Road Mapping to Community Resiliency
Friday Interactive Session
8:30 AM–10:00 AM
Facilitator:
Rebecca Gehring, BA, MPH
Presenters:
Paul Epstein, BS
Nancy Carlson, BS
Paul Epstein of the Results That Matter Team, Epstein & Fass Associates and Nancy Carlson of the Minnesota Behavioral Health MRC, Minnesota State Department of Health, held an interactive session to discuss the importance of strategic planning for community resiliency by using the balanced scorecard approach. This approach allows an organization to align their activities to reach unified public health outcomes—community resiliency.
Over 40 people divided into small groups to participate in a basic strategy map tabletop exercise. The goal of the tabletop exercise was to develop a Community Public Health Preparedness Strategy Map. The exercise gave participants opportunities to discuss how community assets, community process and learning, and community implementation allow for community health outcomes (strategic goals).
After the exercise, Carlson briefly described the functions of her behavioral health MRC unit and her experience with strategic mapping. She presented a real-world event and explained how she used the draft strategic road map during the fall 2010 flooding in Minnesota. This real world event helped validate what really worked when compared to the hypothetical steps and outcomes developed during the planning process. After the event, Carlson reviewed her lessons learned and revised the MRC unit’s strategic map so it actually aligned to her organization’s capabilities.
The revisions have lead to organizational change. Minnesota is now using the revised MRC road map to increase development and implementation of the key elements necessary to respond to a major spring flood. Instead of recruiting volunteers to develop regional strike teams, counties and regions will now be asked to put together their own qualified volunteers with leadership roles.
In conclusion, it is important to understand that a strategic road map is a living document which can and should be adapted and/or revised to address needs within the local community. Efforts like these will ultimately lead to developing and improving resiliency.
Rebecca Gehring is a Program Associate on the Public Health Preparedness Team at the National Association of County and City Health Officials.
