Strategic planning establishes the future direction for your program or institution. It requires a complete assessment of both the prospects and hazards that it will encounter, the strengths that it can leverage, and the deficiencies that it needs to overcome to reach its goal. Strategic planning is key when developing evidence based behavioral health interventions. However, the best of plans can be ineffective if they are not executed properly. Engagement of a strategic plan requires a great deal of dynamism, focus, dedication and time.

Assessments of a program’s or institution’s design, implementation, improvement and outcomes are best accomplished using a systematic application of scientific methods. In many instances, program evaluation is necessary to justify current funding or to request additional funding. Other times it is an ethical responsibility for the program or institution to demonstrate the impact of participation for its clients. Conscientious administrations will also seek program evaluation to more effectively manage limited resources or improve the effectiveness of programs.

Social marketing has a proven record as an effective tool to change human behavior in order to improve the welfare of people and the physical, social and economic environment in which they live. While social marketing makes use of the four basic principles of commercial marketing (product, price, place and promotion), the additional and fifth element of policy seeks to promote positive behavioral change through an influence on policy. Formative research helps the institution or program to understand the interests, characteristics, and needs of the community. Formative research is often done before a program is established but will sometimes be done while a program is being implemented to identify areas of improvement.