State-Wide Model of Collaboration to Enhance Sustainability of Community Coalitions

At the heart of the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) is sustainability, which is a primary focus of the Division of Substance Abuse Services (DSAS) within the Tennessee Department of Mental Health Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS). As a conduit funneling federal funds throughout the community, DSAS strives to provide support by building a network of professionals that have strengths in all areas of the framework. In doing this, the State has created a system of support for our community based anti-drug coalitions and our providers that serve selective and indicated populations (Tennessee Prevention Network - TPN). All of our grantees have access to a team of state prevention specialists, including the Evidence Based Practice Workgroup (EBPW), the State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup (SEOW), the evaluation team (EMT), the Prevention Alliance of TN (PAT), and the T/A Team. Together, these groups collaborate to build culturally competent capacity within communities around identified issues, leading to effective planning and implementation with the goal of ultimately achieving sustainability. We argue that having a model of collaboration and cooperation among state-level specialists helps facilitate information flow at the state level, which ultimately allows the DSAS to effectively and efficiently provide guidance to coalitions.

TDMHSAS Network of Resources for Coalitions and Providers

The DSAS is responsible for the coordination and collaboration among state-level prevention specialists. Each of these specialist groups provides a certain type of information for the State: 1) the EBPW identifies and selects evidence-based interventions as well as conditions that promote and/or hinder effective use of those interventions; 2) the SEOW uses data to inform decisions about substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery programming in collaboration with multiple state partners; 3) the PAT enhances communication, coordinates statewide advocacy initiatives, monitors relevant legislation, and coordinates regional/statewide media coverage of prevention activities and outreach; 4) EMT works with all partners to determine effectiveness and efficiency of program activities through evaluation; and 5) the T/A Team assists all state funded coalitions to better understand the SPF process. Together, these groups provide various supports and resources to community coalitions. However, there are challenges to coordination and collaboration among these various groups. A model of coordination by TDMHSAS ensures that these sources of information work together to facilitate effective use of the SPF framework and enhance sustainability for community coalitions.

Conclusion

This paper argues that effective implementation and coalition sustainability is enhanced through a model of collaboration at both the local coalition level and at the state prevention specialist level. Information on individual coalition and TPN partners, coupled with data from state-level prevention specialists, provides the TDMHSAS with the tools necessary to effectively and efficiently provide guidance to coalitions.