Sample Coalition Framework: Healthy Schools Collaborative

Leadership

Steering Committee

• Parents with children who have respiratory issues

• Pediatric Respiratory Medical Expert

• Local liaison(s) from the National Environmental Education Foundation

• Local liaison(s) from Community Health and Safety Coalition

• Teacher

• Student

• Administrator

• School Custodian

• (some of these may be represented by their Union representative)

There will be Co-Chairs, a Secretary, and a Treasurer appointed by the Steering Committe Team. As needed, subcommittees will be formed and the appropriate Steering Committee member will be one of the Chairs. Examples of subcomittees are: communication, implementation, outreach, and fundraising.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Healthy Schools Collaborative is to create a healthy and safe environment for students, teachers, and administrators by eliminating the use of toxic cleaning products in K-12 schools by December 2023.

Goals and Objectives

Goal:

• Pass legislation by 2023 making it mandatory for K-12 schools to use green cleaning products

Objectives:

• Create an educational campaign, including social media, about the harm of toxic chemicals on youth, aging populations, compromised individuals and launch by January 2021. Hold a minimum of one session in each neighborhood within one year and multiple social media posts each week.

• Draft legislation and get sponsors from the House and the Senate before the next legislative cycle

• Expand membership by 10% every quarter

Recommended Members and Roles

Typically your supporter will self-identify the category. You can include this "ask" on a contact information form. Be clear what each level means. For a review of levels of supporter, look at the Members and Roles page. Most other coalitions and existing groups will determine their own priority of actively support and participate or limit to sharing information or just sign on. The groups identified on this list may fall in the 3rd level but could send a representative to meetings.

Here is a sample list of individuals and groups who may be beneficial in helping the coalition achieve their goals and objectives. I've included some reasons.

Companies who make green products - would want their products used; positive economic impact; may have developed resources on the benefits of using their products

Asthma specialists - can show relation between asthma and toxic chemical use; have educational resources; lends credibility to coalition

Construction companies - moving towards safer working conditions; if doing renovations in schools may be impacted

Architects - some companies are "green architects" and seek LEED certification. If chemicals are used, their buildings lose certifications

Water and Sewer workers - work in treatment plants; have to fix broken pipes and have contact with chemicals.

Teachers - work in the environment; are exposed daily

School Custodians - work with the chemicals; are exposed daily

School Nurses - work in the environment; are exposed daily; see first hand the impacts on students and employees; lends credibility to coalition

Administrators - work in the environment; are exposed daily;

Students - attend classes in the environment; are exposed daily

Parents - have children with respiratory issues; have to take children to appointments, stay home if a respiratory attach occurs; and incurs a cost for treatment and potential loss of work.

Parent Teacher Associations - existing relationship between parents, teachers, and administrators. Representatives can be selected or appointed by the group

Primary Care Physicians - can show relation between asthma and toxic chemical use; have educational resources; lends credibility to coalition

Healthy Student and Homes Collaborative - may already be working on this as lower priority or hasn't considered it; share resources and promote actions of this coalition

District-wide Healthy Schools Taskforce - may already be working on this as lower priority or hasn't considered it; share resources and promote actions of this coalition

District Wellness Advisory Committee - may already be working on this as lower priority or hasn't considered it; share resources and promote actions of this coalition

Asthma Advocacy Partnership - may already be working on this as lower priority or hasn't considered it; share resources and promote actions of this coalition

Individuals/groups who may not become members but should be identified as active partners:

School Committee members (appointed or elected) - have contacts for voting, are politically active

City or Town budget members - have contacts for voting, are politically active

Elected officials who already support reducing childhood illnesses, preventing asthma, etc - have contacts for voting, are politically active, have already expressed interest in your coalition

Identifying individuals/group who may oppose you is also important so you can figure out if there are ways to change their minds or fight their reaction and actions:

Chemical manufacturers - negative economic impact; big money for communication blasts and outreach

Elected officials with stock in corporation - potential negative economic impact; potential to shift position with outreach and connection with voters

Financial watchdogs - cost concerns; potential to shift position if demonstrate cost effective including potential reduction in workers' compensation claims

Communication

High level Communication Plan

High level Social Media Communication Plan

Implementation

Example using Google Sheets Gantt Chart template. Included External Communication Plan as a second tab in the worksheet