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Successful State Coalition leaders have clearly reached beyond the core membership and larger coalition membership (refer to Coalition Structure) to raise general awareness about fall prevention and to engage interested parties at the state and local level. Below we describe a variety of strategies such as using multiple communication methods, promoting local initiatives, engaging policymakers, and raising general awareness.

MULTIPLE COMMUNICATION METHODS

Some individuals and organizations may not want to be directly involved with the coalition, but nevertheless, they want to be informed about the coalition’s goals and activities. These groups and individuals may be able to contribute to the coalition’s efforts by helping to spread the word about older adult fall prevention and advocating for policies and resources. Ways to engage these interested parties include the following:

• Offer periodic announcements or newsletters about the coalition’s activities and providing information on how people can become involved.
• Produce an end-of-year report, and celebrate your coalition’s accomplishments. Send the report to policymakers, the media, older adult organizations and others that may not be active members of your coalition.
• Establish a Web site with valuable fall prevention information, and keep the Web site up to date. Post your newsletter and annual report on the Web site. Example websites include: 
  • California
  • Connecticut Collaboration for Fall Prevention
  • Michigan Fall Prevention Partnership
  • Minnesota Falls Prevention Initiative
  • Hamilton County, Ohio Fall Prevention Task Force
  • Falls Free Washington

PROMOTE LOCAL INITIATIVES

The coalition may wish to host training sessions or online learning communities to educate groups about how to design and promote manageable, productive community initiatives. Topics for the development of local community leaders could include:

• educating audiences on evidence-based fall prevention interventions
• marketing and messaging to reach key local audiences such as health care providers, faith-based organizations, local citizens groups, and older adults
• promoting local collaborative activities
• promoting effective partnerships between health care providers, aging service providers, and public health
• working with diverse communities as partners in reaching minority elders
• assisting in the implementation of evidence-based health promotion and fall prevention programs.