Step 4:
Determining Interventions and Developing an Action Plan
Most communities do not have the resources to address all of their health problems at once. They must set priorities and plan to address some problems initially and others over time. To determine which obesity-specific policies, practices, or environmental factors to address first, many communities find it helpful to start small and use their early successes to build momentum for the program. Over time, more and more obesity-related risk factors, target groups, practices, policies, and environmental factors are addressed.
Using the information and input collected during Step 3: Conducting a Community Forum can allow for the creation of an action plan with concrete steps. Action planning consists of a 3-stage process: 1.) Defining goals and objectives; 2.) Designing an intervention; 3.) Creating an action plan. To be comprehensive, interventions should include different strategies, such as educational programs, policy advocacy, and environmental measures conducted in various settings, such as schools, health care facilities, community sites, and the workplace.
Action planning consists of a three-stage process:
