Institutionalization of community action projects to reduce alcohol-use related problems: Systematic facilitators

This article reviews papers from a recent conference on community action re search in order to identify factors that contribute to long-term maintenanc e, sustainability, or institutionalization of community project interventio ns. The descriptions of long-term outcomes and aftereffects of projects tha t emerged in the conference are valuable because relatively few instances o f institutionalization have been documented in the scientific literature. A fter a general theoretical discussion of institutionalization in communitie s, the article identifies characteristics of successful community action pr ograms that outlived their original funding. These characteristics include honoring community values and cultural relevance, cultivating key leader su pport, and utilizing indigenous staff. They also include developing local r esources, maintaining flexibility, and leveraging prior success. The paper concludes by noting that aiming for policy and structural changes is a goal for an institutionalization of measures positively affecting desired healt h outcomes, even if the programs which created them are nor themselves sust ained.