Developing a Statewide Platform to Strengthen Communication and Collaboration Among Community Coalitions and the Recovery Infrastructure

The lack of coordination and collaboration is a challenge for community-based coalitions and the recovery infrastructure. As part of a statewide strategy in Indiana, a dynamic solution was created that serves as a communication platform, a cache of information, an area to share files and resources, and an information store for community-based coalitions and those seeking recovery supports and services.

The Indiana Coalition Network (ICN) is a digital platform that connects community coalition members so they can take informed action on drug and alcohol use in the areas of Prevention-Education, Treatment-Intervention-Recovery, and Justice-Law Enforcement. The ICN platform increases communication and collaboration within and among 92 Local Coordinating Coalitions (LCCs) throughout Indiana, while also connecting members to the existing statewide and national alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) infrastructures and resources. ICN’s partner network, the Indiana Recovery Network (IRN) launched its digital platform with the goal of supporting regional recovery efforts to better engage and connect individuals and families in recovery with supports and services throughout Indiana. Both websites provide interconnected subject-specific collaboration hubs, so that all stakeholders can be reached with flexible well-curated and measured knowledge-sharing. Sharing means having information and links to resources in one place, creating a knowledge-base for a wide range of uses, and the ability to access and share information with other statewide Coalitions and recovery supports/services. This includes articles, best policies/practices, documents, websites, videos, etc., and the ability to hold online discussions around topics of interest.