Overdose Prevention in Rural Communities
Introduction
Substance Use Disorder in Rural Communities
Overdose Prevention Strategies
▸Partnerships & Rural Coalition Building
Communication Strategies
Partnerships & Rural Coalition Building
Local coalitions can change the way that communities respond to the threats of SUD by mobilizing the entire community to act. Rural coalitions work by assessing the community and the issues of greatest concern, then identifying a capacity for strengthening old bonds and starting new partnerships before formulating a strategic direction.
Strength in Small Numbers
While coalition building in a rural community is often difficult due to limited resources and stakeholders, there are also many strengths inherent to rural communities that urban areas may lack. When rural community members come together for a cause:
People are invested in the cause because the issue is affecting a larger percent of people given the smaller population and it likely includes friends and family.
Coalition members and community partners work on many of the same projects and are able to intertwine these areas of focus so there is a layering effect to the work that they do.
Rural coalitions create sustainable programs that work for their particular demographics and local needs.
Related resources
Partnership Mapping Tool. Strong partnerships are essential to the success of any coalition. Use this tool to map partners in your community.
Strategic Planning: A Toolkit Designed for Community Coalitions. A toolkit to develop and strengthen a community coalition focused on substance use and overdose prevention.
Developing Effective Coalitions: The 8-Step Process. This guide provides steps that vital to creating partnerships within your community.
Rural Substance Abuse and Awareness Coalition. Example of a coalition website from a rural community.
Mobilizing Community Partnerships in Rural Communities: Strategies and Techniques. This guidebook describes how rural communities can develop and maintain organizational and community partnerships among local health departments, community health centers, health care organizations, offices of rural health, hospitals, and nonprofit organizations.
Bridging urban/rural responses to opioid use and overdose. Opioid use affects communities across the United States, from the biggest cities to the smallest towns. What can we learn from policy responses in communities that look very different from ours, and how does the place we live shape our efforts to promote safety, health, and wellbeing?
Change Management Strategies. Essential tips and tools for coalition building and change management.
