Empowerment in Coalitions Targeting Underage Drinking: Differential Effects of Organizational Characteristics for Volunteers and Staff |
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| Authors: | Kristen Gilmore Powell Sarah L Gold N Andrew Peterson Suzanne Borys Donald Hallcom |
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| Institution: | 1. Assistant Research Professor, School of Social Work, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USAkgilmore@ssw.rutgers.edu;3. Doctoral Candidate, School of Social Work, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA;4. Professor, School of Social Work, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA;5. Assistant Division Director, Office of Planning, Research, Evaluation and Prevention, New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Trenton, New Jersey, USA;6. Director of Prevention and Early Intervention, Office of Planning, Research, Evaluation and Prevention, New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Trenton, New Jersey, USA |
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| Abstract: | Social work has adopted the Grand Challenge to reduce and prevent alcohol misuse and related consequences. This study extends previous research through a macro examination of distinct roles within coalitions implementing prevention strategies targeting underage alcohol use. The purpose was to determine whether hypothesized relationships among organizational characteristics, empowerment variables, and perceived effectiveness differed for 2 subgroups (i.e., volunteers and paid staff). The sample was comprised of 357 survey participants affiliated with a statewide substance abuse initiative. Structural equation modeling was used to examine hypothesized relationships between study variables and found differences among subgroups. Results can inform organizational processes within coalitions that focus on engaging different groups to have a stronger impact on community issues, such as substance use consequences. |
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| Keywords: | alcohol misuse coalitions empowerment leadership perceived effectiveness prevention science sense of community |
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