Community-Based Coalitions

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The California Coalition for Compassionate Care encourages and supports activities of local, community-based coalitions around the state. These local coalitions are composed of individuals and organizations combining their interests and resources to make meaningful change at the local level. Over 20 community coalitions have taken root around the state (see list below).

If you would like more information about starting a community-based coalition, see Developing Community-Based Coalitions on End-of-Life Issues below.  If you have a coalition and would like to be listed here, contact Vicki Nelson at the Compassionate Care Alliance of Monterey County, (831) 655-9506 or vcnelson@earthlink.net.

Developing Community-Based Coalitions
on End-of-Life Issues

The California Coalition for Compassionate Care encourages and supports local, community-based coalitions.  These community groups include individuals and organizations working to engage the public in end-of-life issues and improve care for the dying at the local level.  In the past two years, almost 20 community coalitions have taken root around the state.  If you are interested in starting a coalition in your community, the following information may be helpful:

How to Get Started

• Identify key individuals already involved in improving care for the dying.  Hospice workers, chaplains and other clergy, caregivers, senior leaders, parish nurses, support group leaders, funeral directors, hospital ethicists and educators are likely participants.

• Bring interested folks together to talk about community needs and capabilities.  If interest and/or resources allow, you may want to consider a community survey.

• Develop a list of activities to engage your community.  Ideas include:

• distribute the Decisions series as bulletin inserts in faith communities or organization newsletters

• sponsor Talking It Over discussion groups

• develop a speakers' bureau and offer presentations to civic and service groups

• sponsor community forums and seminars

• encourage local media coverage of end-of-life issues; help identify story ideas and recruit experts and those with personal stories to share

• Prioritize your list, identifying those ideas where you have available resources (people, connections, funding).  Look for activities that can be accomplished fairly quickly, and recruit a key individual to take the lead for each.  Don't take on too much; build on the enthusiasm that small successes bring!

Funding Support

Many of the activities undertaken by coalitions can be accomplished with few outside resources, but more ambitious ideas often need dollars.  Several coalitions have pooled community resources, with various groups contributing meeting space, printing, mailing, publicity, etc.  Others sought funding from outside sources by soliciting community donations, and applying for grants from hospital foundations, other healthcare organizations and private foundations. Some have charged modest membership fees to generate operating expenses.

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This web page was last updated on 3/6/08.