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Phase Two: Formulating an Action Plan
The second phase of organizing a Healthy Communities project requires the compilation and implementation of an Action Plan. This phase includes defining the program, acting to achieve desired results and making certain that the program is put in place effectively. Collaboration is the key to this effort. It is important that each organization, group and individual involved, clearly understand the part each plays in carrying out the goals of each project.
Step One: Have a meeting to develop primary objectives. Assign a task force to conduct a community assessment. Once you create a broad vision of your ideal healthy community, your next task is to identify priorities and set specific objectives that are consistent with your vision. In other words, what will make your vision come true? When selecting an objective, you need to think about the physical, social, economic, and political environment unique to your city/community. You might also want to consider the following when selecting objectives:
- What are the important health problems in the city/community?
- How do economic and social conditions, such as lifestyles and unemployment affect health?
- Whose support is essential for project success?
- How does the city administration function and what are the responsibilities and priorities of different city departments and agencies?
- How do city/community politics work?
- What part do citizens groups play in community life? Which groups are most interested in health and quality of life concerns? Which might become more interested?
- How will national or regional programs affect the project?
- Will local businesses support the project?
Step Two: Conduct an assessment to establish a baseline before implementing your project and to identify other community needs. This assessment may be based on indicators similar to those listed below or may be based less on quantitative analysis and more on instinctive feelings of what changes should be made in your community. Listed below are a variety of factors which might affect the quality of life in your community, quantitative indicators you might use to assess these factors at the local level, and sources of data for your community. You may want to add more measures (such as housing quality, mental health, educational quality, etc.), indicators, and data sources.
| If you want to measure: |
Think about this indicator: |
Try here for local data: |
| Environmental Health |
Toxic Releases
Water Quality
Air Quality Ratings
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Local Library (toxic releases inventory)
Local Health Department
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| Public Safety |
Police Response Time
Street Crime Rates
Crime Rate Trends
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Police Department |
| Recreation Opportunities |
Bike Paths Per Capita
Youth Programs
Sports Teams and Facilities
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Parks and Recreation Department
City Planning Department
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| Economic Health |
Unemployment Rate
Average family Income
Percentage of Working Population Earning Minimum Wage
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Economic Development Department
Mayor's Office
Local Library
State Health Department
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| Health Status |
Communicable Disease Rates
Percentage of Babies Born with Low Birth Rates
Immunization Rates
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Local Health Department
Local Hospitals
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| Cultural Riches |
Library Books Per Capita
Festival and Fairs
Theaters and Performance Spaces
Museums
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Mayor's Office
Economic Development Department
Local Library
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| Health of the Democracy |
Voting Registration and Participation Rates
Boards, Commissions, Advisory Groups Active in the Community
Attendance at Council and Other Meetings
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Mayor's Office |
It may be helpful to compare the local data you collect to regional, state, and/or national data. If so, data sources might include your local library, your State Education Department, the U.S. Department of Labor, your State Health Department, State Police Department or Highway Patrol, the Environmental Protection Agency, local universities, etc.
Step Three: Reconvene your planning group to review the results of the community assessment. Discuss your project's priorities and preliminary objectives in the context of the community assessment and revise as needed.
Step Four: Develop your action plan. The action plan should outline your project's objectives with strategies and Steps to reach each goal. ***(Hot key to sample action plan., P.12, Creating Communities Together) Objectives should be measurable so that you can evaluate the success of your plans periodically.
Step Five: Review the action plan with the larger planning group. Appoint task forces and chairs.
Step Six: Develop a project proposal and seek community approval for your project.
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