Connect to Protect Los Angeles Coalition Serving Our Local Community
The C2P LA Coalition formed more than 15 years ago as part of a community mobilization research intervention with the goal of creating a sustainable response to HIV among youth in Los Angeles County. While housed at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, the primary goal is to garner enough momentum and community leadership to become sustainable beyond the life of funding. What makes the Coalition unique is that it focuses on upstream solutions, that is, structural changes, rather than emphasizing on individual level solutions.
Our Mission, Vision, and Values
The vision of the Connect to Protect Los Angeles (C2PLA) Coalition is that young people of color in Los Angeles County will be supported as champions of change in their communities and empowered to self-determine their health.
The mission of Connect to Protect Los Angeles (C2PLA) is to create opportunities for community mobilization that identify and address structural barriers that drive sexual health disparities for young people of color with multiple identities and experiences in Los Angeles County.
We fulfill our mission by:
The mission of Connect to Protect Los Angeles (C2PLA) is to create opportunities for community mobilization that identify and address structural barriers that drive sexual health disparities for young people of color with multiple identities and experiences in Los Angeles County.
We fulfill our mission by:
- Intentionally partnering with youth;
- Supporting youth leadership and development
- Focusing on subpopulations of youth most impacted by health disparities;
- Identifying and addressing social determinants of health; and
- Finding opportunities to strategically partner with other organizations, coalitions and advocacy groups aligned with our vision.
Our Target Population
C2PLA’s initial target population was young men who have sex with men (MSM), of color, ages 12 to 24, in Service Planning Area (SPA) 6, which is roughly equal to South L.A. Before choosing the target population, the Coalition examined extensive data for LA County, including the following: HIV risk factors, HIV incidence and prevalence, demographics, and neighborhood resources and needs. The target population was selected based on it being disproportionately impacted by HIV and less likely to have access to services. In 2010, the Coalition decided to add all of Los Angeles County to its designated target area.
The Community Mobilization Process
The Coalition follows a strategic planning process to implement a local action plan, with the intent of engaging an increasing number of stakeholders to create structural changes. Structural changes are defined as new or modified programs, policies, or practices that are logically linkable to HIV acquisition and transmission that can be sustained over time, even when key actors are no longer involved. They may directly or indirectly impact individuals. Working to accomplish Structural Change Objectives is generally fulfilled through subcommittees which meet monthly, while the Coalition meets to strategize every other month.
Click above to learn more about HIV Prevention at the Structural Level
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"One monumental difference between a "coalition" and a "program" is that the coalition seeks to ensure that all causes of identified problems are addressed."
--Callahan, J.C. Hall, C. (2006) The Difference Between a Program and a Coalition; National Community Anti-Drug Coalition Institute CADCA Presentation; November 2006.
--Callahan, J.C. Hall, C. (2006) The Difference Between a Program and a Coalition; National Community Anti-Drug Coalition Institute CADCA Presentation; November 2006.