Case Studies
Strategic Planning Process to Address Tobacco-Related
Disparities in Idaho
Lessons Learned
What were the
important elements to the intervention's success?
- Gathering and synthesis of data prior to implementation
of strategic planning process.
- Recruitment of a planning workgroup that was inclusive,
diverse and representative.
- Adherence to the principles of a participatory planning
process.
- High quality leadership provided by Project Director who
had built relationships of trust with American Indian
and Latino communities particularly.
- Intensive communication between Workgroup meetings to
solicit input and feedback.
- Strong commitment from the Tobacco Program Manager for
the State of Idaho, Department of Health and Welfare,
Bureau of Health Promotion.
Describe the policy
and/or program interventions applicability/replicability
to other sites, and include recommendations for other
sites.
The strategic planning
process developed in Idaho is applicable to and
replicable in other states, especially states with a
small population but great geographic area. This process
was implemented on a limited budget of $45,000,
illustrating that it is possible to create a statewide
strategic plan involving representatives of diverse
groups with limited funding.
Describe the
challenges faced, and below each challenge, describe any
solutions used to correct or reduce the problem.
Challenge: Limited funding
Solutions: Schedule very few statewide meetings
(3), use majority of funding to reimburse travel to
meetings, and take advantage of telephone and e-mail
communication between meetings.
Challenge: Limited time from Tobacco Program
staff person who acted as project director
Solutions: Use time effectively, be very
organized, "piggyback" disparities outreach with other
parts of job, communicate intensively by e-mail and
telephone
Challenge: Different agendas of diverse group
members
Solutions: Focus on representing group but
advocating for whole; emphasize unique challenges faced
by each that could be solved by goals that were of
benefit to all.
Challenge: Tobacco low priority on agenda of many
populations
Solutions: Framing question of tobacco use in a
way that made it relevant to all parties. Put tobacco
into a larger context, that of social justice and equity
issues.
Challenge: Difficulty in recruiting
representatives of populations with small numbers in
Idaho
Solutions: Continued to seek involvement of
unrepresented groups to provide local environmental
scans for their populations
What would you have
done differently?
Been
better prepared for the first meeting with more detailed
agenda and specific objectives for each section of the
agenda.
Lessons Learned Notes
- Leadership should come to the first meeting with
all available and pertinent data organized and ready
to present. If possible, one person should present
the data to avoid the perception of excessive
control by any one group (in this case the State).
- Communicate! Take the time to make phone calls,
particularly to key participants, to ensure their
participation either through attendance, a
representative, or e-mailed minutes and handouts.
- Do not overload participants with work.
- Do listen and respond to all input from
participants.
- As much as possible, use funds to enhance the
principles of participatory planning.
- Share data and continue to work on relationships
that will gain access to additional data sources.
- Nurture relationships. People enjoy working with
people, not bureaucracies.
- The State must demonstrate their commitment by
"doing."
Page last modified 07/25/2007
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