The mission of the Cheatham County Community Enhancement Coalition is to educate and promote community involvement in reducing alcohol, to***co, drug abuse and other health issues in Cheatham County. Who are coalition members? Community coalition members are parents, teachers, law enforcement, businesses, religious leaders, health providers and other community activists who are mobilizing at the local level to make their communities safer, healthier and drug-free. Coalitions are partnerships of the many sectors of a community which gather together collaboratively to solve the community’s problems and guide the community’s future. When they are driven by citizen identified issues, citizens become involved in all steps of the problem solving process. What are community coalitions? Coalitions have been defined as a formal arrangement for collaboration among groups or sectors of a community, in which each group retains its identity but all agree to work together toward the common goal of a safe, healthy and drug-free community. Coalitions should have deep connections to the local community
And serve as catalysts for reducing local substance abuse rates. As such, community coalitions are not prevention programs or traditional human service organizations that provide direct services. Rather they are directed by local residents and sector representatives who have a genuine voice in determining the best strategies to address local problems. Why community coalitions? Throughout the United States, community coalitions make a significant difference. Local coalitions continue to change the way that American communities respond to the threats of illegal drugs, alcohol abuse and to***co use. By mobilizing the entire community—parents, teachers, youth, police, health care providers, faith communities, business and civic leaders and others—communities can transform themselves. How do coalitions make a difference in communities? Coalition building is a smart strategy that promotes coordination and collaboration and makes efficient use of limited community resources. By connecting multiple sectors of the community in a comprehensive approach, community coalitions are achieving real outcomes.
