After you have scanned the environment and assessed available evidence to create SMART goals and objectives, review the feasibility of your proposed PSE change intervention to determine if your goals and objectives can be implemented.
Work with stakeholders to develop a strategy for turning an idea, goal or objective into action, including a discussion of the political, social and economic climate and community readiness. Ensure that key champions are involved to provide their support. Consider the decision makers and key players involved, the resources that exist and that you may still need and the barriers you may face as you get ready to promote your PSE change agenda.
USING DATA IN A FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT
- Understand who the gatekeepers and decision makers are in the environment in which the PSE change will potentially take place. Consider the assumptions they might have and make sure you address them when you promote your PSE change.
- Consider the social landscape and potential economic impact resulting from the PSE change.
- Review similar PSE change efforts and consider the lessons learned from their implementation and evaluation.
- Identify resources (both tangible and intangible) that you plan to use to promote and implement your PSE change.
- Consider costs related to promotion, implementation and evaluation of your PSE change, which might include marketing to the intended audience, staffing or the need for technology.
- Now that your PSE change activities are better defined, identify additional partners and stakeholders who may have resources or be able to help you overcome unforeseen or anticipated barriers.
- Use data from the environmental scan, assessment and feasibility study to bring them to the table.
- Determine what information would be of interest and decide the best way to present this information.
- Solicit their feedback and consider refining the original goals and objectives based on this information, if needed.
TOOLS AND RESOURCES
Below is a list of resources focused on Step 4 of the PSE change approach (assess feasibility of interventions):
- Community Guide is a “collection of evidence-based findings of the Community Preventive Services Task Force (Task Force). It is a resource to help you select interventions to improve health and prevent disease in your state, community, community organization, business, healthcare organization, or school.”
- Community Tool Box provides guidance on rating community goals to “learn how appraising community goals allows you to get a better feel for the likelihood that your constituents will join you in pursuing a goal.”
- Feasibility Planning for Public Health Business Plans developed by Northwest Center for Public Health Practice at the University of Washington is an online course that guides you through the process of creating a feasibility plan.
- From Start to Finish: How to Permanently Improve Government Through Health in All Policies –This toolkit, developed by ChangeLab Solutions, highlights Health in All Policies—the process of improving health by incorporating health considerations into policymaking. It includes best practices and lessons learned from community leaders.
- Health in All Policies: A Guide for State and Local Governments from the Public Health Institute provides guidance on using collaborative approaches to improve population health by embedding health considerations into decision-making processes across a broad array of sectors.