You've identified a health need in your community. You've researched best practices and public health models and methods to address that need. You've structured a plan to implement these practices. Now, you'll need funds to support implementation, likely through grants and sponsorships. But before you apply to grants, are you ready to implement?
Public health programs make a difference in the lives of the participants and communities they serve. Whether you're completing harm reduction activities or providing diabetes education to underserved populations, there are many factors to consider before implementing your program. Below are just a few questions to consider before you start.
How will you establish and maintain partnerships? Beyond sponsorships and grants, you need partnerships. Partnerships ensure that you have additional resources, subject matter experts, and support to sustain the program beyond any funding or grant cycle. Additionally, granters and sponsors are more likely to fund your efforts if they see you have these additional resources in the form of partnerships. Finding and managing partnerships can be difficult, though, with many partner organizations already involved in multiple projects. Make sure you have a comprehensive list of partners who agree to work with you on the public health program. Be sure to establish a regular schedule for meeting with and getting reports from the partners.
How will you assign and manage tasks? Most grant applications ask about SMART objectives and require you to track and evaluate outcomes. But it's important to consider how you'll delegate these tasks. There are many helpful project management tools to keep your team on track, from monday.com to Microsoft's Task List. Still, having a tool doesn't automatically mean success. You, as well as your team members, need to know how to effectively use project management tools like these.
Where does the program go when funding ends? Many health programs begin and end based on grant cycles and funding. But a great health program should be long-lived to address ongoing health needs. To do this, teams must constantly seek out and apply for future grants, find funding through partners and sponsorships, and track program effectiveness thoroughly to ensure continued funding.
These are just a few factors to consider before you implement a health program. It can be overwhelming to encounter and address so many variables. The expert consultants at Everyday Life can assist with all of these, from grant writing to partnership management, project management to evaluation. If you have a great public health program in mind but need assistance to get it started or maintain it, contact us today.