What We Do

The team behind A Coalition Trip to Health is dedicated to guiding local and regional community-health leaders on a path towards successful management and information tracking for health coalitions. We aim to provide resources and practical tools to aid in the actualization of these coalitions and their goals.

A Coalition Trip to Health is made possible by The Community Health Engagement Program (CHEP) of the Indiana Clinical Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) in collaboration with the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUI.

Coalition Trip is currently being supported and sustained by the Connections IN Health team. Connections IN Health is a partnership between The Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI), the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH), and the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center (IUSCCC). This alliance seeks to support coalitions across the state, as they work to protect the health of Hoosiers, by uniting the health department’s coalition development work and the community and engagement initiatives of IUSCC and Indiana CTSI.

Connections IN Health is comprised of four core initiatives, three of which are associated with state-wide coalitions. The Indiana Join Asthma Coalition seeks to reduce the burden of asthma in the state of Indiana through multi-dimensional efforts. The Hoosier Health and Wellness Alliance is a coalition which seek to increase positive health outcomes in Indiana by highlighting collaboration, education, and food equity. The Cardiovascular and Diabetes Coalition of Indiana addresses burden of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and stroke through the coalition’s work in education, collaboration, awareness, advocacy, and access to care. The Health Equity and Cancer Control Initiative partners with the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Community Outreach and Engagement Office to reduce the burden of cancer through comprehensive efforts.

Purdue Extension partners with Connections IN Health ensuring Coalition Trip can provide website visitors with up-to-date resources and information. Purdue Extension is involved with health coalitions in more than 75 counties across the state and has educators in all 92 Indiana counties. This organization was created with the needs of Hoosiers in mind and since its conception, the Purdue Extension team has worked towards improving the health of individuals of all walks of life.

This website was inspired by a partnership with a community health coalition in Clinton County, Indiana. Since 2008, the Healthy Communities of Clinton County Coalition has received more than $5 million in grant funding to put towards the health and well-being of its residents. Over the years, the county has seen improvements in their health rankings and they continue to work towards a healthier community. The HCCCC’s continued dedication to improving its community’s health outcomes provides an excellent example of what can be achieved with strong, well-organized coalitions.

“The biggest success over the last several years is an improvement in people’s perception of how well their community is doing. People seem happier, more engaged, more positive, and have a better outlook on the future of their community.”

— Healthy Communities of Clinton County Coalition Member