How to operationalize and align your organization's workforce development plan to achieve desired results

Aligning strategies, plans, and activities within an organization is important for achieving maximum impact. The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) requires health departments seeking accreditation to develop a Community Health Assessment, Community Health Improvement Plan, Strategic Plan, Quality Improvement Plan, Workforce Development Plan, and a Performance Management System. In addition, these assessments, plans, and systems must lead to operational and action plans to assure effective implementation and progress. Alignment across these and other types of activities is important for assuring success and achieving desired outcomes of any type of public health organization.

This interactive session for APHA Annual 2013 is designed to help participants align their various strategies, plans, and activities to achieve desired outcomes. Focus will be placed on aligning the Workforce Development Plan with other plans, assessments, and systems within the organization. An example from the Kane County (IL) Health Department will be presented that includes the local health department's Workforce Development Plan and the agency's efforts to align their plan with other activities. During this session, participants will also have an opportunity to learn about quality improvement tools and methods that can assist with operationalizing and aligning their Workforce Development Plan. A checklist will be provided to assist with alignment and other tools, such as a tree diagram and matrix diagram, will be used to help organizations drill down to the next steps needed for operationalizing and implementing their Workforce Development Plan. In addition to practicing use of one of these tools in small groups, participants will receive copies of the checklist and quality improvement tools they can use within their organizations following this session.