SETTING THE TRAJECTORY:
TIPS, TOOLS AND
TECHNIQUES FOR
CONDUCTING STRATEGIC
PLANNING FOR A
MID-SIZED HEALTH
PROMOTION DEPARTMENT
Po l l y C . P a u l s o n ,
MPH, MA, MCHES
Student Health &
Counseling Ser vices
University of
C a l i f o r n i a , D av i s
PCCHA Conference
O c to b e r 2 014
TODAY’S GOALS
Describe three key processes that are involved
in a health promotion strategic planning
process
Identify common obstacles to completing a
strategic planning process and strategies to
work around those obstacles
WHAT IS STRATEGIC PLANNING?
The process of determining what your department
intends to accomplish and how you will direct the
department and its resources toward
accomplishing these goals over the coming months
and years.
Adapted from:
Strategic Planning Workbook for Nonprofit Organizations
Br yan W. Berr y
Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
2007
WHY DO STRATEGIC PLANNING?
What are the benefits?
Who reaps those benefits?
RALLY THE TROOPS
MORE BENEFITS!
Solve challenging problems
Help “sell” your department/reason for
existence
Exert greater influence
Improved results
???
YOUR QUEST BEGINS....
TIMELINE
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
March
April
May
June
July
Lead
Group
Obtain buy-in
Assign Lit Reviews
Identify/hire facilitator
Begin Lit Reviews
Prep – activities list, top
10, ID mandates, agendas
Assign Voting Guide
Complete Lit Reviews
Retreat 1 (Select criteria)
Prep
Complete Guide & vote!
Retreats 2 (SWOT) and 3
Write plan/gain approval
Fine-tune 3 year timeline
Celebrate!
LITERATURE REVIEW TEMPLATE
 Data (e.g., ACHA -NCHA II, national data)
 National Standards (HC2020)
 Research and Best Practices
(evidence-informed, theor y -based, promising)
 Gap Analysis (Spectrum of Prevention)
 References
CRITERIA SELECTION
 Percentage of population affected (high volume)
 High potential for synergy with stakeholders/highly
valued by key stakeholders
 High risk for academic failure/significant
morbidity/mortality both short and long term
 Potential to promote health equity/or high
proportional impact on a marginalized community
ACTIVIT Y
Using your worksheet, fill out #1 - #4 and share
and discuss with your partner
HEALTH EDUCATION & PROMOTION
ACTIVIT Y
Answer #5 - #8 and share and discuss with
partner
FINDING A FACILITATOR
Why is it a good idea to use an outside facilitator for your process?
Things to consider:
 Cost
 Assistance from campus staf f development if available
 Compatibility with your staf f – ask them to ‘interview’ and
select
 Compatibility with YOU
 Experience with higher education, health care and/or non profit organizations a plus
WHAT CAN GO WRONG...
...VERY WRONG....
 Your staff dislike your facilitator
 Smoldering issues surface
 Leadership's vision or insight is missing in action
 Planning process destabilizes rather than
stabilizes
 What else?
ACTIVIT Y
Answer #9 and share and discuss with partner
ACTIVIT Y
Answer #10 - #12 and share and discuss with
partner
CLOSING THE DEAL
STEPS RECAP
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Get a green light to proceed
Find a facilitator
Identify participants/stakeholders
Create a timeline
Build enthusiasm and buy -in
Develop and/or revisit Mission Statement and Values
Identify critical health issues for your students
Assign literature reviews
Select and apply criteria to proposed activities
Agree on priority activities
Set goals and objectives
Create annual work plans
Begin implementation!
PARTING WORDS
“There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth
fighting for.”
-Samwise Gamgee
HEALTH EDUCATION & PROMOTION
STRATEGIC PLAN
https://shcs.ucdavis.edu/pdf/HEP-Strategic-Plan_14-17
THANK YOU!
Polly Paulson, MPH, MA, MCHES
Health Promotion Supervisor
University of California, Davis
pcpaulson@ucdavis.edu
(530) 752-4142
ENJOY YOUR STAY IN SEATTLE!
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