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MISSION |
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The North Quabbin Community
Coalition is a community wide alliance committed to improving the quality of
life for all those living and working in the North Quabbin region. |
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GOALS |
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BACKGROUND OF THE COALITION |
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The North Quabbin Community Coalition
has provided a community-wide alliance committed to improving the quality of
life for all those living and working within the nine-town North Quabbin
region for over twenty four years. The model for this Coalition was developed in response to
community-identified issues and focused on developing solutions that are
community driven. In a region often referred to as "resource poor", the
network of health and human service providers needed to pay even more
attention to the issue of collaboration in order to maximize all existing
resources. The spirit of collaboration has allowed the area to develop
several unique partnerships, to secure many additional resources and
supports and has developed a strong coalition that fosters this growth. The
Coalition serves three primary purposes within the community as follows: |
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The Coalition
serves as liaison to local legislators and helps to inform policy as to the
needs of the rural community which is served. The Coalition also mobilizes
the community in response to issues that may arise. In 2002, the Coalition
coordinated a response to the closing of the local welfare office by
successfully negotiating for two additional bus routes to the new site in
Greenfield, an outreach worker stationed in Athol one day per week, and a
toll-free number to the Greenfield site. This effort provided improved
access for our community’s most vulnerable residents. Last year, the Coalition
coordinated a response to the potential closing of the Orange District
Court, engaging statewide media attention to the multiple resources which
depend on the court. Local law enforcement agencies, landlords, business
representatives as well as victims accessing services from within the court
system would be severely challenged if the local court were closed, and
advocacy efforts were successful in maintaining this valuable community
resource. |
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The Coalition hosts
several Task Force groups,
which serve to address local issues by engaging all stakeholders and
developing local solutions to these challenges. Current Task Forces include:
Dental Care Access, C.A.R.E. (Comprehensive Assault Reduction Effort) a
violence prevention group, Housing, Family Literacy and Support and Economic
Development. Each Task Force serves to provide a forum for area providers to
share information and to reduce duplication of services, provide community
education and finally, to secure resources to address the needs within the
local region. Historically, the Coalition has developed many successful
initiatives, which have since spun off and now function as independent
entities serving the region today. These include: An Information and
Referral Program (17 years in existence), a Health Access program (6 years
in existence), a Child Abuse and Prevention program (over 11 years in
existence), a community wide public transportation system (over 4 years in
existence), and a family homeless shelter (9 years in existence). |
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| The Coalition hosts a monthly forum
to share information among service providers and to present relevant topics
for discussion. The monthly newsletter also serves to support information
sharing and reaches a total of over 600 community residents and providers.
The Coalition hosts a website which features a comprehensive
resource directory
of area services and contact information. This directory is widely used as a
resource and is currently accessed by everyone from agencies, municipalities
to area schools and law enforcement. |
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| The Coalition has a strong
history of providing leadership to other communities and other coalitions by
its various networking opportunities. The formation of the Coalition in the
North Quabbin led to forming the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition in
North Adams and the Lower/Outer Cape Cod Community Coalition. For over
twenty years, these coalitions have functioned in a similar role in their
respective communities. The North Quabbin Community Coalition is part of the
Healthy Communities network of Coalitions, and is a member of the Community
Connections project which is a statewide network of Department of Social
Services funded coalitions focused on child abuse prevention. Identifying community issues as they arise and convening collaborative problem solving are the main functions of the community coalition. In this way, the Coalition is the community's "kitchen table". Years ago, families were more likely to gather around the kitchen table at mealtimes. This gathering was an opportunity to have a conversation as a family: to share successes, express concerns and plan solutions. These "kitchen table" discussions are as important for communities as they are for families. The Coalition convenes a neutral ground, where residents can gather to talk about the community's strengths, discuss problems, and collaborate to find solutions. Even after a fight, the table is a central place to which community residents return. The kitchen table provides a place where the many parts of the community can come together as a whole. |
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NQCC Board of Directors |
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