Chapter 5: Getting Started
This chapter focuses on the initial steps of program planning: coalition building and assessing needs and assets. In providing guidelines for coalition building, these processes are addressed: developing a mission statement, goals and objectives; identifying and recruiting members; and assessing how the group is functioning. This chapter also describes the steps of a needs-and-assets assessment, including identifying the assessment’s goals, collecting and analyzing data, and sharing findings with the community. It also offers guidance for developing a scope of work that is realistic given the priorities, resources and experience of the coalition. Numerous worksheets on coalition building and needs-and-assets assessment are provided.
