Consider the Need for Additional Partners

Even if you have done a good job enlisting community partners, as you begin to implement the prevention effort, you may recognize the need for assistance in implementing the program or in gaining community support. Consider enlisting additional help.

Enlist opinionmakers. Within a community or group, opinionmakers are individuals in leadership positions, such as political leaders; business leaders; presidents of community organizations or business or professional organizations; media representatives; local media personalities; and professional athletes and other personalities. Once educated about the issues, opinionmakers can be effective spokespersons. They can also provide access to those who shape the opinions, perspectives, norms, and laws of the community. Opinionmakers can also be valuable in fund-raising activities.

Enlist advocates. In this context, advocates are people who, in the course of their professional lives, can have an impact on the audiences of community action groups. Prevention advocates include healthcare professionals, treatment professionals, people in recovery, significant others of people in recovery, clergy, civil rights leaders, experts and researchers, media representatives, and businesspeople. Advocates can help to build credibility for a community action group by their active support and participation in educating the community.

Please review how the case study has worked through Step Four.