Scaling community health coalitions: The well connectedcommunities pilot initiative

Abstract

We outline the process and development of the Well Connected Communities health initiative as undertaken inthree Utah communities. This transformative community-focused alternative to addressing public health issuesthrough Extension situates local communities as the origin for health decision making. The initiative recognizesthe need for varied community statuses (i.e., planner, implementer, and innovator) based on varying levels ofreadiness and diversity of populations. We concluded that the Utah Well Connected Communities initiativealigns well with the 2014 Extension Committee on Organization and Policy National Framework for Health andWellness. Replication requirements and implications for other Extension programs are presented.