Increasingly, the problems that communities need to resolve are complex, requiring comprehensive solutions. Addressing issues such as health promotion and chronic disease prevention requires the inclusion of people from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. Work in partnerships, collaborations and coalitions can be challenging but a powerful tool for mobilizing individuals to action, bringing community issues to prominence and developing policies. These associations are also an effective means of integrating health services with other human services so that resources are not wasted and efforts are not needlessly duplicated. Coalitions are often best equipped to utilize the resources and findings of participants and apply them more effectively than any single group or organization. The Eight Steps to Effective Coalition Building is a framework developed by Larry Cohen, et. al., for engaging individuals, organizations and governmental partners invested in addressing community concerns. The complete document offers concrete steps towards building effective partnerships and provides tips for making collaborations and partnerships work. Rather than creating new projects or programs, effective coalitions can harness existing resources to develop a unique community approach and achieve results beyond the  scope of one single institution or organization.