Roadmap for State Program Planning: Implement Program

• Build Capacity
• Implement Strategies
• Track Progress

Implement Strategies
Introduction

Implementing planned interventions can begin once the HDSP Work Plan and HDSP Evaluation Plan are developed and synchronized. Process evaluation tasks can also begin at this point. More information about process evaluation is found under the Evaluate Program section of the Roadmap.

What to Do

Ensure that the HDSP Work and Evaluation Plans are coordinated before beginning implementation. Review the two plans at frequent intervals after beginning activities to ensure the timetable is being followed and that enough lead time to implement the corresponding monitoring activities is available.

Once implementation begins, focus on attaining program objectives by—

• Monitoring program activities and staff efforts.
• Comparing progress and results to performance standards.
• Making changes as needed when standards are not met.
• Monitoring the environment continuously to detect unanticipated developments that might hinder or help the implementation of the intervention or the achievement of the program goals.

These following activities can help detect unanticipated developments during implementation—

• Maintaining internal and external communication channels, particularly with stakeholders and partners.
• Monitoring the media's treatment of issues that could affect your program.
• Anticipating for unexpected opportunities to maximize your efforts.
• Anticipating potential threats that may undermine the effectiveness of activities.

How to Do It

Interventions should address program priority areas in the healthcare, work site, and community settings. State HDSP programs should address high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol in the health care and worksite settings. Interventions should use policy and systems change strategies and education as needed to support those activities. Intervention plans should reflect the following—

• A rationale for selecting proposed interventions ( e.g., needs assessment, burden data).
• Approaches that emphasize working at the highest level appropriate to bring about changes within systems to impact a large proportion of the population.
• Approaches that are culturally appropriate for the specific population of focus.
• Intervention activities should address the general population and priority populations.
• Intervention activities that address prevention of recurrent heart disease or stroke events.