A multi-level analysis of community coordinating councils

Coordinating councils are frequently formed to promote a coordinated response to complex social issues (e.g., community health, violence prevention). Little is known, to date, however, about council effectiveness. Prior research on council effectiveness and the correlates of effectiveness have typically relied on case studies. While case studies provide rich descriptive information about the functioning and quality of councils, studies of multiple settings are central to understanding what factors explain variability in perceived effectiveness across councils. Further, the relatively few studies that have examined multiple settings often ignore the multi-level nature of studying councils by failing to disaggregate individual and council level effects. To examine councils' perceived effectiveness in attaining their goals and the correlates of council effectiveness across settings, data were gathered from members (N = 511) and leaders (N = 41) of 43 domestic violence coordinating councils regarding their perceived climate, membership, structure, and accomplishments. Study findings suggest that councils were not perceived as uniformly effective. Councils were more likely to be rated as effective by members and leaders when they were characterized by an inclusive climate and diverse active membership.