A girl with Down Syndrome smiling on a swing in a park.

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

  1.  __ 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?
  2. __ 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?
  3. __ 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)
  4. __ 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
  5. __ 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).
  6. __ 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).
  7. __ 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

 

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