Now that you have identified your community and started to learn about the assets and challenges, let’s find your community partners!

What is a Community Based Organization?

Members of the National Community Based Organization Network created a formal definition of Community Based Organizations at the APHA Annual Meeting in 2004.
 
A CBO is one that is driven by community residents in all aspects of its existence.

  • The governing body and staff consists of local residents.
  • The main operating offices are in the community.
  • Priority issue areas are identified and defined by residents.
  • Solutions to address priority issues are developed with residents.
  • Program design, implementation, and evaluation components have residents intimately involved, in leadership positions.

Reminder

  • CBOs can be natural partners in the advocacy issue or concern to improve child health and well-being outcomes in your community.
  • Through these partnerships, the pediatrician can incorporate the expertise, perspective, and resources of each partner to bear on child health concerns in each community. 

How to Find Community Partners

The Community Wheel, adapted from the CPTI Project Planning Tool, can help you identify different groups that may already exist as advocates in your community. 

Examples of partners could be: 

  • A local school who has an active PTA that is already partnering with an afterschool recreation program to increase safe places to play but struggling with curriculum and enrollment
  • A local food pantry working to expand a community garden
  • A community-based non-profit organization that is providing short term shelter for homeless teens
  • A local youth sports league looking to provide education around concussion prevention and management
  • A neighborhood watch group working to decrease gun violence in their neighborhood
  • An HOA working to regulate water safety by addressing policy for neighborhood pools
  • A local child advocate organization (such as CASA) working to advocate for children in the court system

Formalizing the Partnership

To successfully plan and implement a community-based project, collaboration is essential.  Consider the following steps as you work to assemble your team.

Utilizing the Community Wheel or similar tools, form a coalition of individuals and groups related to your issue or population.

Continue to engage with stakeholders by meeting, sharing ideas, refining your goals, and enlisting support.

Seek out project “champions” that are already passionate about the advocacy issue.

Building these relationships will strengthen both planning and implementation efforts find out how to put the plan in motion in Stop 5.

Last Updated

11/26/2025

Source

American Academy of Pediatrics