8. There is not enough action to promote change. | Community Tool Box

1. Does our group know the specific changes we want to make?

• Toolkit: Developing Strategic and Action Plans
• Developing an Action Plan
• Analyzing root Causes of Problems: The “But Why?” Technique
• Putting Your Solution into Practice
• Understanding Risk and Protective Factors: Their Use in Selecting Potential Targets and Promising Strategies for Interventions

2. Do we have enough members to carry out our actions?:

• Toolkit: Increasing Participation and Membership
• Developing a Plan for Increasing Participation in Community Action
• Promoting Participation Among Diverse Groups
• Methods of Contacting Potential Participants
• Writing Letters to Potential Participants
• Making personal Contact with Potential Participants
• Involving Key Influentials in the Initiative
• Involving People Most Affected by the Problem
• Developing a Plan for Involving Volunteers
• Recruiting Volunteers
• Identifying Targets and Agents of Change: Who Can Benefit and Who Can Help
• Recognizing Allies
• Encouraging Involvement of Potential Opponents as well as Allies

3. Is our group well organized?

• Some Lessons Learned on Community Organization and Change
• Developing a Plan for Communication
• DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC PLAN
• Organizational Structure: An Overview
• Developing an Ongoing Board of Directors
• Developing a Management Plan

4. Do most people in our community know about the issue(s) and the work of our organization?

• COMMUNICATIONS TO PROMOTE INTEREST
• Recruiting Volunteers
• MEDIA ADVOCACY
• Conducting a Social Marketing Campaign
• Promoting Awareness and Interest Through Communication

5. Do we have a clear and effective strategy for change that encourages participation by the community?

• Toolkit: Developing Strategic and Action Plans
• Toolkit: Increasing Participation and Membership
• Systems Advocacy and Community Organizing
• Coalition Building I: Starting a Coalition
• Developing an Action Plan
• Identifying Action Steps in Bringing About Community and System Change
• Building and Sustaining Relationships
• Choosing and Adapting Community Interventions
• REWARDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS

6. Do our current members and volunteers feel sufficiently supported and appreciated?

• Developing a Plan for Involving Volunteers
• Building and Sustaining Relationships
• Providing Support for Staff and Volunteers
• REWARDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Providing Incentives for Staff and Volunteers
• Holding Awards Ceremonies

7. Does our group have enough respect and power in the community to bring about changes?

• Servant Leadership: Accepting and Maintaining the Call of Services
• Understanding People’s Needs
• Building and Sustaining Commitment
• Influencing People
• Building and Sustaining Relationships
• Promoting Coordination, Cooperative Agreements, and Collaborative Agreements Among Agencies
• Developing Multisector Collaborations
• Survival Skills for Advocates
• Marketing the Initiative to Secure Financial Support

8. Do community members agree that the desired action is important to accomplish?

• Participatory Evaluation
• ASSESSING COMMUNITY NEEDS AND RESOURCES
• Understanding and Describing the Community
• Leading a Community Dialogue on Building a Healthy Community
• Obtaining Feedback from Constituents: What Changes are Important and Feasible?
• Participatory Approaches to Planning Community Interventions
• Rating Community Goals

9. Do we have adequate community resources and assets to support action?

•  Developing a Plan for Identifying Local Needs and Resources
• Identifying Community Assets and Resources
• Developing a Plan for Financial Sustainability
• Creating a Business Plan

10. Do we have the financial resources to bring about the desired changes?

• GETTING GRANTS AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES
• Developing a Plan for Financial Sustainability
• MANAGING FINANCES
• Planning and Writing an Annual Budget
• Managing Your Money
• INVESTING IN COMMUNITY RESOURCES

11. Have enough members of the community had a chance to be part of the action?

• Toolkit: Developing Strategic and Action Plans
• ENCOURAGING INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY WORK
• Involving Key Influentials in the Initiative
• Involving People Most Affected by the Problem
• DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC PLAN
• Learning From and Contributing to Constituents
• Participatory Approaches to Planning Community Interventions
• Identifying Targets and Agents of Change: Who Can Benefit and Who Can Help
• Recognizing Allies

12. Did we arrange for community mobilizers with clear roles and responsibilities for bringing about identified changes to be sought?

•  Working Together for Healthier Communities: A Framework for Collaboration Among Community Partnerships, Support Organizations, and Funders
• Developing an Action Plan
• Creating and Gathering a Group to Guide Your Initiative
• Developing a Community Leadership Corps: A Model for Service Learning
• Promoting Neighborhood Action

13. Did we provide training, support, and feedback for the community mobilizers?

• HIRING AND TRAINING KEY STAFF OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
• Developing a Plan for Staff Hiring and Training
• Developing Training Programs for Staff
• RECRUITING AND TRAINING VOLUNTEERS
• Developing a Plan for Involving Volunteers
• Developing Training Programs for Volunteers
• PROVIDING TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
• Designing a Training Session
• Delivering a Training Session
• Building and Sustaining Commitment
• Building and Sustaining Relationships
• Providing Support for Staff and Volunteers
• Rating Member Satisfaction
• REWARDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Providing Incentives for Staff and Volunteers
• Honoring Community Champions