Project Sustainability Action Plan Template

Project SustainabilityAction Plan TemplateRural Health NetworkDevelopment Grantee ProgramAugust 2019525 South Lake Avenue, Suite 320Duluth, Minnesota 55802(218) 727-9390 info@ruralcenter.org www.ruralcenter.orgThis is a publication of Rural Health Innovations, LLC (RHI), a subsidiary of the National Rural HealthResource Center. The Technical Assistance for Network Grantees Project is supported by Contract NumberHHSH250201400024C from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources andServices Administration, Federal Office of Rural Health Policy.

Table of ContentsBackground and Purpose . 2Instructions . 3Using the Template . 4Organizational/Project Profile . 5Organizational/Project Profile . 5Strategic Thinking . 5Marketing Thinking . 6Operational Review . 7Financial Outlook . 8Rural Health Network Sustainability Assessment Results . 9Selected Opportunities for Sustainability . 10Opportunity for Sustainability Action Plan #1 . 11Opportunity for Sustainability Action Plan #2 . 13Opportunity for Sustainability Action Plan #3 . 15Dashboard . 17RURAL HEALTH INNOVATIONS1

Background and PurposeRural Health Innovations (RHI), LLC, is a subsidiary of the National RuralHealth Resource Center (The Center), a non-profit organization. Together,RHI and The Center are a leading technical assistance and knowledge centerin rural health. In partnership with The Center, RHI enhances the health ofrural communities by providing products and services with a focus onexcellence and innovation. RHI is providing technical assistance (TA) to theRural Health Network Development grantees through a contract with theFederal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP).Sustainability is defined as the ability to achieve desired outcomes andmaintain the ability to continue activities over time. 1 Ultimately, programsustainability exists as the goal of FORHP grant funding.The Project Sustainability Action Plan Template was created to providesupport to Rural Health Network Development grantees in writing aneffective sustainability plan.The Project Sustainability Action Plan Toolkit provides a framework for ruralhealth networks to actively plan for sustainability as network leaders deploytheir networks’ business plans as well as assists grantees in meeting theirProject Sustainability Plan grant deliverable. The toolkit consists of a Guide,Template, and Sample, and is supported with an educational webinar: ActionPlanning for Sustainability and is available on RHI’s website.This Project Sustainability Action Plan Template is designed for use inconjunction with the Project Sustainability Action Plan Guide, and the onlineNetwork Sustainability Toolkit which includes a Rural Health NetworkSustainability Assessment. This assessment acts as a data gathering tooland is a critical component to writing your Project Sustainability Action Plan.Scheirer, M. A. (2005). Is sustainability possible? A review and commentary on empericalstudies of program sustainability. American Journal of Evaluation, 26(3), 320-349.1RURAL HEALTH INNOVATIONS2

InstructionsAlthough a specific template for your sustainability plan is not required aspart of the Rural Health Network Development grant deliverable, we offerthis template to provide a starting point and ideas in creating your report.Regardless, the following components of a sustainability plan arerecommended:Organizational/ProjectOverview Network and Project Name Mission and VisionStrategic Thinking Environmental Analysis Project Goals and StrategicObjectives Block and LeversMarketing Thinking Members and Customers Target Markets Member Needs Competitors Marketing Goals Products and Services Key MessagesOperational Review Leadership Skills Key Initiatives Desired Experience andRelationship Delivery Key Resources andInfrastructure Key Partners Key MeasuresRURAL HEALTH INNOVATIONSFinancial Outlook 3-Year Net Income ForecastRural Health NetworkSustainability AssessmentResultsSelected Opportunities forSustainability Opportunity for SustainabilitySelection MethodologyOpportunity for SustainabilityAction Planning Selected Opportunity forSustainability OFS Characteristic Category What will Success look like Action Steps Who Will Implement Timeline Needed Resources Monitoring Communication Output Dashboard3

Using the TemplateTo use this template for documenting your Project Sustainability Action Plan,complete the following steps: Revise cover page to display your network information includingnetwork name, location, authors of the report, and the date. Remove the “Background and Purpose”, “Instructions”, and “Usingthe Template” sections on pages 2-4 of this template documentbefore EHB submission. Change footers to reflect your network name. Complete all sections of the template in the form of narratives,tables, diagrams, and charts as appropriate. Remove the “Instructions” above each table prior to EHBsubmission. Update the Table of Contents to reflect your new content.RURAL HEALTH INNOVATIONS4

Organizational/Project ProfileInstructions: Add your network project information to the template below. Information needed for theStrategic Thinking section can be found in your strategic and business plans. Refer to page 9 of theProject Sustainability Action Plan Guide.Organizational/Project ProfileNetwork Name:Project Name:Vision:Mission:Strategic ThinkingEnvironmental Analysis:Blocks:RURAL HEALTH INNOVATIONSProject Goals:Levers:Strategic Objectives:5

Instructions: Add your network project information to the template below. Information needed for theMarketing Thinking section can be found in your marketing and business plans. Refer to page 10 of theProject Sustainability Action Plan Guide.Marketing ThinkingMembers and Customers:Target Markets:Member Needs:Competitors:Marketing Goals:Products and Services:Key Message(s):RURAL HEALTH INNOVATIONS6

Instructions: Add your network project information to the template below. Information needed for theOperational Review section can be found in your business plan and evaluation plan dashboard. Refer topage 11 of the Project Sustainability Action Plan Guide.Operational ReviewLeadership Skills:Key Initiatives:Desired Experience and Relationship:Delivery:Key Resources and Infrastructure:Key Partners:Key Measures:RURAL HEALTH INNOVATIONS7

Instructions: Add your network project information to the template below. Information needed for theFinancial Outlook section can be found in your business plan and evaluation plan dashboard. Refer to page12 of the Project Sustainability Action Plan Guide.Financial OutlookSummary of Forecasted Annual Net Income: Years 1-3Products and ServicesForecast Net Income(Revenue and Operational Costs)Year 1Year 2Year 3Product or Service #1:Product or Service #2:Product or Service #3:Total Forecasted Annual Net IncomeRURAL HEALTH INNOVATIONS8

Rural Health Network Sustainability Assessment ResultsInstructions: Add your network’s Rural Health Network Sustainability Assessment results to the templatebelow. Refer to pages 14-15 of the Project Sustainability Action Plan Guide.Rural Health Network Sustainability Assessment ResultsNetwork CharacteristicsScore:% of Total PossiblePointsCollaborative LeadershipMember-Driven DecisionsEffective CommunicationChange-Ready and Adaptable WorkforceContinuous ImprovementOn-Going Evaluation and MeasurementSound Financial InfrastructureOverall ScoreRURAL HEALTH INNOVATIONS9

Selected Opportunities for SustainabilityInstructions: Add your network’s selected opportunities for sustainability and selection methodology tothe template below. Refer to page 16 of the Project Sustainability Action Plan Guide.Selected Opportunities for Sustainability (OFS)SustainableNetworkCharacteristicSelected OFS:Network Rating(Slightly Disagree, Disagree,Strongly Disagree)1.2.3.Opportunity for Sustainability Selection MethodologyRURAL HEALTH INNOVATIONS10

Opportunity for Sustainability Action Plan #1Instructions: Add your network information to the template below. Refer to pages 17-18 of the ProjectSustainability Action Plan Guide.NOTE: Create a separate action plan for each opportunity for sustainability.Opportunity for Sustainability Action Plan #1Selected Opportunity for Sustainability (OFS):OFS Characteristic Category:What will success look like when your action plan is complete?Action Steps:Who WillImplement:Timeline:1.2.3.RURAL HEALTH INNOVATIONS11

Opportunity for Sustainability Action Plan #1Action Steps:Needed Resources:1.2.3.Action Steps:Monitoring:Communication:Output:1. 2. 3. RURAL HEALTH INNOVATIONS12

Opportunity for Sustainability Action Plan #2Instructions: Add your network information to the template below. Refer to pages 17- 18 of the ProjectSustainability Action Plan Guide.Opportunity for Sustainability Action Plan #2Selected Opportunity for Sustainability (OFS):OFS Characteristic Category:What will success look like when your action plan is complete?Action Steps:Who WillImplement:Timeline:1.2.3.RURAL HEALTH INNOVATIONS13

Opportunity for Sustainability Action Plan #2Action Steps:Needed Resources:1.2.3.Action Steps:Monitoring:Communication:Output:1. 2. 3. RURAL HEALTH INNOVATIONS14

Opportunity for Sustainability Action Plan #3Instructions: Add your network information to the template below. Refer to pages 17- 18 of the ProjectSustainability Action Plan Guide.Opportunity for Sustainability Action Plan #3Selected Opportunity for Sustainability (OFS):OFS Characteristic Category:What will success look like when your action plan is complete?Action Steps:Who WillImplement:Timeline:1.2.3.Action Steps:RURAL HEALTH INNOVATIONSNeeded Resources:15

Opportunity for Sustainability Action Plan #31.2.3.Action Steps:Monitoring:Communication:Output:1. 2. 3. RURAL HEALTH INNOVATIONS16

DashboardInstructions: Complete the table below. Refer to pages 14 and 19 of the Project Sustainability ActionPlan Guide.DashboardSelected OFS:Key Actions for Change:1.1.Timeline:Status: 2.3.2.1.2.3.3.1.2.3.RURAL HEALTH INNOVATIONS17

1. Ultimately, program sustainability exists as the goal of FORHP grant funding. The . Project Sustainability Action Plan Template . was created to provide support to Rural Health Network Development grantees in writing an effective sustainability plan. The . Project Sustainability Action Plan Toolkit. provides a framework for rural