Building Coalitions and Putting Them to Work Perla Cavazos October 16, 2015

What we’ll cover  Highlight the importance of creating and leveraging coalitions  Tips on building partnerships and coalitions  Tips on how to use the coalitions to educate and influence local and state policy makers  Additional Resources

Partnerships and Coalitions Why coalitions form:  Respond to an opportunity or a threat or event  Expand an organizations’ limited time, expertise, resources, services, media coverage, contact with vulnerable populations or influence  Provide Focus  Achieve better results  Help a community analyze its issues to identify and implement multiple strategies that lead to policy, social and environmental change.

Why is it important? Because you will get things done better and more quickly  Building relationships & coalitions among those with similar goals is an important part of making meaningful progress on any complex social issue.  You will find stakeholders from various backgrounds who may not normally interact with each other but who have helpful experiences, perspectives, resources and constituents.  A broad network of partners is most effective for sharing best practices, resources and reach, as well as engaging & educating the community.

Building Partnerships and Coalitions Overview: Steps for Building an Effective Coalition  Develop your leadership team  Recruit diverse community organizations & convene the coalition  Assess community strengths, assets and resources  Develop a community action plan with feasible and appropriate goals, objectives and strategies  Implement and sustain policy and environmental change strategies to reach goals  Evaluate and improve the coalition and its strategies

Building Partnerships and Coalitions The first steps:  Identify potential members from your priority sectors  Explore their motivations for joining - costs and benefits  Define/refine the community issue(s) and share what each member needs and should contribute  In selecting, consider: activities and accomplishments, contributions, self-interests; conflicts  Think about existing political, economic, & social realities, as well as what other groups are already doing  Think about identifying members who will provide the assets/needs to implement feasible strategies  Discuss expectations, concerns, and perspectives with potential members

Building Partnerships and Coalitions At the First Meeting:  Reach consensus on structure and mission  Discuss realistic goals and objectives  Is anyone missing at the table? Diversity is key.  Create ground rules for coalition functioning and meeting etiquette  Have members complete commitment forms  Decide how members will be acknowledged publicly  Develop communication and feedback mechanisms with member organizations 7

Building Partnerships and Coalitions Implementation Stage:  Find common ground  Share information  Learn the issues  Develop solutions  Better define mission and roles  Develop structure, leadership and decision-making  Continuous member recruitment  Take action!

Building Partnerships and Coalitions Possible Partners:  Anyone at this conference  General Public  Parents  Teens  School officials  Policymakers  SHAC members  Teachers  Medical/Health community  Business community  Social workers  Faith-based organizations

Educating and Influencing Decision Makers Put your coalition to work Don’t be afraid  Write a letter to the Editor or an Opinion Editorial to educate and influence public opinion  Contact or Visit Decision Makers – School Health Advisory Councils, School Board, City Council, County Commission, State Representatives and Senators, State Board of Education, Hospital District  Testify on an Issue at Meetings & Hearings

Educating and Influencing Decision Makers  Legislators love to hear from their constituents. They want to hear from you. They rely on your experience and ideas and support.  Cultivate relationships during the interim session.  Attend coffees or other events where you can meet your legislator.  Schedule a meeting with them or their staff in their district office.  Invite them to attend your events.  Send notes or letters when they do something positive for your issue.

Educating and Influencing Decision Makers  Send regular updates related to the policy issues you care about and viable solutions and ideas. Be helpful.  Send copies of op-eds and relevant articles.  Then, during the regular session, they will know who to contact for information and testimony.  Testify at committee hearings to create visibility.  Be prepared with a succinct message, solutions, be prepared to answer questions & ALWAYS be respectful and courteous.  Don’t leave too much information behind. A one- pager is usually a good idea.

: An Example of an Advocacy Strategy – Texas Access to Justice Coalition  Developed relationships over time  Coalition building / Organized the team of influencers & advocates (courts, non-profits, lawyers, clients)  Presented the research (legislative district data)  Knew their legislature and legislators (legislator research, monitoring campaigns & news)  Offered solutions  Knocked on doors at the capitol & in the district to educate and advocate  Built PR, good will and issue awareness

An Example of an Advocacy Strategy – Texas Access to Justice Coalition  Informed/reminded legislators that they a legal resource for their constituents  Shared client stories - Please remember to add personal stories to help illustrate why these issues matter so much.  Op-Eds & editorial meetings  Legislative awards and recognition  Legislative Resolutions (  Annual gala/dinner 14

Other resources  Texas Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy –  National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy  Texas Freedom Network -  Coalition Work -  HHSC Disease Control and Prevention Services  Heather Bullis, MPH  Phone Office: (512)  Telecommute: (512) 

Contact Information Perla Cavazos Director of Policy and Partnerships Texas Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy