Planning Framework

Public Health Sudbury & Districts plays a key role in the development and delivery of evidence-informed public health programs and services.

How do we generate evidence?

• We use existing planning processes and consultation across the agency to identify gaps in knowledge and evidence and to prioritize areas and topics about which we should consider generating evidence.
• We generate evidence by:
  • conducting research,
  • evaluations,
  • needs assessments,
  • literature reviews;
  • and engaging with the public and community stakeholders.
• This is often done in partnership with other public health units and with community researchers and academic partners.

1. Assess

• Define the issue or problem
  • Learn how to define your issue/problem with the Evidence-informed Public Health video (National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools).
• Review, synthesize, and document evidence of need and effectiveness.
  • Identify target and priority populations.
  • Consider valuable evidence from a variety of sources (PDF, National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools).
    • community health and local context
    • existing public health resources
    • community and political climate
    • population health data
    • best available research findings
    • evaluation data from previous cycle
  • Incorporate community engagement strategies.
  • Consult with collaborating managers and teams.

2. Recommend

• Synthesize the evidence and draw conclusions; recommend interventions based on need, impact, capacity, and partnerships.
• Synthesize the evidence and draw conclusions; recommend interventions based on need, impact, capacity and partnerships
  • Rely on public health expertise to integrate all relevant factors into any decision making.
  • Identify priorities and make program decisions.

3. Plan

• Develop planning deliverables to suit operational needs. These may include:
  • a logic model
    • include goal, approaches, audiences, and outcomes
  • activity or program plan
    • Include program and intervention descriptions, objectives, indicators, activity details, and evaluation and quality improvement plans.
  • the Annual Service Plan for the Ministry of Health

4. Implement and monitor

• Deliver the program and interventions.
• Collect, analyze, and monitor indicator, evaluation, and quality improvement evidence.
• Determine what program and/or intervention modifications should be made.
• Report on progress as required (for example mid-year, year-end).
• Compile any gaps, practice-based questions, and research priorities for the next cycle.