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Developing an Intervention:


Outline for Developing an Intervention

  • Identify the community problem/goal to be addressed and what needs to be done. Include:

    • Statement of the community problem/goal to be addressed
    • Specific behaviors of whom that need to change
    • Improvements in community-level outcomes that should result
  • Assess the level of the problem or goal. Some types of assessment include:
    • Direct observation of the behaviors or products related to the problem or goal.
    • Conducting behavioral surveys.
    • Interviewing key people in the community.
    • Reviewing archival or existing records.

  • Describe the prioritized groups to benefit and those implementing the intervention. Include:

    • Targets of change or prioritized groups for whom behaviors or outcomes should change
    • Agents of change or those implementing the intervention
  • Indicate how you will obtain clients input identifying and analyzing problems and goals to be addressed by the
    intervention. Consider how you will use:
    • Personal contacts - Who will you speak with about what?
    • Interviews - What questions will you ask of whom about the problem or goal and possible interventions?
    • Focus groups - From what groups will you seek what kinds of information?
    • Community forums - What public situations would present an opportunity for you to discuss the problem or
      goal, and how will you use the opportunity?
    • Concern surveys-What questions of whom will you ask about the problem or goal and potential
      solutions?
  • Analyze the problem or goals to be addressed by the intervention. Using client input to specify:
    • Those for whom the current situation is a problem. Who is affected by the issue, problem, or goal?
    • The negative (positive) consequences for those directly affected and the broader community. What effect
      does the problem or issue have on the lives of those affected?
    • Personal and environmental factors to be influenced (i.e., people's experience and history; knowledge and
      skills; barriers and opportunities; social support and caring relationships; living conditions that put them at
      risk for or protect them from experiencing certain problems).
    • The behavior or lack of behavior that causes or maintains the problem. What behaviors of whom would need
      to change for the problem (or goal) to be eliminated (addressed).
    • Who benefits and how from the situation staying the same (economically, politically).
    • The conditions that need to change for the issue to be resolved (e.g., skills, opportunities, financial
      resources, trusting relationships).
    • The appropriate level at which the problem or goal should be addressed (e.g., by individuals, families,
      neighborhoods, city or county government), and whether the organization has the capacity to influence such
      changes.
  • Set goals and objectives for what "success" would look like. Include:
    • A description of what success would look like. How will the community or group be different if the
      intervention is successful?
    • Those goals the intervention is targeted to accomplish. How will you know if your intervention is successful?
    • The specific objectives the intervention will achieve. What will change by how much and by when?

  • Identify and assess “best practices” or “evidence-based interventions” that could help address the problem or goal in your situation. Indicate:

    • Potential or promising “best practices” for your situation (consider various available databases and lists of “best” or evidence-based practices)
    • How strong is the evidence that each potential “best practice” caused the observed improvement? (Rather than other associated conditions or potential influences)
    • Whether the “best practice” could achieve the desired results in your community
    • Whether the conditions (e.g., time, money, people, technical assistance) that affect success for the “best practice” are present
    • (Based on the assessment) The “best practice” or evidence-based approach to be tried in your situation (Note: If no “best practices” are known or appropriate to your situation, follow the steps below to design or adapt another intervention.)

  • (Based on the assessment and literature) Specify the core components and elements of the intervention. Be specific about elements to be included for each of these five intervention components.

    • Providing Information and Enhancing Skills (e.g., conduct a public information campaign to educate people about problem or goal and how to address it)
    • Modifying Access, Barriers, Exposures, and Opportunities (e.g., increase availability of affordable childcare for those entering work force; reduce exposures to stressors)
    • Enhancing Services and Supports (e.g., increase the number of centers that provide health care)
    • Changing the Consequences (e.g., provide incentives to develop housing in low-income areas)
    • Modifying Policies and Broader Systems (e.g., change business or public policies to address the goal)
  • Identify the mode of delivery through which each component and element of the intervention will be delivered in the community (e.g., workshops for skill training)
  • Indicate how you will adapt the intervention or “best practice” to fit the needs and context of your community (e.g., differences in resources, cultural values, competence, language).

  • Develop an action plan for the intervention. Include:

    • What specific change or aspect of the intervention will occur?
    • Who will carry it out?
    • When the intervention will be implemented or how long it will be maintained?
    • Resources (money and staff) needed/ available?
    • Who should know what about this?
  • Pilot-test the intervention on a small scale. Determine how to:
    • Test the intervention and with whom
    • Assess the quality of implementation of the intervention
    • Assess results and consequences or side effects
    • Collect and use feedback to adapt and improve the intervention
  • Implement the intervention, and monitor and evaluate the process (e.g., quality of implementation, satisfaction
    and outcomes (e.g., attainment of objectives).

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