Community Toolbox - Do the Work<<< Back An action plan is an opportunity to turn your dreams for your community or initiative into a reality. It is also an opportunity to make your organization's vision concrete. An action plan outlines the strategies and action steps your organization will use to meet its goals and objectives.
Developing an action plan is a critical first step toward ensuring project success. An action plan may lend credibility to your organization and its initiative, increase efficiency, and provide accountability. In addition, the action plan provides a tool for mobilizing the community or group and encouraging members to share responsibility for solving the problems and improving the situation you have decided to change.
You can invite these people to help prepare an action plan:
- Influential people from all groups affected
- People directly involved in the problem or issue
- Members of grassroots organizations
- Members of ethnic and cultural groups of the community
- Different sectors of the community: media/business community/religious groups/schools/youth organizations/social service organizations/health organizations
First, clarify your charge. Is it to work to reduce adolescent pregnancy in your community? Or are you working to increase the rate of home ownership? Your goal will provide the backbone of your action plan.
Your action plan should include the strategies you plan to use and the action steps you will take to achieve your goals and objectives. It should also identify a role for each sector of the community or group involved in your effort.
For each action step or change to be accomplished, list the following, with a due date for each:
- What actions or changes will occur-by when?
- Who will carry it out-by when (or for how long)?
- What resources are needed-by when?
- Communication (who should know what)-and when?
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