Module Components

• Overview
• Assignments

Topics

• Core Functions and the Public Health System
• Effectiveness-based Program Planning
• Program Planning Models

NRSG 780 - Health Promotion and Population Health

Module 8: Program Planning Essentials and Models

Effectiveness-based Program Planning

Beginning in the 1980s and continuing to today, program planning and implementation has been driven by performance accountability. This stems from the fact that many public health and human service programs are funded by tax dollars. Performance accountability has also been embraced by many private sector organizations such as foundations, non-profits and the United Way. Government and private sector funding sources want to know if the programs they support work and if they do not, funds can be redirected.

Effectiveness-based Program Planning has two foci:

Effectiveness: measurable changes occurring in organizations, communities or systems as a result of receiving services

Program:  prearranged set of activities designed to achieve defined goals and objectives

Program Planning: Stepwise Process

Program planning is a stepwise process that includes several critical elements.

1. Determine Need

   Review quantitative data (morbidity and mortality reports, survey data, information from available utilization databases such as Medicare and Medicaid, insurers, health care agencies, assessing existing resources)

   Review qualitative data (information from key stakeholders, focus groups, public forums)

2. Establish a framework for action-Goals and Objectives

   Goals

   Characteristics of goals:

   • Goals provide a sense of programmatic direction
   • Goals are not necessarily achievable
   • Goals should fit within the mission of the organization that offers the program*
     • * This is very important to consider since most programs are not funded at a level that allows programs to be freestanding.

   Examples of Goals

   

   • Attain healthy, thriving lives and well-being free of preventable diseas, disability, injury, and premature death.
   • Eliminate health disparities, achieve health equity, attain health literacy to improve the health and well-being of all.
   • Create social, physical, and economic environments that promote attaining health and well-being for all.
   • Promote healthy development, healthy behaviors, and well-being across all life stages.
   • Engage leadership, key constituents, and the public across multiple sectors to take action and design policies that improve health and well-being of all.

    

   Objectives

   Outcome Objectives identify results (ends) to be achieved by program, such as reduction in incidence and prevalence of the problem in the target population

   Process Objectives identify manner (means) in which results will be achieved, identify milestone necessary to achieve outcome objectives, such as offering weekly screening, referral and follow-up programs for a year that will reach 5000 individuals

   Characteristics of Objectives:

   • Objectives should be written in clear, unambiguous terms (behavioral language)
   • Objectives should Identify expected results
   • Objectives should identify measurable results
   • Objectives should identify time frame within which results will be achieved
   • Objective should identify achievable results based on technology, knowledge and resources
   • Objectives should identifies parties responsible for results

   Example of an Outcome Objective:

   

   Mental Health and Mental Disorders
               By 2030, increase the proportion of persons with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders who receive treatment for both from 3.4% to 8.2%.
   Baseline: 3.4 percent of adults aged 18 years and over with co-occurring substance use disorders and mental health disorders received both mental health care and specialty substance use treatment in 2018
   Target: 8.2 percent
   Target Setting Method:  Minimal statistical significance
   Data Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), SAMHSA

   Activities

   Specific tasks that must be completed to achieve process objectives

   Common Activities:

   • Health communications
   • Media advocacy
   • Policy actions
   • Initiatives at work, school, health care settings

   Characteristics of Potential Activities:

   • Effectiveness—evidence that when properly applied, activity can contribute to attaining the objective
   • Reach—potential for activity to reach a large portion of the target population
   • Acceptability—extent to which the target population, general public and relevant agencies finds the activity socially and culturally acceptable
   • Cost—extent to which the activity is economically feasible
   • Public support—extent to which the activity has potential for engendering positive public opinion, support for the initiative or public health and prevention in general
3. Develop Evaluation Plan during program planning
   
   
   • Types of Evaluation:
   • Formative/Process—ongoing evaluation to determine if the program is doing what it set out to do (focus on process objectives)
   • Summative/Outcome—evaluation at conclusion of program to assess accomplishments (focus on outcome objectives)