Practices of Successful Community Coalitions: A Multiple Case Study

Objective: To identify successful coalition practices using qualitative data and a case study design. Methods: Bracket sampling was used to select two of six rural coalitions that varied on several intermediate outcomes. Qualitative data obtained from focus groups with the core membership of the two coalitions were contrasted. Results: Differences between the positive and negative case were found on decision making for health promotion activities, scope of health problems and populations addressed, methods/ for encouraging community participation, benefits and costs of membership, and approach to coalition institutionalization. Conclusions: Prescriptions for improving coalition practice are presented and discussed.