The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #49700

Audrey Mack, Leslie Daniels, MSW, LSW, Zalika Shani, MSW, CHES, and Judy Donlen, RN, DNSc, JD. Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative, 2500 McClellan Ave, Pennsauken, NJ 08109, 856-963-1013, Amack@snjpc.org

Maintaining an active, participatory membership in a community-based coalition requires continuous attention and innovation. Involving community members in evaluating the effectiveness of recruitment and retention efforts is essential. The SNJPC Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB) of Camden City has recently developed the HMHB coalition Meeting Attendance Incentive Program to support the efforts of the Coalition volunteer leadership and outreach staff to “go the extra mile” that is often needed when encouraging clients and community members to participate in Coalition meetings. The program emphasizes personal outreach, such as organizing car pools, special reminder visits and other methods that require commitment beyond the regular contact with clients or community interaction. At all HMHB Coalition meeting a separate attendance record will track participants who are guests of either staff or Executive Committee members. Guests are tracked for continued participation. Host members and staff earn points for each guest they bring to the Coalition. A point system is used that is weighted to reward hosts whose guests become permanent Coalition members. The presentation will describe the incentive program, the tracking system, host rewards and effectiveness to date.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the factors that facilitate an active participatory community-based coalition
• Describe the obstacles to maintaining active participation in a coalition
• Describe the development of an incentive program for increasing coalition membership and attendance

Keywords: Coalition, Community Involvement

Related Web page: www.snjpc.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Author is employed by Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative as Community Liason to the Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition