Ronda Zakocs1, Kimberley E Freire2. 1. Insight Evaluation, LLC, Portland, OR, USA rzakocs@comcast.net. 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The DELTA PREP Project aimed to build the prevention capacity of 19 state domestic violence coalitions by offering eight supports designed to promote prevention integration over a 3-year period: modest grant awards, training events, technical assistance, action planning, coaching hubs, the Coalition Prevention Capacity Assessment, an online workstation, and the online documentation support system. OBJECTIVES: Using quantitative and qualitative data, we sought to explain how coalitions integrated prevention within their structures and functions and document how DELTA PREP supports contributed to coalitions' integration process. RESULTS: We found that coalitions followed a common pathway to integrate prevention. First, coalitions exhibited precursors of organizational readiness, especially having prevention champions. Second, coalitions engaged in five critical actions: engaging in dialogue, learning about prevention, forming teams, soliciting input from the coalition, and action planning. Last, by engaging in these critical actions, coalitions enhanced two key organizational readiness factors-developing a common understanding of prevention and an organizational commitment to prevention. We also found that DELTA PREP supports contributed to coalitions' abilities to integrate prevention by supporting learning about prevention, fostering a prevention team, and engaging in action planning by leveraging existing opportunities. Two DELTA PREP supports-coaching hubs and the workstation-did not work as initially intended. From the DELTA PREP experience, we offer several lessons to consider when designing future prevention capacity-building initiatives.
BACKGROUND: The DELTAPREP Project aimed to build the prevention capacity of 19 state domestic violence coalitions by offering eight supports designed to promote prevention integration over a 3-year period: modest grant awards, training events, technical assistance, action planning, coaching hubs, the Coalition Prevention Capacity Assessment, an online workstation, and the online documentation support system. OBJECTIVES: Using quantitative and qualitative data, we sought to explain how coalitions integrated prevention within their structures and functions and document how DELTAPREP supports contributed to coalitions' integration process. RESULTS: We found that coalitions followed a common pathway to integrate prevention. First, coalitions exhibited precursors of organizational readiness, especially having prevention champions. Second, coalitions engaged in five critical actions: engaging in dialogue, learning about prevention, forming teams, soliciting input from the coalition, and action planning. Last, by engaging in these critical actions, coalitions enhanced two key organizational readiness factors-developing a common understanding of prevention and an organizational commitment to prevention. We also found that DELTAPREP supports contributed to coalitions' abilities to integrate prevention by supporting learning about prevention, fostering a prevention team, and engaging in action planning by leveraging existing opportunities. Two DELTAPREP supports-coaching hubs and the workstation-did not work as initially intended. From the DELTAPREP experience, we offer several lessons to consider when designing future prevention capacity-building initiatives.
Keywords:
coalitions; diffusion of innovations; evaluation; injury prevention/safety; process evaluation; qualitative methods; violent behavior and prevention; women’s health
Authors: Abraham Wandersman; Jennifer Duffy; Paul Flaspohler; Rita Noonan; Keri Lubell; Lindsey Stillman; Morris Blachman; Richard Dunville; Janet Saul Journal: Am J Community Psychol Date: 2008-06