Planning For Success:
Creating an Action Plan
The Strategic Prevention Framework
Planning Step
You have identified the
"But Why"
(Intervening Variables)
and
"But Why Here"
(Underlying Conditions)
Now you need a plan.
What will success look like?
What steps will it take to
reach your goal?
How will you know when
you get there?
Why A Logic Model?
… thought Alice and she went on, “Would you tell me,
please, which way I ought to go from here?”
“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,”
said the Cat.
“I don’t much care where —” said Alice.
Then it doesn’t matter where you go,” said the Cat.
“— so long as I get somewhere,” Alice added as
an explanation.
“Oh, you’re sure to do that,” said the Cat,
“if you only walk long enough.”
(Carroll, 1865, p. 51)
What is a Logic Model?
A logic model is a visual representation of you are
doing. This approach:
• Lets everyone know where you are going
• How you are getting there
• How you are measuring progress
along the way
• And how you will know
when you arrived
Use your intervening variables and underlying conditions:
What is
the
problem?
Why is it a
problem
here?
But Why,
specifically, is
it a problem
here?
To create a “Theory of Change”
that will become a visual model of your logic:
If __________
If _________
If _________
Then________
Then_______
Then_______
If-Then Relationships
Underlying a logic model is a series of ‘if-then’ relationships
that express the program’s theory of change
Check Your Logic
Does research support what you are saying?
Are there any gaps? Can you read it forward and backward?
If we offer RBST
Then fewer
retailers will sell
to youth
If fewer retailers
sell to youth
Then youth
access will be
reduced
If youth access is
reduced
Then fewer youth
will consume
Underage Drinking
If youth access is
reduced
Then fewer
youth will
consume
If fewer
retailers sell to
youth
Then youth
access will be
reduced
If we offer RBST
Then fewer
retailers will sell
to youth
Logic Model
The Action Plan
• Ensures that the vision
becomes concrete
• Details the sequential action steps that
need to be taken to implement the
strategy
• Shows everyone’s responsibilities for
achieving the outcomes
Sample Action Plan
Problem:
Problem target population:
Intervening Variable/Underlying Condition:
Strategy:
Strategy target population:
Long Term Outcome:
Action Steps
Time
Location
What will we When will it Where will
do?
happen? it happen?
Process
Resources
Persons
Indicators
Responsible
How will we What do we Who will
know it has
need to make sure it
happened?
make this
happens?
happen?
Short-Term
Outcome(s)
What will success
look like?
Sample Action Plan
Problem: Underage youth in our community are drinking.
Problem target population: 11th and 12th grade youth in Green County
Intervening Variable/Underlying Condition: Youth are getting alcohol at local retailers. Checks show
that 60% of retailers are not refusing sales to underage youth. [Retail Access]
Strategy: Provide TIPS training
Strategy target population: All retailers who sell alcohol in Green County
Long Term Outcome: 90% of retailers in Green County will refuse to sell alcohol to underage youth.
Action Steps
Time
Location
What will we When will it Where will
do?
happen? it happen?
Process
Resources
Persons
Indicators
Responsible
How will we What do we Who will
know it has
need to make sure it
happened?
make this
happens?
happen?
Short-Term
Outcome(s)
What will success
look like?
Sample Action Plan
Problem: Underage youth in our community are drinking.
Problem target population: 11th and 12th grade youth in Green County
Intervening Variable/Underlying Condition: Youth are getting alcohol at local retailers. Checks show
that 60% of retailers are not refusing sales to underage youth. [Retail Access]
Strategy: Provide TIPS training
Strategy target population: All retailers who sell alcohol in Green County
Long Term Outcome: 90% of retailers in Green County will refuse to sell alcohol to underage youth.
Action Steps
Time
Location
What will we When will it Where will
do?
happen? it happen?
Train two
9/15
community
members in
TIPS facilitation
Visit each
business to
invite them to
training
11/15 Des Moines
11/15 1/15
Green
County
Process
Resources
Persons
Indicators
Responsible
How will we What do we Who will
know it has
need to make sure it
happened?
make this
happens?
happen?
Certificate of
Completion
from two
community
members
Spreadsheet will
be created and
checked off
Funds for
training
Mark and
Steve
Volunteers to
each visit 5
businesses,
flyers
Sue will
coordinate &
check in with
volunteers
Short-Term
Outcome(s)
What will success
look like?
By June 30, 2015, 30
retailers will attend
TIPS training.
Sample Action Plan
By June 2015, 30
retailers will be
trained.
Get two
committee
members
trained
Personal
invite to
each
business
Order books
We are going to
provide free TIPS
training to at
Schedule and
least 50% of our
hold one training
retailers
each month
We want to focus on
limiting access for
11th and 12th
graders
Underage youth
are drinking.
40% of retailers failed
compliance checks
By June 2016,
90% of retailers
will be compliant
Discussion
Do you think having a written action plan is
necessary for your coalition? Why or why not?
Who should give input into creating a theory
of change and action plan? Do you already
have everyone you need? Who is missing?
How can you get them engaged?
What resources do you already have for this
step? What else will be needed?
Additional Resources
www.iowaspfsig.org
SPF Resources
Planning
Next step:
Implementation
Putting your action plan
to work
This project is funded by Iowa Department of
Public Health, through the Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services