SEVEN KEY FACTORS IN COMMUNITY CHANGE

1. Clear vision & mission- those initiatives with a clear and specific focus, such as
increasing rates of childhood immunization or lowering the rate of unemployment, bring
about much higher rates of change than broad "healthy communities" efforts which lack a
targeted mission and objectives. 

2.Action planning- Identifying specific community changes (that is, new or modified

programs, policies, and practices) to be sought may be the single, most important practice
that can be implemented. The action plan should be quite precise, specifying with whom, by
whom, how and by when each action step should be carried out.

3. Leadership - A change in leadership can dramatically affect the rate of change brought
about by a community group. The loss of strong leadership can be particularly difficult for
an organization.

4. Resources for community mobilizers- Hiring community mobilizers or organizers can

aid in following up on action plans. It can be very difficult to maintain an organization
without some paid staff. Paid organizers can help fan the flames and keep the level of
excitement about the organization and its goals at a consistently high level.

5. Documentation and Feedback- It's also very important that people keep a record of
what they have done and how they have done it. Having this history can be an
invaluable guide for the organization's work. Looking regularly (at least quarterly) at
what the group has done, how quickly it has occurred, and outside events that affect the
group's work has been shown to spur groups onto even greater heights.
6.Technical Assistance- Outside help with specific actions, such as action planning or
securing resources, is also a way to support a group's efforts to transform its community

7. Making outcome matter-  Grant makers also have the ability to increase rates of
community and systems change through offering incentives or disincentives to their
grantees. For example, the annual renewal of multi-year awards or the offering of bonus
grants could be based on evidence of progress or accomplishment by the community
group.

WHO IS INVOLVED?

Transforming the conditions that affect community health and development requires a
broad collaborative partnership among several key players. 
Transforming the conditions that affect community health and development requires a
broad collaborative partnership among several key players.

State and community partnerships -- those doing the work of community and systems
change -- link together people and organizations that have the same goals. For example, a
community partnership for universal access to health care might bring together
representatives from health care with representatives of groups who have traditionally not
had access. Together, they might work to make changes throughout the community that
would affect access for all. Specific changes might be made in local community-based
organizations, health organizations, businesses, schools, the government, financial
institutions, and the faith community -- all with the overall goal of access to health care for
all.

Support and intermediary organizations -- such as university-based research centers and

community-based organizations, help community partners develop the skills they need to
be effective. Often, these groups concentrate on improving community members'
understanding of the core competencies necessary to do this work. Examples of these
competencies include community assessment, strategic planning, community action and
advocacy, community evaluation, and securing resources to sustain the effort.

Grantmakers - Foundations -- help create conditions for success by using requests for
proposals to bring people together for a common purpose, such as reducing domestic
violence or improving arts education for children. They can also broker connections among
groups working in the same community or on the same issue. Finally, they can leverage
funding and resources through relationships with other Grantmakers and help make
outcome matter.

WORKING TOGETHER - ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN COMMUNITY

WORK

Partner Task Community Partnership Support Organizat

Develop a vision
1. Develop the vision, mission and Frame their object
objectives level indicators
Select broad purpose and goals

Identify specific changes

Suggest action ste
2. Develop an action plan
Develop an inclusive planning process
Make partnerships
 practices"
Organize committees for each objective
Support early stag
Enhance and support leadership
Skill training using
3. Develop and support leadership
support groups an
Develop new leaders

Gather information on changes

Establish and main
documentation fo
4. Document and feedback Obtain other information
intermediate outc
mission
Review data

Look for help from organizations with Provide assistance

specialized knowledge documenting thei
5. Secure and provide technical assistance
Develop their own technical assistance Provide training m
capacity workshops

Provide quantitative and qualitative Assist documenter

6. Secure and provide financial resources
information on community investments interpreting and c

Assist documenter
7. Make outcomes matter Submit to an annual status report
interpreting, and c