Reach Across Communities

What is a Community Coalition?

A community coalition is a group of local organizations, leaders, and residents working together to create positive change. By combining resources, expertise, and efforts, we tackle important issues—like mental health, substance use prevention, and community well-being—to make a lasting impact. Instead of working alone, we collaborate to connect people with services, raise awareness, and build a stronger, healthier community.

Our coalitions are made of 12 community sectors.

Participation from all 12 sectors ensures broad representation and engagement from various community aspects, leading to more effective and sustainable solutions to community problems. 

The Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF)

The Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) is a step-by-step process that helps communities prevent issues like substance use by using data, collaboration, and strategic planning. It starts with Assessment, where communities identify their biggest challenges by analyzing data and gathering input. Next is Capacity, which focuses on bringing the right people together and ensuring there are enough resources to make a difference. In Planning, a strategy is developed that fits the community’s specific needs. Then comes Implementation, where programs, policies, and activities are put into action. Finally, Evaluation helps measure what’s working and what needs to be adjusted. Throughout the process, Cultural Competence ensures efforts are relevant and inclusive, while Sustainability focuses on making a lasting impact. SPF is all about using a thoughtful, community-driven approach to prevent problems before they start.

Our Work

Our coalitions work to address local conditions in Ellis, Johnson, and Hill Counties. Our initiatives are based on assessed community needs and the community’s readiness to address these needs. These currently include:

  • Naloxone training and dispersal

  • Local data collection

  • Mental health activities

  • Safe celebration education

  • Community event collaboration

  • Parent and youth education on substance misuse

  • Policy change

  • Safe medication storage and disposal resources

Reach Across Communities is a program of REACH Council, a 501(c)3 non-profit.

REACH Council’s mission is “to support safe and healthy choices vital to the well-being of our youth, families, and communities”.

For more information on REACH Council’s school-based prevention and youth recovery programs, please visit ReachCouncil.org.