How to Write an Action Plan

Public Health Approach Gather and analyze data (needs assessment) ID problem and target groups Select potential strategies Develop an Action Plan Implement interventions Evaluate, revise and replicate

Gather and Analyze Data The first step in planning any public health program is understanding the community and the problem. The Community Needs Assessment will tell you: Who What When Where and Why

ID Problem and Target Groups Now that the coalition has completed the Community Needs Assessment, you will better understand: The top causes of injury and death to kids due to unintentional injuries What is causing these injuries What must change Who is getting hurt (age groups, sex, race, etc.) Community’s demographics Who is already addressing the issues and what has been done What resources are available to the coalition from National SAFE KIDS, community organizations, state and local governments and the community What groups can you partner with

Select Potential Strategies Once the coalition has decided what risk areas to focus on and who to target, the group will need a strategy for designing a multifaceted injury prevention program. There are three main strategies the coalition can choose from: The E’s of Injury Prevention Haddon’s Matrix Spectrum of Prevention

The E’s One strategy for developing programming is based on the E’s of injury prevention. A thorough injury prevention program will have components that address the following E’s: Education Engineering and Environmental Modifications Enactment and Enforcement Empowerment Evaluation

Haddon’s Matrix Haddon’s Matrix analyzes injury problems by looking at the factors, hosts, agents and environments at each stage of an injury event (pre-event, during and post-event). This strategy allows you to see what can be done at each stage to a host, an agent or an environment to prevent the event or minimize the damage. The next slide shows Haddon’s Matrix being applied to a motor vehicle crash injury.

HADDON’S MATRIX APPLIED TO MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH INJURY PHASES FACTORS HUMAN AGENT (VEHICLE) ENVIRONMENT PRE-EVENT Educate public in the use of safety belts and child restraints Safe brakes and tires Improve road design; restrict alcohol advertising and availability at gas stations EVENT Prevent osteoporosis to decrease likelihood of fracture Air bags and a crashworthy vehicle design Install breakaway utility poles and crash barriers POST-EVENT Treat hemophilia and other conditions that impair healing Safe design of fuel tank to prevent rupture and fire Ensure adequate emergency medical care and rehabilitation The Haddon matrix illustrates how injury from a motor vehicle crash could be prevented or reduced severity by the interaction of human, vehicle and environmental factors in each of the three event phases.

Spectrum of Prevention The spectrum of prevention breaks down injury prevention activities into seven levels that address the complexity of public health problems: Strengthen individual knowledge and skills Raise community awareness Educate providers Foster coalitions Mobilize neighborhoods and communities Change organizational practices Influence policy and legislation

Who is Going to Write the Action Plan The coalition should decide who will write the action plan: the executive board, the entire coalition or an ad hoc committee. The group should include members of the coalition, representatives from the lead agency and other major supporters, and people who have experience with analyzing data and developing injury prevention programs.

Writing the Action Plan An action plan is a “to do” list. How do you decide what goes on your to-do list? In addition to objectives and activities related to injury prevention programs, the coalition should also include objectives for coalition building, reporting, reaching diverse groups, fundraising and meeting the Standards of Performance and other requirements for the coalition.

Writing the Action Plan Have the group come up with a list of areas you want to focus on and things you want to accomplish. The list should reflect the needs of the community as shown in the community needs assessment, the needs of the coalition and what is required of the coalition by NSKC and the lead agency. Cast a wide net, put down lots of ideas and then narrow the list down.

Writing the Action Plan Things to consider when narrowing your list: Does the data support the program? Do you have or can you get the resources needed? Do you have the time? Is there interest from members and the public? Are you required to do it? Is it realistic? Is someone else already doing it, or are people depending on the coalition to accomplish these goals? How are the ideas on the list tied together? Is it necessary for one thing to happen before other goals can be accomplished?

Writing the Action Plan Once you have a comprehensive list of objectives, the group will need to agree on what to actually focus on. Decide on the final number of goals for the coalition Allow everyone to vote for several things they would like to see accomplished (the number of votes each person gets is up to the committee) After everyone has placed their votes, see which ideas have the most votes Make a list containing about twice as many as goals as needed for your action plan, and debate those Re-vote to establish the final list of goals The action plan can be added to as goals are accomplished. Just because an idea is not addressed early on doesn’t mean the coalition can’t address it later.

Writing the Action Plan - Outline What should the action plan include: Goals Objectives Activities Who is responsible Evaluation measures Resources needed Timeline

Writing the Action Plan - Goals The coalition’s goal is its dream. It is what you as a group would like to accomplish. Here are some characteristics of a good goal: Understood and shared by members of the community Broad enough to include a diverse variety of local perspectives Inspiring and uplifting to everyone involved in your effort Easy to communicate

Writing the Action Plan - Objectives Objectives are specific, measurable results of the coalition’s programming. They should lay out how much of what will be done by when. Good objectives will create specific, feasible ways for your coalition to reach its goal.

Writing the Action Plan - Objectives One trick to writing good objectives is to make sure they are SMART: Specific Measurable Action-oriented Realistic Time-limited

Writing the Action Plan - Template Objective Activities Responsible Date Completed Evaluation Obj. 1-A - Outline tasks here Person’s name Date done Measures - Obj. 1-B