IntroductiontoCommunitiesthatCare

a)TheCommunitiesThatCareprocess
CommunitiesThatCare(CTC)isafivephaseprocessdesignedtobuildcommunitycapacitytoplan
anddelivereffectivedevelopmentalpreventionservices.TheCTCprocessleadscommunities
throughthestepsrequiredtopromotehealthydevelopment,improveoutcomes,andreduce
problembehavioursforlocalchildrenandadolescents.

Thereare5phasesofwhichmakeuptheCommunitiesthatCareprocessasfollows:

Phase1GettingStarted:communitiesprepareforactionbyworkingtoidentifyandrecruit
relevantcommunitystakeholdersandkeydecisionmakerstotheCommunitiesThatCare
process.

Phase2GettingOrganised:theCommunityBoard,KeyLeaderGroupandrelevantgovernance
structuresareestablishedtoguidedecisionmakingandplanning.

Phase3CreateaProfile:aCommunityProfileReportispreparedusingdatagatheredfrom
youthsurveysofhealthbehavioursandriskandprotectivefactors,archivaldata,and
assessmentsofexistingcommunityresourcesandstrengths.

Phase4CreateaPlan:theCommunityBoardgoesthroughaprocessofidentifyingprioritiesfor
action,choosingrelevantevidencebasedprogramsforimplementation,andcreatinga
comprehensiveCommunityActionPlantoguideprogramimplementationandevaluation.

Phase5ImplementandEvaluate:thestrategiesfromtheCommunityActionPlanareputin
motion,andtheCommunityBoardandKeyLeaderGroupsensurethatevidencebasedprograms
andstrategiesareimplementedandevaluatedasplanned.


b)Keypeople
Ineachcommunity,theCTCprocessisguidedbytheAuspiceAgencyandthelocallyemployed
CommunityCoordinator,withsupportfromCommunitiesthatCareLtdandlocalstakeholders
includingtheKeyLeaderGroup,theCommunitiesthatCareBoardandparticipatingschools.
AuspiceAgency
TheAuspiceAgencyisresponsibleforoverseeingtheprojectwithinthecommunity,andensuring
thattheprojectdeliverablesaremet.TheAuspiceAgencyisrequiredtoprovidewrittenandverbal
progressupdatestoCommunitiesThatCareLtd.,andadviseofanyproblemsrelatingtothe
completionofagreeddeliverables.TheAuspiceAgencyappointsadedicatedCommunity
CoordinatortoleadtheimplementationofPhases1to5.

LocalCommunityCoordinator
ThelocallyemployedCommunityCoordinatorleadsthecommunitythroughtheCommunitiesThat
Careprocess.Theyarethefirstpointofcontactforcommunityenquiriesaboutthelocal
implementationoftheprocess.TheCommunityCoordinatormaintainsregularfortnightlycontact
withtheCommunitiesThatCareLtdCommunityRelationsOfficer.
KeyLeaders
Recruitmenttothekeyleaderrolesshouldincludepeopleinhighleveladvisorypositionsfromall
mainsectorsandagenciesservicingthecommunity.TheKeyLeaderGroupisonlyrequiredto
attendtheinitialorientation,andisotherwisekeptinformedviaregularcommunicationfromthe
coordinatorand/orscheduledmeetings(recommended2or3timesina12monthperiod).TheKey
LeadersresponsibilitiesincludingpromotingandchampioningtheCommunitiesthatCareprocessin
thecommunity,influencingfunding,policyandpublicopinion,providingaccesstoresources,
informationpeopleandplaces,providingoversightandaccountabilityandgivinginputtodecisions.

CommunityBoard
TheCommunityBoardandsubworkgroupmembersdrivetheCTCeffort.Attendingtrainingsand
workshopshelpsthecoalitionmakejointdecisions,andcompleteeachstepoftheprocess.The
CommunityBoardshouldrepresentallofthestakeholdergroupsinthecommunity.Theboardis
expectedtocontinueitsroleallphasesoftheprocess.Atypicalboardwouldfeaturetermsof
Reference,includingtermsofreferenceanddecisionmaking;renewableterms&staggeredexit(so
notalltermsendatthesametime);andregularrecruitmentofnewmembers

CommunitiesThatCareLtd
CommunitiesThatCareLtdwillprovidetraining,supportandtechnicalassistancedirectlytothe
CommunityCoordinator,AuspiceAgencyandrelevantworkinggroups.Trainingisdeliveredateach
phaseoftheprocess,andisfacilitatedbyCommunitiesThatCareLtdstaff.TheCommunitiesThat
CareLtdCommunityRelationsOfficerwillalsoworkcloselywiththelocalcoordinatorandmaintain
regularfortnightlycontacttoguidethemthroughtheprocess.

ParticipatingSchools
TheCommunityCoordinatorwillassistCommunitiesThatCareLtdtoengageaminimumoftwolocal
secondaryschoolsintheprocess.SchoolparticipationispivotaltothesuccessoftheCommunities
thatCareprocessasschoolstudentsprovidethedataonhowthecommunityistrackingthrough
initialandfollowupsurveys.Schoolsalsoplayanimportantroleinensuringschoolbased
evidencebasedprogramsareimplementedduringPhase5.

c)KeyActivities,Training&Timelines
Forqualityassurancepurposes,theCTCframeworkhasmilestonesandbenchmarksforeachofthe
fivephases.Themilestonesaregoalsthatcommunitiesmustmeettocompleteaphase.The
benchmarksaretheactionsCommunitiesthatCareboardandworkinggroupsmusttakeor
conditionsthatmustbepresenttocompleteaphase.

CommunitiesthatCarePhases1&2:GettingStarted&GettingOrganised
Timeframeforactivities:6months
TheinitialactivitiesinPhases1and2focusoninvolvingthecommunityintheCTCprocess.Thisis
achievedbymobilisingcommunitysupport,recruitingkeycommunitystakeholders,orientatingthe
communitytotheCTCprocessandpreventionscienceconcepts,andestablishingrelevantworking
groupsandcoalitionstodrivetheCTCprocesswithinthecommunity.AtthecompletionofPhases1
and2,thecommunitywillhaveachievedbasicorganisationalreadiness.
KeyActivities

CTCTraining&TechnicalSupport

PHASES1&2:GettingStarted&GettingOrganised
CompleteCommunityCoordinator/Linemanager
Training
Identifykeycommunitystakeholders,andbegin
processofengagingtheminCTC
Identifycommunityreadinessissuesanddevelopa
planforaddressingthem
Establishaschoolworkgroup
Establishafundingworkgroup
ObtainformalcommitmentofKeyLeadersand
CommunityBoard
Confirmcommitmentofminimumoftwo
secondaryschoolsforstudentsurvey
FundingraisedforCTCsitelicence
Initiationofstudentsurveyinginminimumoftwo
secondaryschools

Consultingandtechnicalassistance
CommunityReadinessmeetings
CommunityCoordinator/LineManager
Training

Consultingandtechnicalassistance
KeyLeaderOrientation
CommunityBoardOrientation

Technicalassistancewithadministration
ofthestudentsurvey;preparationof
reportonsurveyresults

CommunitiesthatCarePhases35:Planning&Delivery
Timeframeforactivities:18months
KeyActivities

TrainingandTechnicalAssistance
PHASE3:DevelopaProfile

Completionofstudentsurveysinminimumtwo
secondaryschools
Collectandorganisearchivalandsupplementary
communitydata
Identifypriorityriskandprotectivefactors
Conductaresourceassessmentandgapsanalysis
PrepareCommunityProfilereport

Technicalassistancewithadministration
ofthestudentsurvey,dataanalysisand
compilationofareportidentifying
elevatedriskfactors,lowprotective
factorsandprevalentproblem
behavioursamonglocaladolescents.
CommunityAssessmentTraining
CommunityResourcesAssessment
Training(R)

PHASE4:CreateaPlan
DeveloptheCommunityBoardscapacityto
produceafocusedCommunityActionPlan
Selectevidencebasedprograms,policiesand
practicestoaddresspriorityriskandprotective
factorsandfillgaps
Developimplementationplansforeachselected
program,policyorpractice
Developanoverarchingevaluationplan,aswellas
evaluationplansforeachselectedprogram,policy
orpractice
PrepareawrittenCommunityActionPlanand
makeavailabletothewidercommunity

CommunityPlanningTraining
Consultingandtechnicalassistance

PHASE5:ImplementandEvaluate
SpecifyrolesofCommunityBoardandKeyLeader
Groupmembersinimplementingandevaluating
theCommunityActionPlan
Ensurethatprogramimplementersreceive
appropriatetrainingandhavetherequired
expertiseandresourcestoimplementwithfidelity
Developanimplementationmonitoringplanforall
programsthatincludesfidelitychecking
Conductprogramprocessevaluationsasplanned
Assiststudentsurveyrecruitmentforyouthre
survey
Shareandcelebrateobservedimprovementsin
riskandprotectivefactors

ImplementationandEvaluationTraining
TrainingforProgramImplementers(R)
ReviewWorkshop(R)
Consultingandtechnicalassistance
Technicalassistancewithre
administrationofstudentsurveyto
schools(thesameschoolsasoriginally
surveyedpreviously)

(R)=trainingcanbedeliveredviaremotelinkuptechnologywherepossible

d)TrainingandWorkshops:
TheCommunityCoordinatorwillworkwithCommunitiesthatCareLtd.tocoordinateanddeliver
trainingandworkshopeventsthatarefundamentaltothesuccessfulcompletionofthefivePhases
ofCommunitiesthatCare.Theseare:

Training/Workshops
WhoAttends?
Phase?
CommunityReadinessMeeting(R)
Cantakeplaceasaninformal
meetingorforum

Initialinterestedstakeholders/
potentialAuspicepartners

Priortosigning
contract/MOU

KeyLeaderOrientation*
One2hoursession

Thecommunityskeyleaders

CommunityBoardOrientation*
One2hoursession

FullCommunityBoard

CommunityCoordinator&LineManager
Orientation(R)
One3to4hoursession

CommunityCoordinator&Line
Manager

CommunityAssessmentTraining
One3to4hoursession

Workgroupspecific

CommunityResourcesAssessment
Training(R)
One3to4hoursession

Workgroupspecific

CommunityPlanningTraining(R)
One4to5hoursession

FullCommunityBoard

Implementation&EvaluationTraining
One4to5hoursession

Workgroupspecific

TrainingforProgramImplementers(R)
One3to4hoursession

Workgroupspecific

ReviewWorkshop(R)
One2hoursession

FullCommunityBoard

*KeyLeaderandBoardorientationscanbecombined
(R)Thesemeetings/trainingscanbeheldviaremotelinkup

e)CommunitiesthatCareCosts
ImplementationoftheCommunitiesthatCareprocessrequiresfundsforthefollowingkeyitems:

1. Employmentofalocalparttimecoordinator(0.5EFTfor2years)

2. CommunitiesthatCareLtd.Services&fees:
PurchaseoftheCommunitiesThatCaresiteregistration
Surveying(includesdatacollection,analysisandreporting)
Training,consultingandtechnicalassistance

3. Implementationoftestedandeffectiveprograms:
InitiationofapilottestedandeffectprogramPhase3/4
ImplementationofCommunityActionPlanPhase5

f)Contact
ForfurtherinformationaboutimplementingCommunitiesthatCareinyourcommunitycontact:

JohnToumbourou
CEO,CommunitiesthatCare
John.toumbourou@deakin.edu.au

RachelSmith
CommunitiesthatCareProgramManager
Rachel.smith@mcri.edu.au

TinaHosseini
CommunityRelationsOfficer
Tina.hosseini@mcri.edu.au