Identifying Allies

Building a Consumer Voice to Address Conversions: Identifying Allies

One of the first steps in building a consumer voice to address a conversion is to identify those individuals/organizations most likely to be concerned about the impact a conversion might have on the community or the constituency they represent. An organized consumer movement can influence a conversion outcome. Communities can often use the conversion issue to bring diverse organizations together. Below is a list of potential partners who might be interested in getting involved in a conversion transaction, or who may want to learn more about conversions:

Health services and health reform advocates
Seniors and their advocates
People with physical and mental disabilities, and advocates working on their behalf
Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries and their advocates
Groups representing communities of color
Parents of children with special health needs
Children’s organizations
Primary care associations
Community health center employees
Religious organizations
Health philanthropies
Local health planning agencies
Health policy experts
Pre-existing health reform and universal health care coalitions
Grassroots groups working on issues in low income communities
Housing and homeless coalitions
Providers specifically committed to care of vulnerable populations
Environmental health organizations
Legal services agencies and other legal advocates
University-based health care planning experts/advocates
Local affiliates of national organizations (AARP, League of Women Voters, YMCA, NAACP, National Council of La Raza)
Employees and their unions (local & national)
Community action agencies

Strength in Numbers: A Guide to Building Community Coalitions: (PDF) This guide was written by Community Catalyst to assist anyone interested in building community coalitions. In this guide, readers will find helpful information on many relevant topics, such as how to establish a strong and stable coalition foundation, how to enhance the coalition by developing a broad and diverse membership, and how to increase the effectiveness and lifespan of the coalition.