The book is especially useful for researchers, policymakers, public health practitioners, and community leaders who have limited experience in both health coalition building, and working with the African American community in particular.

CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGY

An important book for African Americans nationwide; I believe it will make a real impact on the way we view comprehensive health care for communities of color in this country.

Kweisi Mfume, President and CEO, NAACP

In Building Health Coalitions in the Black Community, Professor Ronald Braithwaite and his colleagues examine the phenomenon of coalition building with respect to diverse problems and situations they have encountered in their research. The result is a significant contribution to knowledge of the method of coalition development and its application in African American Communities.

The book begins with a historical review of health care and collaboration involving the African American population generally. The second chapter reveals federal and research foundation support for coalition building. Following this are discussions addressing a wide range of issues relating to coalitions in the African American Community:

• The theoretical basis of coalition building and coalitions in urban communities;
• The role of formative, process and summative evaluation in coalitions generally, with examples of coalitions combating drug use;
• The benefits that proceed from collaborations between African American religious institutions and public health officials, and the role, selection and training of lay health advisors;
• Ways coalitions in the African American community have responded to environmental issues such as hazardous waste facility siting;

Students in a variety of health science and related disciplines (public health, nursing, medicine, and allied health, social work, psychology, sociology, health education) will find this an excellent general introduction to health promotion in African American communities.