Improvements in Capacity Among Community Coalitions Receiving Technical Assistance Through the Coalition Check-Up.

Abstract

Community coalitions are central to the prevention delivery system, yet their ability to implement and sustain effective strategies often depends on technical assistance (TA). TA typically strengthens coalition capacity, but many coalitions lack connection to TA, and it is costly to sustain. Low intensity TA models that support coalition capacity exist but have not been rigorously evaluated. This study examines the Coalition Check-Up (CoCU) as a low intensity TA model to strengthen coalition capacity. Using up to 3 years of data, we tested whether capacities selected by coalitions during each CoCU implementation year improved over time. Thirty-two coalitions in Pennsylvania and Missouri received TA to review their summary report on data collected yearly over 3 years and a follow-up after year 3. Each year, coalitions used their report to prioritize a capacity for action planning following the CoCU TA model. Analyses examined data from multiple baselines (i.e., before action planning at year 1, year 2, and year 3) and subsequent data collection timepoints to test for longitudinal change on prioritized capacities. Coalitions receiving TA through the CoCU model demonstrated measurable improvements over time. Capacities prioritized in year 1 significantly improved across the following years measured (β = 0.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.004, 0.26]; p = .04), as did capacities selected in the second year (β = 0.20, CI [0.02, 0.37]; p = .03) and the third year (β = 0.61, CI [0.16, 1.07]; p = .01). Findings suggest that a low intensity TA model like CoCU has the potential to guide coalitions toward strategic capacity development, ultimately enhancing their ability to deliver impactful prevention initiatives.