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Question 6

S.M.A.R.T.

EPA National Community Recognition Program

QUESTION 6

Our community has studied the feasibility, cost, impacts, time frame and leadership for creating/promoting active aging/physical activity for aging adults.

Background

A strategic plan outlines the objectives, goals, and strategies that your community team will use to promote active aging/physical activity for older adults. A broad-based community health plan will describe in detail the feasibility of your plan, the cost to execute the plan, the impact that you envision your plan will have on the community, time-frame for completing your goals, and the people who will lead the various action items.

Getting Started

For each action item identified, include a description of the action step, or what will happen; the people involved; the time-line for completing this step; the required resources; the barriers or resistance to the plan; and potential collaborators. Carefully crafted action plans add credibility to your initiative, enforce accountability, and ensure that no important tasks are overlooked. Action plans save time, energy, and resources long-term and keep everyone on task.

The University of Kansas advises taking the following steps to plan your work:

  1. Convene a planning group to design your action plan.
  2. Develop a plan composed of action steps that address all proposed changes
  3. Review your plan carefully to check for completeness; make sure each action plan will help achieve your goals.
  4. Follow through with the action steps.
  5. Keep everyone informed.
  6. Keep track of what and how well you have done.

Internet Resources on Strategic Planning

Minnesota Department of Health Community Health Promotion Guide
Developing a Plan of Action
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpcd/chp/hpkit/text/action_main.htm Link to EPA's External Link Disclaimer

University of Kansas Community Toolbox
Developing a Strategic Plan
http://ctb.ku.edu/tools/en/chapter_1007.htm Link to EPA's External Link Disclaimer

Illinois Association of Regional Councils
Developing a Community Strategic Plan: A Guide for Local Officials
http://www.ncicg.org/CSPTOC.pdf#search=%22developing%20community%20strategic%20plans%22 (3 pp, 9.04MB, About PDF)

Montana Disability and Health Program Strategic Plan 2006-2010 (executive summary)
(Example of a strategic health plan)
http://mtdh.ruralinstitute.umt.edu/Publications/ExecSummary.htm Link to EPA's External Link Disclaimer

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Healthy People 2010 Toolkit
http://www.healthypeople.gov/state/toolkit/priorities.htm

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