Gaining Support of Decision Makers
There are times when the need for a Community Health Promotion program is obvious, and everyone knows that a new program should be put in place. There are other times when a program has been successful in the past and just needs to be changed or reworked slightly before being implemented again. And there are situations when planners have been given the autonomy and authority to created the needed programs.But when the need is not so obvious, the planning process begins with the planners needing to gain the support of key people in order to ensure that the planning process proceeds as smoothly as possible. No matter what the setting of a health promotion program, it is most important that the program have support from the highest level of the "community" for which the program is being planned. In order for resources and support to flow into health promotion programming, decision makers need to clearly perceive a set of values or benefits associated with the proposed program. Program planners should develop a rationale for the program's existence. The following are sources that can be used in developing a rationale:
- Results of a needs assessment that show the program is both needed
and wanted.
This can only be used if an assessment has already been completed for this or another related or similar program. - Epidemiological data about a specific health problem.
These gain additional significance when it can be shown that the described health problem(s) are the result of modifiable health behaviors and that spending money to promote healthy lifestyle and prevent health problems makes good economic sense. - The values and benefits of such a program to the decision makers.
Values and benefits vary depending on the settings and what is important to decision makers.
Values and Benefits of Health Promotion Programming (PDF: 6 KB 1 page) - Other successful programs that have been conducted in similar settings.
- Comparison between the proposed program and the health plan for the
nation or a state.
- Comparing the health needs of the target population with those
of other citizens in the state, outlined in Healthy Minnesotans:
Public Health Improvement Goals 2004, http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/chs/phg/intro.html,
Or all of Americans, as outlined in the goals and objectives of
Healthy People 2010, www.health.gov/healthypeople
Program planners should be able to show the compatibility between the goals of the program and those of the nation's health plan.
- Comparing the health needs of the target population with those
of other citizens in the state, outlined in Healthy Minnesotans:
Public Health Improvement Goals 2004, http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/chs/phg/intro.html,
Involving Community Leaders Main Page
Community Health Promotion Guide Main Page
See also > Center for Health Promotion > Health Promotion and Chronic Disease