Research Proposal Exploring the Feasibility of Coalition Expansion

Many funding agencies require collaborative efforts across multiple partners and organizations in order to address a variety of public health problems. As more and more funding agencies require coalition development, the burden on small communities continues to increase. Although there are complexities to coalition formation, functioning and demonstrating outcomes, it appears that the use of coalitions continues to be a growing practice. In order to enhance the capacity of small communities and avoid the lengthy and problematic challenges of developing new collaborations; exploring the potential to build upon existing groups appears to have merit. As coalition development research has shown that successful groups continuilllY change and evolve groups may welcome the opportunity to address community problems in different ways. Given the lack of research in this area further study is warranted. Findings from the qualitative research may determine that the potential to develop subcommittees is not realistic; rather changing the focus to address known risk factors for multiple problems may have greater promise. Either way it is essential to explore alternatives that will have considerably less burden on small communities and increase the potential for greater outcomes.Master of Public Healt