AN ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY-BASED INTERVENTIONS FOR PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION - APPROACHES TO MEASURING COMMUNITY COALITIONS

Presented an ecological assessment of a community coalition to prevent alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse, and related risks. Ecological assessment is defined as occurring at multiple social levels and alon g a continuum of stages of coalition readiness. The assessment is aide d by the triangulation, or combining of assessment methods and strateg ies. Measures used to assess the coalition's formation, implementation of community initiatives, and production of community impacts are des cribed along with the triangulation strategies used to enhance the ass essment findings.