Designing an inclusive implementation strategy can be challenging and time consuming. However, it is a crucial aspect of CCB that requires the most and longest sustained efforts. Below are a few ways to ensure successful implementation [2]:
- Establish strong leadership to bring a team together for a common goal and foster relationships to enable good communication and problem solving.
- Develop strong partnerships among the identified local organizations, leaders, and community members.
- Ensure sufficient funds to carry out your plan.
- Share the responsibilities among the members of the team. It will keep the team involved, motivated, and accountable.
- Design the implementation process and the format of the activities involved.
- Brainstorm strategies to publicize the events and activities.
- Develop strong and ongoing communication to support the efforts of the team.
- Regularly check in with sources of information, seek new sources, and re-evaluate community strengths to ensure you have all relevant information.
Implementation requires having strong leadership and structural components, developing a strong communication strategy, and sharing of responsibilities. These will help keep the team involved, motivated, and accountable; and prevent burnout, wasted efforts, conflicts, confusion, and loss of credibility and legitimacy [2].
To be effective, your strategy must be well-managed and structured. It can involve designating roles and responsibilities for the team members. Examples of different roles can be found below.
- Implementer: Develops and implements activities.
- Facilitator/coordinator: Brings together and manages the local organizations and resources required to organize and carry out CCB efforts.
- Partner: One of several organizations that have formed a community partnership to design and implement community development activities.
- Promoter: Promotes and supports community development activity with knowledge, expertise, energy, and/or enthusiasm.
- Funder: Agencies that fund community development activities.
It is important that the team understands that CCB is a long-term approach. Staying consistent, focusing on a shared vision, and adapting to any change that may occur in the process is important for successful CCB. Strong local partnerships actively working towards a shared goal can be very beneficial for planning and implementing interventions [2].
It is important to organize and share responsibilities. A clear understanding of the objectives, duties, and expectations is necessary for managing the project, keeping everyone involved, allocating the workload, and making sure everyone’s voices are heard [2].
Step 8 – Implement Strategy Example
A local organization that provides support for pregnant people volunteers to take the lead in building community capacity. The partnership team reviews the existing structures, resources, and funds available and works towards building stronger relationships. Additionally, the team collaborates with provincial organizations.
Each partner organization appoints representatives to sit on the planning committee to move the implementation forward. The planning committee outlines implementation activities, including the format of the activities, advertising, and the time frame to deliver the activities. It also develops a budget proposal to ensure funding is available and explores other sources of funds if required (e.g., the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute FASD Prevention and Awareness Grant). The team decides to meet every two weeks to discuss the progress of the implementation plan.