Community Organizing for Prevention March 2024 Quarterly Progress Report
Names of those contributing to the writing of this report: Meghan Ingle (Community Mobilizer)
Coalition Mission and Vision
Montrose Communities That Care is a welcoming coalition that invests with all youth to meet the needs of our vibrant community through collaborative efforts.
Prioritized risk and protective factors
Early Initiation of Substance Use (4.28.23)
Community Opportunities for Pro Social Involvement and Connection (4.28.23)
Prioritized prevention strategies and evidence-based programs (dates of decision)
Not yet determined. Data workgroup began discussion on 9.6.23 on the following programs: Positive Action, Guiding Good Choices and Strengthening Families. While we have not “officially” prioritized prevention strategies, the coalition is actively doing work linked to Community Opportunities For Pro Social Involvement and Connection (increasing civic engagement and altering the physical environment).
All Grantees:
- Momentum: In the past three months, what action has your coalition taken that you believe will have the most significant impact in moving your work forward?
One of the ideas that came from the Structure Workgroup several months ago was a “youth lead resource fair”-youth are also members. The idea was pitched to the Communities That Care (CTC) Club (Youth Involvement Workgroup) and has evolved from there. The youth members of the coalition have been part of the marketing, budgeting, planning, linkage and outreach process. Additionally, the Family Resource Fair will be facilitated by youth! The fair has really connected the adults and youth in our coalition. Additionally, as of today, 3/20/24, 15 local agencies have signed up to participate (some active coalition members, some not). I feel as though this is as big win, as it is an example of how our community comes together to serve youth and families. This is one example of how our coalition has come together to implement the Social Development Strategy in our community.
One of the keys to success with both CTC and the CDC Policy Process Model are moving knowledge, skills, and decision-making into the community more broadly.
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- How have you been successful at building the knowledge and skills of coalition members?
One tool used to build the knowledge and skills of coalition members was through use of a Capacity Gaps Grid regarding selection of proposed programs that would be a good fit for Montrose. Additionally, coalition members identified several trainings that they believe would be useful in building knowledge and skills earlier in the SFY. In May of 2024, Illuminate will be traveling to Montrose to provide the training, “Boosting Protective Factors in Your Work.”
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- What’s been challenging?
- Have you heard of these resources (below)? If so, how have you used these with coalition members? If not, could that benefit your coalition?”
No, I have not heard nor used the resources outlined below with coalition members. Yes, I believe these resources to be useful information in terms of providing coalition members skills and knowledge to drive change in the community.
Please describe your progress in implementing an ongoing equity impact assessment throughout your work. Also, please share which equity impact assessment framework(s) you are choosing to use. CDPHE shared about 4 different examples and you may have found one of your own that makes more sense for your work. We’d love to learn from you.
Using the CTC document, “Enhancing Inclusion and Equity in CTC Implementation” our coalition:
Phase 3. Acknowledging missing data, biases and limitations of the data and making data available to the community so they can use it in their own efforts to advance equity.
Phase 4. Using the Capacity Gaps Grid to identify potential programs that would be a good fit for Montrose County asked for us to discuss and explore power dynamics, relationships/connections, social expectations/norms and bias and prejudice.
With your efforts around equity, what changes or shifts have you noticed in the work of your coalition? Please consider the impact that may have shown up in, but isn’t limited to, the following areas: decision-making, coalition functioning, backbone support, community engagement, recruitment, etc.
In the last quarter, Karen Funke (Community Champion) has provided 18 orientations to diverse community members in Montrose County to discuss the CTC strategy, and work of the coalition. These community conversations have led to 3 new coalition members! Being that relationship building and trust is core to the CTC process, these numbers appear to reflect that the community is beginning to embrace and trust in the work.
Additionally, using the Capacity Gaps grid to explore program choice prompted difficult conversations, specifically related to language justice, bias and prejudice. This reflects overall coalition functioning in that difficult topics were approached, and a great deal of thought and consideration was put into ensuring that these subjects were given the reflection time needed.
How do you communicate to coalition and external community members about the work of the coalition and more? What are you communicating to whom? (Option A: which workgroups are you using for your communication process?)
Communication regarding coalition work is done through several different avenues in order to ensure broad access and reach. On a quarterly basis, Karen Funke (Community Champion), distributes a newsletter to both coalition members and the external community which highlights: a community partner, coalition meetings, access to the quarterly reports and events/trainings. Once the Community Action Plan is completed, it will be available to the community through the newsletter. On a monthly basis, Karen sends out a monthly digest, which are the minutes from all CTC meetings for that month to both Community Board members and Key Leaders. I feel that I can confidently say, the bought-in members of the coalition are communicating the work of the coalition to their agencies and networks.
In the past 3 months, how have you or your coalition members networked and/or collaborated with other COFP or CTC coalitions across the state?
No
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- What are you learning from other communities?
Nothing to share at this time. Meghan and Karen are eager to attend Rural Resorts.
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- What are you sharing with other communities?
Nothing to share at this time. Meghan and Karen are eager to attend Rural Resorts.
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- If you are a part of a COFP networking group, please share which one and how it has or has not been supportive of your work.
Not applicable
Option A (CTC) Only: Networking & Collaboration Opportunities Question
- Has your coalition collaborated with opioid misuse prevention activities in your community?
- If so, please summarize (name of collaborating partners, type of activity, headcount if possible to obtain, framed with which risk/protective factors, etc.)
No