Foundational Planning Readiness Organizational Self-Assessment

Foundational Planning Readiness Organizational Self-Assessment

A tool to help public health agencies determine if they are ready for planning.
Reference the PDF version of this tool for more detailed information about the self-assessment. You will receive an email with a copy of all your responses and the resource list upon completion.

For additional support with planning readiness, please contact ASTHO’s Performance Improvement team at performanceimprovement@astho.org or submit a PHIVE request.
Name

First NameLast Name
Email*
example@example.com
Select Your Jurisdiction*

StateLocalTerritory/Freely Associated StateOther
What is one planning process your organization wants to start? *
Please select one planning process to assess at a time.

A. Engagement, Commitment, and Equity

Inclusive planning with clear leadership commitment leads to strong decisions, shared goals, and better outcomes. Having champions, clear roles, and a commitment to equity ensures everyone’s voice is heard.
Key definitions:
- Governing Entity: The board or official with legal oversight of your public health agency.
- Champion: A visible supporter who helps maintain momentum.
- Commitment: Long-term support for the process and its outcomes.
1. Are the governing entity and leadership actively engaged and committed to the planning process?*
Resources:
2. Has the governing entity identified a champion or dedicated person to advocate for or participate in the planning process?*
Resources:
- Implementation Champions as a Strategy to Build Capacity
- Strategic Planning Champions: Social Craftspersons, Artful Interpreters, and Known Strangers
3. Has the organization defined clear roles and expectations for all involved in the planning process, specified contributors, decision-makers, and decision-making processes, and emphasized inclusivity and equity?*
Resources:
4. Are leadership and planning committee members committed to a collaborative approach, thoughtfully considering all planning recommendations and making decisions that support shared goals and mutual benefit? Will they work together to ensure the decisions reflect the collective vision and strengthen the overall impact of the planning process?*
Resources:
5. Is there a commitment to the process with an emphasis on equity, ensuring diverse perspectives and fair representation from across the organization?*
Resource:
- Inspiring Inclusion: 5 Tips for Project Leaders
Comments For Section A

B. Resources and Support

Planning takes time and resources. Having what you need (funding, staff time, skilled facilitators) makes success more likely. It’s also important to plan how you’ll fund and support implementation later.
6. Are resources available to support planning amidst other work priorities in a manner that is realistic and achievable?*
e.g., Staff time, funding for stakeholder engagement, consulting support
Resources:
- Process Management – Resources Planning
- Change Management eLearning Course
7. Is there access to skilled facilitators to support the planning process (internal or external)?*
Resources:
- Strategic Planning: What to Expect When Selecting a Facilitator
- Developing Facilitation Skills
8. Is there a commitment to allocate sufficient and equitable resources for implementing core strategies identified through the planning process?*
e.g., Resources may include personnel, expertise, materials and equipment, etc.
Resources:
- 10 Steps to an Effective Resourcing Strategy
- Project Commitment
Comments For Section B

C. Information Gathering and Understanding

Before making decisions, it’s important that everyone understands the purpose of the plan, knows how to gather needed information, and recognizes key partners. A shared understanding lays the groundwork for meaningful collaboration.
9. Do leadership and planning committee members understand the purpose of the planning process?*
Resource:
- 3 Ways Leaders Drive Success Through Strategic Planning
10. Are leadership and planning committee members willing and able to gather comprehensive information about the current organizational landscape, including strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, program effectiveness, community needs, and potential collaborators?*
Resources:
- Stakeholder Engagement for Strategic Planning
- 5 Tips for Collaborative Strategic Planning
11. Have leadership and planning committee members identified key partners and understand their relationships with each other and the organization to allow full participation, collaboration, communication, and maximize the contribution of everyone?*
Resources:
Comments For Section C

D. Planning Integration, Implementation, and Sustainability

Linking the plan to budgeting and operations makes it more actionable. Setting up systems to track progress and share updates increases the chance your plan will be used and improved over time.
12. Is there a commitment to tie the plan to the organization’s annual planning and budgeting processes—to create a detailed yearly operating plan for the upcoming year and monitor/revise the plan as needed?*
Resources:
13. Has the organization established evaluation and monitoring systems to track progress toward priorities?*
e.g., Evaluation and monitoring systems may include a plan to identify performance indicators, data collection methods, etc.
Resources:
14. Will the organization develop a communication plan and resources to communicate the planning process, the rollout, and the monitoring of the completed plan. To support this work, the organization will engage with internal and key external communication experts?*
Resources:
Comments For Section D

E. Foundational Plan Alignment and Sequencing

It helps to know where your organization is in the planning journey. The plans listed below often build on each other. Tracking their completion supports better coordination and resource use.
15. Has the community completed a community health assessment?*
16. Has the community completed a community health improvement planning process?*
17. Has the organization completed an organizational strategic planning process?*
18. Has the organization completed a workforce planning process?*
19. Has the organization completed a data modernization planning process?*
20. Has the organization completed a quality improvement planning process?*
21. Has the organization completed an emergency operations planning process?*
22. Has the organization completed a continuity of operations planning process?*
23. Has the organization completed a risk communication planning process?*
Comments For Section E

F. Past Experiences

Reflect on what has helped or hindered planning in the past. Lessons learned from previous processes can shape your approach this time around.
What contributed to past plan success?
What contributed to limited impacts of past plans?

G. Current Reality

Look at what you have and what’s still needed for a successful planning process. Think about the biggest barriers and where you may need outside help.
What is in place to support successful planning, implementation, monitoring, and sustainability?
What is necessary for successful planning, implementation, monitoring, and sustainability (e.g., specific skills, resources, support, etc.)?
What do you see as the biggest challenges or barriers preventing your organization from being fully ready to undertake this work?
How can external partners, such as ASTHO, best support your organization in building the capacity or readiness needed to undertake this work?

Next Steps
Once you hit submit, you will receive a copy of your submission, as well as links to all the resources.

Take time to review your results and identify areas where your organization is well-positioned as well as areas that may require further development. Use this information to prioritize next steps, such as engaging key partners, securing resources, and reviewing previous strengths and successes.

For additional support with planning readiness, please contact ASTHO’s Performance Improvement team at performanceimprovement@astho.org or submit a PHIVE request.
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Foundational Planning Readiness Organizational Self-Assessment

A. Engagement, Commitment, and Equity

Resources:

Resources:

Resources:

Resources:

Resource:

B. Resources and Support

Resources:

Resources:

Resources:

C. Information Gathering and Understanding

Resource:

Resources:

Resources:

D. Planning Integration, Implementation, and Sustainability

Resources:

Resources:

Resources:

E. Foundational Plan Alignment and Sequencing

F. Past Experiences

G. Current Reality

Next Steps