Supports
1. Determine whether the initiative or activities should be sustained.
- The group has determined who makes decisions regarding sustainability of the initiative or its efforts.
- The group has determined the appropriate level of the initiative to be sustained. The group has determined if the initiative or the efforts of the initiative should be sustained.
- The group has determined the intended duration or the length of time that is appropriate for the initiative or effort to be sustained.
- The initiative has sufficient support (both internal and external) to maintain the initiative or the efforts of the initiative, if desired.
- There is sufficient commitment from the group to maintain the efforts of the initiative, if desired.
Core Supports:
- Our Model for Community Change and Improvement
- Our Evaluation Model: Evaluating Comprehensive Community Initiatives
- Community Action Guide: A Framework for Addressing Community Goals and Problems
- Other Models for Promoting Community Health and Development
- Developing a Logic Model or Theory of Change
2. Assess the current situation for sustaining the initiative.
- The group has identified current or potential resources needed to sustain the initiative or its efforts.
- The group currently has sufficient human resources necessary to sustain the initiative or its efforts.
- The group currently has sufficient financial resources necessary to sustain the initiative or its efforts.
- The group assessed its activities and products, its benefits and competition.
Core Supports:
- Assessing Community Needs and Resources
- Developing a Plan for Identifying Local Needs and Resources
- Qualitative Methods to Assess Community Issues
- Maintaining Quality Performance
- Achieving and Maintaining Quality Performance
3. Clarify the goals and context for sustaining the efforts of the initiative.
- The group has a clear mission and a common agenda to guide the sustainability of the initiative or its efforts.
- The group has assessed its progress in attaining its anticipated goals and objectives related to the mission of the initiative.
- The group has determined if the initiative’s current objective(s) need to be explored or changed to support the sustainability of the initiative or its efforts.
- The group has decided what aspects of the initiative or effort should be maintained or altered.
- The group has established written goals and objectives related to sustaining the initiative or its efforts.
- The group has determined the specific activities and services to be maintained by the initiative.
- The group has identified the target community or population to participate or benefit from the sustained efforts of the initiative.
Core Supports:
- Improving Services
- Promoting Coordination, Cooperative Agreements, and Collaborative Agreements Among Agencies
- Principles of Advocacy
- Encouraging Involvement of Potential Opponents as Well as Allies
- Introduction to Evaluation
- A Framework for Program Evaluation: A Gateway to Tools
- Developing an Evaluation Plan
- Social Marketing of Successful Components of the Initiative
- Monitoring Progress and Making Adjustments in the Social Marketing Campaign
4. Develop a sustainability plan that includes what resources will be necessary and how they will be attained.
- The group has established specific short-term and long-term financial goals and a budget including all projected income and expenses.
- The group has identified specific and appropriate strategies to be used to sustain itself.
- The group has identified the current and potential basis and sources of resources including human and financial resources.
Core Supports:
- Choosing Strategies to Promote Community Health and Development
- Coalition Building I: Starting a Coalition
- Getting Grants and Financial Resources
- Developing a Plan for Financial Sustainability
- Developing a Committee to Help with Financial Sustainability
- Planning for Long-Term Institutionalization
- Strategies for Sustaining the Initiative
- Marketing the Initiative to Secure Financial Support
- Sharing Positions and Other Resources
- Soliciting Contributions and In-kind Support
5. Implement an action plan for sustaining the initiative or its activities.
- The group has developed and implemented an action plan for each of the strategies and tactics chosen.
- Action plans were developed that identified the person responsible, a clear timeline, and resources needed for implementing the components of the sustainability plan.
- The group systematically documents the activities and results of efforts to secure and maintain resources.
- The group regularly reviews the results of implementation in reaching its short and long-term goals for sustainability.
- The group has developed relationships and networks with potential partners including funders that may be interested in supporting the efforts of the initiative.
Core Supports:
- Developing a Strategic Plan
- An Overview of Strategic Planning or “VMOSA” (Vision, Mission, Objectives, Strategies, and Action Plans)
- Developing an Action Plan
- Orienting Ideas in Leadership
- Developing a Plan for Building Leadership
- Changing Policies
- Changing Policies to Increase Funding for Community Health and Development Initiatives
- Maintaining Quality Performance