13.10: Health Promotion Program Planning
In order for any type of health intervention to be successful, it should first be evidence-based - the rationale, design, implementation, and assessment of the program rooted in scientific evidence. It may not be possible, however, to simply find a peer-reviewed research article on a successful intervention for a specific health behavior in a similar community, and then “copy and paste” that intervention into a new community. Effective program planning therefore involves a thoughtful process, taking into account the specific needs, desires, and capacities of the community, as well as considering funding, timing, and how the program will be evaluated for efficacy (whether or not it worked). Most community-based programs are grant funded, and so must demonstrate this process in order to justify the use of those funds. Below are a few of the most widely used health promotion programming models.