CINCH - AN URBAN COALITION FOR EMPOWERMENT AND ACTION

CINCH (Consortium for the Immunization of Norfolk's Children) is an ur ban coalition that was developed in 1993 to improve childhood immuniza tion rates in Norfolk, Virginia. CINCH involves diverse citizens and i nstitutions in effective community-based assessment, planning. and act ion. A needs assessment from 1993 found that only 49% of Norfolk 2-yea r-olds were adequately immunized. Using this data, CINCH developed a p lan focused on education and communication, support for at-risk famili es, increased access to immunizations, and improved immunization deliv ery. After federal funding ended in 1995, members voted to expand the scope of the coalition to address additional child health needs and to broaden the membership. CINCH is a model for a sustainable city-citiz en learning environment that intervenes to ''help families help themse lves to better health.'' The coalition is presented as an organization that focuses on community empowerment and develop ment The stages of coalition development and implications for coalition implementation in other sites are discussed.