LaShawn M. Curtis, MPH, Bureau of Chronic Diseases and Injury Prevention, Pennsylvania Department of Health, P.O. Box 90, Room 1011 Health and Welfare Bldg., Harrisburg, PA 17108, 717-787-2957, c-lcurtis@state.pa.us

In 2001, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Cardiovascular Health Section initiated the Pennsylvania Cardiovascular Health Consortium (PCHC) to put A Public Health Action Plan to Prevent Heart Disease and Stroke, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, into action at the state and local levels. PCHC’s mission is to develop the first-ever, stakeholder-driven and statewide cardiovascular health plan for Pennsylvania.

The consortium and statewide plan allow Pennsylvania cardiovascular health initiatives to move beyond Department of Health planning and funding limitations. Although the 125-member consortium operates without designated state or federal funds, the partnership has experienced substantial achievements as it works to complete a statewide plan by September 2004. PCHC has successfully conducted two full-membership planning meetings in Philadelphia and Harrisburg, and the consortium’s six workgroups have completed over 26 conference calls to develop and finalize strategies, action steps and outcomes for the statewide plan.

Key components of the PCHC development and planning process include mobilizing staff and financial resources; reviewing cardiovascular health and disease burden data; building partnerships; developing an organizational and planning structure based on the Action Plan framework; realistic goal setting; and process evaluation activities. In addition to a detailed discussion of the PCHC planning process, its challenges, and achievements, this session will highlight creative staffing, funding, and communication strategies employed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health to develop and maintain PCHC in the absence of state and federal funding (e.g., developing a private consortium communications webpage and securing meeting facilities and support through consortium partners).

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, participants should be able to
• discuss key issues that challenge statewide planning efforts;
• identify key partnerships and players for developing and maintaining successful statewide planning efforts despite limited funding; and
• describe funding, staffing, and communications strategies for developing and maintaining statewide planning efforts.

Keywords: Planning, Chronic (CVD)

Related Web page: app1.health.state.pa.us/pchc/

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Tom Kean, Strategic Health Concepts: meeting facilitation and strategic planning consulting
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.