000). Communities mobilizing for change on alcohol: Outcomes from a randomized community trials. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 61, 85–94.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wandersman, A., & Florin, P. (2003). Community interventions and effective prevention. The American Psychologist, 58, 441–448.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wandersman, A., Duffy, J., Flaspohler, P., Noonan, R., Lubell, K., Stillman, L., & Saul, J. (2008). Bridging the gap between prevention research and practice: The interactive systems framework for dissemination and implementation. American Journal of Community Psychology, 41, 171–181.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weitzman, E. R., Nelson, T., Lee, H., & Wechsler, H. (2004). Reducing drinking and related harms in college: Evaluation of the "A Matter of Degree" program. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 27, 187–196.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Winkleby, M. A., Taylor, C., Jatulis, D., & Fortman, S. (1996). The long-term effects of a cardiovascular disease prevention trial: The Stanford Five-City Project. American Journal of Public Health, 86, 1773–1779.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfson, M., Song, E., Martin, B., Wagoner, K., Pleasants, D., Nieberg, R., & Hulme, S. (2011). National evaluation of the enforcing underage drinking laws randomized community trial (final report). Rockville, MD: Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse/NCJRS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, E., Foster-Fishman, P., Collins, C., & Ahn, S. (2012). Testing a comprehensive community problem-solving framework for community coalitions. Journal of Community Psychology, 40, 681–698.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yin, R. K., Kaftarian, S., Yu, P., & Jansen, M. (1997). Outcomes from CSAP’s Community Partnership Program: Findings from the National Cross-Site Evaluation. Evaluation and Program Planning, 20, 345–356.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zakocs, R. C., & Edwards, E. (2006). What explains community coalition effectiveness?: A review of the literature. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 30, 351–361.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zakocs, R. C., & Guckenburg, S. (2007). What coalition factors foster community capacity? Lessons learned from the Fighting Back Initiative. Health Education & Behavior, 34, 354–375.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors appreciate the support for this paper provided by project officers John Park at CSAP and Elizabeth Robertson and Augie Diana of NIDA, and by cross-site evaluation project director Rob Orwin. We also acknowledge the contributions to the literature review by Melinda Pankratz, statistical consultation provided by Chris Wiesen, and the time and effort of the many coalition coordinators and state evaluators who provided the essential data for this study. The helpful suggestions from the anonymous reviewers assigned to this manuscript are also appreciated.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chapel Hill Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, 1516 E. Franklin Street Suite 200, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA

    Robert L. Flewelling & Sean M. Hanley

Authors
  1. Robert L. Flewelling
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sean M. Hanley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert L. Flewelling.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Funding

Support for this study was provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, administered through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Task Order Numbers 283-07-0609 and 277-09-0319. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of the sponsoring agencies.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was not applicable.

Research Involving Human Participants

This study involved secondary analyses of aggregate-level summary data based on information provided by anonymous respondents to student surveys.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Flewelling, R.L., Hanley, S.M. Assessing Community Coalition Capacity and its Association with Underage Drinking Prevention Effectiveness in the Context of the SPF SIG. Prev Sci 17, 830–840 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-016-0675-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-016-0675-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation