Some questions to ask
- What would success look like if our action or intervention were successful?
- What existing best practices (or evidence-based interventions) could help improve conditions and desired outcomes?
- What particular components and elements will we use in our intervention?
- What available resources and assets will we use to take action?
- How will we deliver the intervention so that it achieves results and reaches those who most need to benefit?
- How do we need to adapt the intervention so that it fits our situation?
Some recommended actions
- __ Identify what “success” for the action or intervention would look like. Include:
- A description of what success would look like. How will the community or group—including those most affected—be different if the intervention is successful?
- The specific objectives the intervention will achieve. What will change by how much and by when? Will inequities between groups be reduced?
- __ Identify and assess best practices or evidence-based interventions that could help address the problem or goal. Indicate:
- Where you will look for best practices?
- How well the best practice could achieve the desired results in your community?
- Whether the conditions (e.g., time, money, people, technical assistance) that affect success are present?
- __ Specify the core components and elements of the intervention based on the analysis and identified best practices. Be specific about elements to be included for each of these five components.
- Providing information and enhancing skills (e.g., public announcements, skill training)
- Modifying access, barriers and opportunities (e.g., improved access to health services)
- Enhancing services and supports (e.g., peer support groups)
- Changing the consequences (e.g., increasing incentives for desired behavior)
- Modifying policies and broader systems (e.g., business and public policies)
- __ Identify resources and assets to be used in the activities or intervention, including:
- Number and kind of people who are available and committed
- Financial resources available
- Communications technologies, facilities and other material resources available
- Information and ideas that could be helpful
- Other assets that can be used to support the effort
- __ Indicate how you will deliver the intervention so that it achieves results and reaches those who most need to benefit (e.g., involve trusted networks and community-based organizations in service delivery).
- __ Indicate how you will adapt the intervention (or “best practice”) to fit the needs and context of your community (e.g., differences in resources, values, interests, experiences, competence, language, power).
- __ Develop an action plan to carry out the intervention. Include:
- The core components and specific elements to be implemented
- Who should do what by when
- Resources and supports needed and those already available
- Anticipated barriers and/or resistance and planned counteraction
- Communication and organizations that need to be informed
Examples of taking action
- Implementing an equity approach for Covid-19 vaccination in Lawrence-Douglas County
- Building circles of allies to address poverty in Barton County
- Tailoring maternal and child health services to serve Spanish-speaking residents of Riley County
Resources for taking action
Tools from the Community Tool Box
Toolkit: Developing an Intervention
Toolkit: Advocating for Change
Toolkit: Influencing Policy Development
Tools from KDHE and other sources
CDC Planning, Implementing, and Evaluating an Intervention
Prevention Institute – Communities Taking Action: Profiles of Health Equity