HOW TO BUILD HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES: A MODEL FOR COMMUNITY CHANGE

Upstream Community Partners Businesses Students

How to Build Healthier Communities: A model for community change Community context and planning Community action and intervention Community and system change Measurement of Outcomes * Full Model Linked at end of PPT, this is a tailored to fit the needs of Upstream Finalists.

This model is meant to be fluid and interactive This model is meant to be fluid and interactive. For example, an understanding of the community context and planning should guide community action, which should affect community and system change, and so on. This model is meant to be a continuous cycle. For example, improvement in more distant outcomes, such as reduced rates of violence, should lead to a renewed cycle of planning and action for these or other issues that matter to members of the community.

Community context and planning Understand your community: Do your research! Use community-level indicators to measure the issue For a group focusing on substance abuse, for just one example, one indicator might be the number of emergency medical transports related to alcohol use. By examining these numbers, your group will have a better sense of the ultimate effect of your group's work on the community at large. In other words, how is success measured? Collaborative planning is a critical and ongoing task of a successful organization. It brings together people and organizations with different experiences and resources. Together, they clarify or develop the group's vision, mission, objectives, strategies, and action steps. If you decided to implement several bold ideas in your action plan, community-level indicators can help you determine the effectiveness of these ideas, and of specific objectives. That way, you can see which ideas and strategies helped you achieve some of your goals, and which might need some reworking in a future action plan.

Monitor your progress Process Measures: the activities that take place during the initiative which help you determine how well things are going Outcome Measures: outcome measures explain the overall impact that occurs as a result of these individual actions. Outcome measures highlight the changes that happen in the community as a result of the work done by your initiative.

Monitor your progress Process measures can include many aspects of your initiative: Members who participate: the number and type of participants, frequency of attendance, and turnover rate of the members. Planning products: written objectives, by-laws, or committees that contribute to the initiative. Media coverage: by radio, television, and print media. Financial resources: grants or donations. Financial resources also can include "in-kind" services, such as free advertising or products that an individual or business might offer instead of money. Services that are ultimately provided: classes, programs, workshops, publications or other services or communications provided for the community by the initiative. Community actions: actions taken to encourage change in the community.

Monitor your progress Outcome Measures: These measures explain the overall impact that occurs as a result of these individual actions. Outcome measures highlight the changes that happen in the community as a result of the work done by your initiative. Changes in programs, such as a new or modified service program. Example: A parenting class was implemented by the initiative. Changes in policies, such as a new or modified policy. Example: A city ordinance was passed requiring owners of cigarette vending machines to place on every machine a sign that states "No cigarette sales to minors." The legislation was introduced at the urging of the Law Enforcement and Government Committee. Changes in practices, such as a new or modified practice. Example: Merchants displayed signs describing the penalty for selling alcohol to minors and the need for proper identification.

Monitor your progress Document both of these measures throughout your project. Predict your measurement tools for your written proposal -How do your community partners measure success? -Can you tailor it to your project?

The bottom line. There isn't a day when community work ends The bottom line? There isn't a day when community work ends. In a healthy community, working together for the good of the community is a constant part of everyone's lives.

References Community Tool Box