THE ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF COALITIONS ARE ADDRESSED, WITH DISCUSSION CENTERING ON THE DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS FOR A COALITION, THE BENEFITS OF A COALITION, AND THE NEED TO ESTABLISH A PURPOSE FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION. A COALITION IS DEFINED AS A FORMALIZED ASSOCIATION OF PREDOMINANTLY PRIVATE, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN WHICH AGENCIES MAY PARTICIPATE. THE PURPOSE OF SUCH A COALITION IS TO FURTHER THE COMMON GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF EACH MEMBER GROUP THROUGH THE COMBINED RESOURCES OF THE TOTAL MEMBERSHIP. ALTHOUGH THIS MANUAL FOCUSES ON THE LOCAL LEVEL, THE PRINCIPLES AND STRATEGIES DISCUSSED CAN APPLY AT THE NATIONAL AND STATE LEVELS, ALSO. THE FIVE MAJOR FUNCTIONS COALITIONS MAY ASSUME INCLUDE INFORMATION AND RESOURCE SHARING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, SELF-REGULATING, PLANNING AND COORDINATION, AND ADVOCACY. THE POSSIBLE VARIATIONS FOR STRUCTURING A COALITION ARE DESCRIBED WITH THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC AREAS REFERENCED: MEMBERSHIP, ROLE OF THE BOARD, COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD, INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS, STAFFING, AND SUPPORT FUNDING. FINALLY, THE STRATEGIES FOR MAINTAINING A VIABLE COALITION ARE PRESENTED, WITH SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS FOR EACH COALITION FORM. GENERALLY, A COALITION STRUGGLES IN ITS EARLY STAGES OVER DETAILS OF ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT. TO AVOID THIS, FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR A FORMULATION PERIOD SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED UNTIL A REGULAR SOURCE OF INCOME IS REALIZED. EVEN IN A LOOSELY STRUCTURED COALITION, EACH MEMBER GROUP SHOULD HAVE REGULAR, SPECIFIC, AND MEANINGFUL RESPONSIBILITIES. A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM MUST BE DEVELOPED AS WELL AS A DETAILED, ACCURATE METHOD OF RECORDKEEPING. OTHER SUGGESTIONS NOTED INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT OF A TIMETABLE, ESTABLISHMENT OF SHORT-TERM AND LONG-RANGE GOALS, ADEQUATE STAFFING, THE USE OF SOUND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES, THE ESTABLISHMENT AND USE OF A BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND THE SELECTION OF A DYNAMIC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. TABLES, FOOTNOTES, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (PRG)