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“Community planning has the potential to reduce health inequities. Applying an equity lens to community health planning can encourage greater focus on the process, the implications, and suggested outcomes.”

—Haber, National Collaborating Centre

​(Citation: Action Plan, #1)

1. How do you develop an action plan using a health equity lens?

An action plan describes the steps needed to meet selected priorities. An action plan keeps your agency, team, organization, or partnership on track toward meetings its goals and demonstrates to community members and other stakeholders that you are making concrete progress toward improving social, economic, and environmental conditions. (Citation: Action Plan, #2,3) 

 

Developing an action plan using the health equity lens means including “community” input in the development process and considering how all aspects of the plan may impact the community in question and consistently assuring that your team or partnership’s health equity goal is met.

 

Note: You may need to modify your action plan to meet changing conditions in your community over time. An action plan should not be viewed as a static document.

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Core components of an action plan include (Citation: Action Plan, #3):

  • Goals, objectives and action steps.

  • Clear roles and responsibilities of those involved

  • Clear mechanisms for tracking progress (evaluation)

These are recommendations to remember when developing an action plan using a health equity lens (Citation: Action Plan, #4):

  • Balancing community input and best available evidence

  • Establishing a process to ensure strategies are linked to inequities

  • Selecting a comprehensive set of approaches

  • Accounting for diversity within the community

  • Recognizing not everyone is starting from the same place

  • Identifying barriers and potential negative unintended consequences

 

Use the resources listed below to develop your action plan

2. Who should be involved in developing an action plan?

Developing the action plan should include people and organizations in the community who are invested and impacted by the priorities selected.  Some of these individuals or groups may be part of your existing partnership or you may wish to invite to the agency, team, organization, or partnership because they bring a new perspective to the process.

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3. How can you ensure the action plan is feasible and sustainable using a health equity lens

The plan should be complete, clear, and current. The action plan should also include information and ideas you have already gathered about your priorities (health issues, strategies, interventions) as well as the steps you must take to move forward on those priorities.

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 “Remember the 80-20 rule: successful efforts are 80% follow through on planned actions and 20% planning for success.”

–Community Toolbox

(Citation: Action Plan, #5)

4. How to implement an action plan using a health equity lens?

As you move to implementing your action plan, make sure that all partners have a copy of the action plan and understand their roles. Carrying out the plan may be difficult at times and it may be tough to determine any chance when you are moving forward. Take time to appreciate what has been accomplished and recognize what the agency, team members, and partners have contributed.

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Note: Ensure that you obtain identified resources needed to implement specific activities and put those resources in place before implementation.  A back-up plan is also important in case promised resources are not provided.

5. How do to ensure accountability in an action plan using a health equity lens?

For an action plan to be successful, an agency, team members, organizational staff, community partnership and other partners need to be responsible for following and being responsible for selected activities. Creating clear timelines, communicating, following up regularly, and celebrating successes make accountability more likely.

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Learn More about

Action Planning for Health Equity

Resources

Go back to Action Planning for Health Equity Core Questions

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