The Community Tool Box (CTB)

Created and is maintained by the Work Group for Community Health and Development at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas in the United States, the Community Tool Box (CTB) is designed to give practical guidance for the different tasks necessary to promote community health and development. For instance, there are sections on leadership, strategic planning, community assessment, grant writing, and evaluation. Each section includes a description of the task, advantages of doing it, step-by-step guidelines, examples, checklists of points to review, and training materials.

The CTB provides: over 7,000 online pages of information to support work in promoting community health and development; 300+ how-to instructional modules; quick-start instructions for key activities; guides to solving problems; and details on evidence-based practices. The resource features 46 chapters through which one can reach nearly 300 different sections providing step-by-step guidance in community-building skills. Other tools can be located from purple tabs at the top of "Contents" page on topics including: "Do the Work"; "Solve a Problem"; "Use Promising Approaches"; and "Connect with Others".

The CTB includes:

Overview - an overview of the CTB and frameworks for guiding, supporting, and evaluating the works of community and systems change.

Community Assessment - contains information about how to assess community needs and resources (e.g., conducting listening sessions, analysing problems), how to get issues on the public agenda (e.g., gaining public support), and how to choose broad strategies to promote community health and development (e.g., building coalitions).

Communications to Promote Interest and Participation - information about how to promote interest in an issue (e.g., persuasion, press releases, and newsletters) and how to encourage involvement (e.g., among diverse groups).

Developing a Strategic Plan and Organisational Structure - information about developing a strategic plan (e.g., vision, mission, action plan) and organisational structure (e.g., bylaws, board of directors) and hiring and training staff, recruiting and training volunteers, and providing technical assistance.

Leadership and Management - contains information about the core functions of leadership (e.g., building relationships, influencing people), management (e.g., providing supervision and support), and group facilitation (e.g., leading meetings).

Analysing Community Problems and Designing and Adapting Community Interventions - information about analysing community problems (e.g., thinking critically), designing an intervention (e.g., identifying those who can benefit and help), and choosing and adapting interventions for different cultures and communities.

Implementing Promising Community Interventions - information on illustrative interventions using the strategies of providing information and enhancing skills, enhancing support and resources, youth mentoring, modifying access and barriers, improving services, changing policies, and changing the physical and social environment.

Cultural Competence and Spirituality in Community Building - information on building cultural competence in a multicultural world, spirituality and community action, and the arts and community building.

Organising for Effective Advocacy - information on principles of advocacy (e.g., recognising allies and opponents), conducting advocacy research, providing encouragement and education, conducting a direct action campaign (e.g., personal testimony letters), media advocacy, and responding to opposition.

Evaluating Community Programmes and Initiatives - information on developing a plan for evaluation, methods for evaluation, and using evaluation to understand and improve the initiative.

Maintaining Quality and Rewarding Accomplishments - information on achieving and maintaining quality performance, obtaining and using feedback from clients, arranging celebrations, providing incentives to staff and volunteers, holding awards ceremonies, and honouring colleagues and community champions.

Generating, Managing and Sustaining Financial Resources - information on writing a grant application, planning for financial sustainability, preparing an annual budget, accounting basics, contracting for service and establishing a micro-grants programme for your community.

Social Marketing and Sustainability of the Initiative - information on conducting a social marketing effort (e.g., promoting awareness, interest, and behaviour change), and planning for the long-term sustainability of the effort (e.g., becoming a line item in an existing budget).

Other available fee-based services offered include:

• Training Curriculum - You can purchase 16 training modules that cover core competencies of the CTB, including assessment, planning, or evaluation. Each module offers a participant's guide with experiential learning activities, PowerPoints, and a facilitator's outline for customised training.
• Community WorkStations provide customised platforms for online collaboration, enabling users to share materials, make announcements, and access tools and guidance while working together to meet shared goals.
• Community Check Box - Evaluation System - Record, analyse, and report your organisation's progress. Use real-time data to better understand and improve your initiative's efforts to achieve outcomes and share successes with funders and other stakeholders. Tell your collective impact story.