This page lists 46 Chapters through which you can obtain practical, step-by-step guidance in community-building skills. See also our related Toolkits, which offer short outlines for key tasks.
Table of Contents
Overview
An overview of the Community Tool Box and frameworks for guiding, supporting and evaluating the work of community and system change.Chapters
- Learn about different approaches for supporting and evaluating community improvement efforts.
- Section 1.A Community Tool Box Overview and Gateway to the Tools
- Section 3.Our Model of Practice: Building Capacity for Community and System Change
- Section 5.Our Evaluation Model: Evaluating Comprehensive Community Initiatives
- Section 6.Some Core Principles, Assumptions, and Values to Guide the Work
- Section 7.Working Together for Healthier Communities: A Framework for Collaboration Among Community Partnerships, Support Organizations, and Funders
- Section 8.Some Lessons Learned on Community Organization and Change
- Section 9.Community Action Guide: Framework for Addressing Community Goals and Problems
- Section 10.Using Internet-Based Tools to Promote Community Health and Development
- Section 11.Participatory Evaluation
- Learn how to implement different models for promoting community health and development.
- Section 1.Developing a Logic Model or Theory of Change
- Section 2.PRECEDE/PROCEED
- Section 3.Healthy Cities/Healthy Communities
- Section 4.Asset Development
- Section 5.Collective Impact
- Section 6.The Institute of Medicine's Community Health Improvement Process (CHIP)
- Section 7.Ten Essential Public Health Services
- Section 8.Communities That Care
- Section 9.Community Readiness
- Section 10.The Strategic Prevention Framework
- Section 11.Health Impact Assessment
- Section 12.Documenting Health Promotion Initiatives Using the PAHO Guide
- Section 13.MAPP: Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships
- Section 14.MAP-IT: A Model for Implementing Healthy People 2020
- Section 15.The County Health Rankings & Roadmaps Take Action Cycle
- Section 16.Building Compassionate Communities
- Section 17.Addressing Social Determinants of Health in Your Community
- Section 18.PACE EH: Protocol for Assessing Community Excellence in Environmental Health
Related Toolkits
Community Assessment
Information about how to assess community needs and resources, get issues on the public agenda, and choose relevant strategies.Chapters
- Learn how to identify and assess community concerns, needs, and assets.
- Section 1.Developing a Plan for Assessing Local Needs and Resources
- Section 2.Understanding and Describing the Community
- Section 3.Conducting Public Forums and Listening Sessions
- Section 4.Collecting Information About the Problem
- Section 5.Analyzing Community Problems
- Section 6.Conducting Focus Groups
- Section 7.Conducting Needs Assessment Surveys
- Section 8.Identifying Community Assets and Resources
- Section 9.Developing Baseline Measures
- Section 10.Conducting Concerns Surveys
- Section 11.Determining Service Utilization
- Section 12.Conducting Interviews
- Section 13.Conducting Surveys
- Section 14.SWOT Analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats
- Section 15.Qualitative Methods to Assess Community Issues
- Section 16.Geographic Information Systems: Tools for Community Mapping
- Section 17.Leading a Community Dialogue on Building a Healthy Community
- Section 18.Creating and Using Community Report Cards
- Section 19.Using Public Records and Archival Data
- Section 20.Implementing Photovoice in Your Community
- Section 21.Windshield and Walking Surveys
- Section 22.Using Small Area Analysis to Uncover Disparities
- Section 23.Developing and Using Criteria and Processes to Set Priorities
- Section 24.Arranging Assessments That Span Jurisdictions
- Learn how to promote awareness of issues and to get them on the public agenda.
- Section 1.Developing a Plan for Getting Community Health and Development Issues on the Local Agenda
- Section 2.Communicating Information about Community Health and Development Issues
- Section 3.Gaining Public Support for Addressing Community Health and Development Issues
- Section 4.Talking About Risk and Protective Factors Related to Community Issues
- Section 5.Making Community Presentations
- Learn how to use different strategies and approaches to change and improvement.
Related Toolkits
Communications to Promote Interest and Participation
Communications that promote interest and encourage involvement.Chapters
- Learn how to use persuasion and promotion to promote interest in community issues.
- Section 1.Developing a Plan for Communication
- Section 2.Using Principles of Persuasion
- Section 3.Preparing Press Releases
- Section 4.Arranging News and Feature Stories
- Section 6.Preparing Guest Columns and Editorials
- Section 7.Preparing Public Service Announcements
- Section 8.Arranging a Press Conference
- Section 9.Using Paid Advertising
- Section 10.Creating Newsletters
- Section 11.Creating Posters and Flyers
- Section 12.Developing Creative Promotions
- Section 13.Creating Brochures
- Section 15.Creating Fact Sheets on Local Issues
- Section 16.Creating a Website
- Section 17.Using Email Lists
- Section 18.Using Direct Mail
- Section 19.Handling Crises in Communication
- Learn how to promote participation.
- Section 1.Developing a Plan for Increasing Participation in Community Action
- Section 2.Promoting Participation Among Diverse Groups
- Section 3.Methods of Contacting Potential Participants
- Section 4.Writing Letters to Potential Participants
- Section 5.Making Personal Contact with Potential Participants
- Section 6.Involving Key Influentials in the Initiative
- Section 7.Engaging People Most Affected by the Problem
- Section 8.Identifying and Analyzing Stakeholders and Their Interests
Developing a Strategic Plan and Organizational Structure
Information about developing a strategic plan and organizational structure, recruiting and training staff and volunteers, and providing technical assistance.Chapters
- Learn how to develop strategic and action plans.
- Section 1.An Overview of Strategic Planning or "VMOSA" (Vision, Mission, Objectives, Strategies, and Action Plans)
- Section 2.Proclaiming Your Dream: Developing Vision and Mission Statements
- Section 3.Creating Objectives
- Section 4.Developing Successful Strategies
- Section 5.Developing an Action Plan
- Section 6.Obtaining Feedback from Constituents: What Changes are Important and Feasible?
- Section 7.Identifying Action Steps in Bringing About Community and System Change
- Learn how to develop an organizational structure.
- Section 1.Organizational Structure: An Overview
- Section 2.Creating and Gathering a Group to Guide Your Initiative
- Section 3.Developing Multisector Task Forces or Action Committees for the Initiative
- Section 4.Developing an Ongoing Board of Directors
- Section 5.Welcoming and Training New Members to a Board of Directors
- Section 6.Maintaining a Board of Directors
- Section 7.Writing Bylaws
- Section 8.Including Youth on Your Board, Commission, or Committee
- Section 9.Understanding and Writing Contracts and Memoranda of Agreement
- Learn how to plan for hiring and training of staff.
- Section 1.Developing a Plan for Staff Hiring and Training
- Section 2.Preparing Job Descriptions and Selection Criteria
- Section 3.Advertising for Positions
- Section 4.Interviewing for Positions
- Section 5.Developing Personnel Policies
- Section 6.Developing Staff Orientation Programs
- Section 7.Developing Training Programs for Staff
- Learn how to plan for recruiting, training, and involving volunteers.
- Learn how to design and deliver training and technical assistance.
Leadership and Management
Information about the core functions of leadership, management, and group facilitation.Chapters
- Learn about becoming a leader who aims to serve others and work collaboratively.
- Section 1.Developing a Plan for Building Leadership
- Section 2.Servant Leadership: Accepting and Maintaining the Call of Service
- Section 3.Styles of Leadership
- Section 4.Building Teams: Broadening the Base for Leadership
- Section 5.Developing a Community Leadership Corps: A Model for Service-Learning
- Section 6.Recognizing the Challenges of Leadership
- Section 7.Encouraging Leadership Development Across the Life Span
- Section 8.Ethical Leadership
- Section 11.Collaborative Leadership
- Learn how to engage in the core tasks and functions of leadership.
- Section 1.Learning How to Be a Community Leader
- Section 2.Developing and Communicating a Vision
- Section 3.Discovering and Creating Possibilities
- Section 4.Understanding People's Needs
- Section 5.Building and Sustaining Commitment
- Section 6.Influencing People
- Section 7.Building and Sustaining Relationships
- Section 8.Learning From and Contributing to Constituents
- Section 9.Making Decisions
- Section 10.Overcoming Setbacks and Adversity
- Learn how to become an effective manager and supervisor.
- Learn how to conduct meetings and facilitate groups.
Related Toolkits
Analyzing Community Problems and Designing and Adapting Community Interventions
Information about analyzing community problems to design, choose, and adapt interventions for different cultures and communities.Chapters
- Learn how to analyze problems, think critically, and generate solutions.
- Section 1.An Introduction to the Problem-Solving Process
- Section 2.Thinking Critically
- Section 3.Defining and Analyzing the Problem
- Section 4.Analyzing Root Causes of Problems: The "But Why?" Technique
- Section 5.Addressing Social Determinants of Health and Development
- Section 6.Generating and Choosing Solutions
- Section 7.Putting Your Solution into Practice
- Learn how to design community interventions using participatory approaches.
- Learn how to select promising interventions and adapt them to culture and context consistent with ethical principles.
- Section 1.Criteria for Choosing Promising Practices and Community Interventions
- Section 2.Understanding Risk and Protective Factors: Their Use in Selecting Potential Targets and Promising Strategies for Intervention
- Section 3.Identifying Strategies and Tactics for Reducing Risks
- Section 4.Adapting Community Interventions for Different Cultures and Communities
- Section 5.Ethical Issues in Community Interventions
- Section 6.Promoting the Adoption and Use of Best Practices
Implementing Promising Community Interventions
Information on illustrative interventions using various strategies for change.Chapters
- Learn how to provide information and enhance skills to improve community conditions.
- Learn how to enhance support, incentives, and resources to improve community conditions.
- Learn how to implement youth mentoring programs.
- Section 1.Building Youth Mentoring Programs
- Section 2.Recruiting Mentors for Your Programs
- Section 3.Training Adult Mentors
- Section 4.Recruiting Youth to Your Mentoring Program
- Section 5.Building Youth/Mentor Relationships
- Section 6.Youth Goal Setting
- Section 7.Getting Feedback: Keeping Your Mentoring Program Relevant and Successful
- Learn how to modify access, barriers, and opportunities to improve community conditions.
- Learn how to enhance services and collaboration to improve community conditions.
- Section 1.Overview of Developing and Improving Community Services
- Section 3.Promoting Coordination, Cooperative Agreements, and Collaborative Agreements Among Agencies
- Section 4.Developing Multisector Collaborations
- Section 7.Developing and Increasing Access to Health and Community Services
- Section 8.Establishing a Peer Education Program
- Section 12.Planning an Adult Literacy Program
- Section 13.Establishing an Adult Literacy Program
- Learn how to change policies to improve community conditions.
- Section 1.Changing Policies: An Overview
- Section 2.Promoting Regular Community Assessment, Reporting, and Accountability
- Section 3.Using Tax Incentives to Support Community Health and Development
- Section 4.Supporting Local Ordinances to Modify Access to Unhealthy Products and Practices
- Section 5.Changing Policies to Increase Funding for Community Health and Development Initiatives
- Section 6.Promoting Community-Friendly Policies in Business and Goverment
- Section 9.Changing Policies in Schools
- Section 10.Modifying Policies to Enhance the Quality of Services
- Section 11.Promoting Family-Friendly Policies in Business and Government
- Learn how to change the physical and social environment to improve community conditions.
- Section 1.Overview of Changing the Physical Structure of the Community
- Section 2.Improving the Quality of Housing
- Section 3.Providing Affordable Housing for All
- Section 4.Ensuring Access for People with Disabilities
- Section 6.Improving Parks and Other Community Facilities
- Section 7.Encouraging Historic Preservation
- Section 8.Creating Good Places for Interaction
- Section 9.Protecting Environmental Quality
- Section 10.Establishing Neighborhood Beautification Programs
- Section 11.Conducting Neighborhood Cleanup Programs
- Section 12.Promoting Neighborhood Action
- Section 13.Enhancing the Built Environment through Design
Cultural Competence and Spirituality in Community Building
Information on understanding culture and diversity, how to strengthen multicultural collaboration, and spirituality and community buildingChapters
- Learn strategies for working for racial justice and inclusion.
- Section 1.Understanding Culture and Diversity in Building Communities
- Section 2.Building Relationships with People from Different Cultures
- Section 3.Healing from the Effects of Internalized Oppression
- Section 4.Strategies and Activities for Reducing Racial Prejudice and Racism
- Section 5.Learning to be an Ally for People from Diverse Groups and Backgrounds
- Section 6.Creating Opportunities for Members of Groups to Identify Their Similarities, Differences, and Assets
- Section 7.Building Culturally Competent Organizations
- Section 8.Multicultural Collaboration
- Section 9.Transforming Conflicts in Diverse Communities
- Section 10.Understanding Culture, Social Organization, and Leadership to Enhance Engagement
- Section 11.Building Inclusive Communities
- Learn how to build communities of compassion, justice, and other spiritual assets.
- Section 1.Overview: Some Spiritual Assets for Community Building
- Section 2.Being Compassionate
- Section 3.Being Charitable Towards Others
- Section 4.Forgiveness and Reconciliation
- Section 5.Promoting Peace
- Section 6.Spreading Hope
- Section 7.Promoting Hospitality as a Way of Life
- Section 8.Mindfulness and Community Building
- Section 9.Gratitude and Appreciation
- Section 10.Mercy
- Learn how to use the arts to celebrate and transform communities.
Related Toolkits
Organizing for Effective Advocacy
Information on advocacy principles, advocacy research, providing education, direct action campaigns, media advocacy, and responding to opposition.Chapters
- Learn how to plan for an advocacy effort, recognize allies, and identify opponents.
- Section 1.Overview: Getting an Advocacy Campaign Off the Ground
- Section 2.Survival Skills for Advocates
- Section 3.Understanding the Issue
- Section 4.Recognizing Allies
- Section 5.Identifying Opponents
- Section 6.Encouraging Involvement of Potential Opponents as Well as Allies
- Section 7.Developing a Plan for Advocacy
- Learn how to study an issue, public opinion, and opposition as part of conducting advocacy research.
- Section 1.How to Conduct Research: An Overview
- Section 2.Conducting Studies of the Issue
- Section 3.Gathering Data on Public Opinion
- Section 4.Studying the Opposition
- Section 5.Requesting Accountability
- Section 6.Demonstrating Economic Benefit or Harm
- Section 7.Documenting Complaints
- Section 8.Acting as a Watchdog
- Section 9.Organizing Audits of Consumer Services
- Section 10.Conducting Research to Influence Policy
- Section 11.Organizing Study Circles
- Learn how to reframe the debate and use the advocacy strategy of providing encouragement and education.
- Learn how to use direct action tactics including providing personal testimony, educating decision makers, and registering voters.
- Section 1.Writing Letters to Elected Officials
- Section 2.Writing Letters to the Editor
- Section 3.Criticizing Unfavorable Action
- Section 4.Filing a Complaint
- Section 5.Seeking Enforcement of Existing Laws or Policies
- Section 6.Using Personal Testimony
- Section 7.Lobbying Decisionmakers
- Section 8.Establishing Lines of Communication with the Opposition's Traditional Allies
- Section 9.Conducting a Petition Drive
- Section 10.General Rules for Organizing for Legislative Advocacy
- Section 11.Developing and Maintaining Ongoing Relationships with Legislators and their Aides
- Section 12.Registering Voters
- Section 13.Conducting a Public Hearing
- Section 14.Organizing Public Demonstrations
- Section 15.Seeking a Negotiator, Mediator, or Fact-Finder
- Section 16.Initiating Legal Action
- Section 17.Organizing a Boycott
- Section 18.Organizing a Strike
- Section 19.Using Social Media for Digital Advocacy
- Section 20.Advocacy Over and For the Long Term
- Learn how to use media advocacy approaches including creating news stories and changing the media's perspective on community issues.
- Learn how to recognize opposition tactics and respond to them.
Related Toolkits
Evaluating Community Programs and Initiatives
Information on developing a plan for evaluation, evaluation methods, and using evaluation to understand and improve the initiative.Chapters
- Learn how to develop an evaluation plan, identify stakeholders' interests, and conduct a participatory evaluation.
- Section 1.A Framework for Program Evaluation: A Gateway to Tools
- Section 2.Community-based Participatory Research
- Section 3.Understanding Community Leadership, Evaluators, and Funders: What Are Their Interests?
- Section 4.Choosing Evaluators
- Section 5.Developing an Evaluation Plan
- Section 6.Participatory Evaluation
- Learn how to choose evaluation questions, collect and analyze data, and other aspects of evaluating community interventions.
- Section 1.Choosing Questions and Planning the Evaluation
- Section 2.Information Gathering and Synthesis
- Section 3.Data Collection: Designing an Observational System
- Section 4.Selecting an Appropriate Design for the Evaluation
- Section 5.Collecting and Analyzing Data
- Section 6.Gathering and Interpreting Ethnographic Information
- Section 7.Collecting and Using Archival Data
- Learn how to monitor progress, conduct surveys, gather community-level indicators, and other methods for evaluating comprehensive community initiatives.
- Section 1.Measuring Success: Evaluating Comprehensive Community Initiatives
- Section 2.Gathering Information: Monitoring Your Progress
- Section 3.Rating Community Goals
- Section 4.Rating Member Satisfaction
- Section 5.Constituent Survey of Outcomes: Ratings of Importance
- Section 6.Reaching Your Goals: The Goal Attainment Report
- Section 7.Behavioral Surveys
- Section 8.Conducting Interviews with Key Participants to Analyze Critical Events
- Section 9.Gathering and Using Community-Level Indicators
- Section 10.Community-Level Indicators: Some Examples
- Learn how to evaluate community initiatives.
Related Toolkits
Maintaining Quality and Rewarding Accomplishments
Information on achieving and maintaining quality performance, public reporting, providing incentives, and honoring colleagues and community champions.Chapters
- Learn how to assure quality performance and oversight.
- Learn how to reward and honor colleagues and partners.
Generating, Managing, and Sustaining Financial Resources
Information on writing grants, preparing an annual budget, and planning for financial sustainability.Chapters
- Learn how to apply for grants and plan for sustainability.
- Learn how to manage finances of your organization.
- Learn how to use micro-grants, service contracts, and other ways to invest in community partners.
Related Toolkits
Social Marketing and Sustainability of the Initiative
Information on conducting a social marketing effort (promoting awareness, interest, and behavior change), and planning for long-term sustainability.Chapters
- Learn how to use social marketing to make behavior easier and more rewarding.
- Section 1.Understanding Social Marketing: Encouraging Adoption and Use of Valued Products and Practices
- Section 2.Conducting a Social Marketing Campaign
- Section 3.Listening to Those Whose Behavior Matters
- Section 4.Segmenting the Market to Reach the Targeted Population
- Section 5.Promoting Awareness and Interest Through Communication
- Section 6.Promoting Behavior Changes by Making It Easier and More Rewarding: Benefits and Costs
- Section 7.Supporting and Maintaining Behavior Change
- Section 8.Monitoring Progress and Making Adjustments in the Social Marketing Campaign
- Learn how to use different tactics to assure sustainability of your organization or initiative.
- Section 1.Strategies for the Long-Term Sustainability of an Initiative: An Overview
- Section 2.Strategies for Sustaining the Initiative
- Section 3.Promoting Adoption of the Initiative's Mission and Objectives
- Section 4.Attracting Support for Specific Programs
- Section 5.Marketing the Initiative to Secure Financial Support
- Section 6.Sharing Positions and Other Resources
- Section 7.Becoming a Line Item in an Existing Budget
- Section 8.Incorporating Activities/Services in Organizations with a Similar Mission
- Section 9.Obtaining Corporate Resources
- Section 10.Tapping into Existing Personnel Resources
- Section 11.Soliciting Contributions and In-kind Support
- Section 12.Designing and Implementing a Fundraiser
- Section 13.Pursuing Third Party Funding
- Section 14.Developing a Fee-for-Services Structure
- Section 15.Acquiring Public Funding
- Section 16.Securing Endowments and Planned Giving Arrangements
- Section 17.Establishing and Maintaining a Membership Program
- Section 18.Developing and Marketing Products