Phase 4: Implementation

Implementation

The fourth phase of the Inclusive Healthy Communities Model is Implementation, in which you will work with your community coaches (a person that leads the community coalition and works with you and your partners to implement the inclusive healthy communities model), community coalition (group of community members and partners to work together towards a common goal), and partners to complete the policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes designed to improve the health and well-being of people with disabilities.

During the Implementation Phase, your community coalition will be able to:

• Execute its vision and begin to achieve the outcomes outlined in the community action plan.

WHY this phase is important

By implementing policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes for addressing poor nutrition, physical inactivity, accessibility issues, and tobacco use and exposure for people with disabilities, your community coalition will be able to potentially reach greater numbers of people with long-term impact.

WHAT activities take place during this phase

1. Initiate implementation by following the action steps for each goal and objective that you outlined on your community action plan. Your community action plan can serve as a "road map" during the Implementation Phase to ensure best use of resources.
2. Think about sustainability with each policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change that you successfully implement. Sustainability is best achieved by thinking of the end at the beginning of the project. Complete a sustainability plan, which helps community coalitions to consider six areas of longevity for your disability inclusion efforts:
   1. Coalitions and partnerships
   2. Policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) strategies
   3. Social marketing and communication
   4. Integration
   5. Mentoring and peer learning
   6. Funding
3. Revisit your community action plan to review your implementation progress and make updates. The community action plan can be viewed as a living document, one to be reviewed and revised on a regular basis. Tracking the objectives and related activities in your community action plan will make it possible to determine if your disability inclusion efforts are occurring as planned, or if adjustments should be made to activities. Facing barriers is common but documenting them facilitates their use as learning opportunities to improve upon your activities. Also, by documenting progress and reassessing activities on a regular basis (e.g., annually, bi-annually), the community action plan can be updated and revised, as needed, to align with new or emerging needs within the community.
4. Lastly, give your community coalition a chance to celebrate successes along the way. These moments to reflect and appreciate the coalition's achievements will help to bring further awareness to community partners and stakeholders about your work, as well as bolster further support and sense of commitment among community coalition members.

WHO in the community needs to be involved

Your community coalition and partners are ultimately all involved in the implementation process. Maintaining a high level of commitment among coalition members and involving additional community partners is critical during the Implementation Phase so that you can foster and preserve a shared sense of responsibility, empowerment, and ownership for achieving your community action plan.

How much TIME this phase takes

The Implementation Phase begins when the initial community action plan is developed, and is complete once you've implemented and achieved your inclusive policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) strategies. However, if your disability inclusion vision is woven into the overall mission of an already established community coalition, the Implementation Phase could be extended as long as:

• Community coalition members are committed.
• Reassessment and revisions are made to the community action plan as new needs emerge.
• The community action plan is revised and tracked on a regular basis.

There is no time limit to the Implementation Phase as long as the community coalition is still functioning.

What SUCCESS looks like

Successful implementation will include the following characteristics:

• A community action plan used as a road map to guide and chart the community coalition's successes.
• Ongoing review of the community action plan to track progress and re-assess and record emerging needs within the community.
• A plan for sustainability.
• Acknowledgement of challenges and lessons learned, using them as helpful tools for adjusting activities as needed.
• Celebrations for achieving community awareness of the community coalition's disability inclusion efforts and maintaining coalition commitment.