Supporting the Five-year Strategic Plan of American Public Health Association-funded Organizations
The Challenge
Environmental public health is a complex topic with many distinct issues and competing priorities. By supporting a group of environmental health professionals in their collaborative work, we helped identify and elevate priority issues to shift awareness of and galvanize action for environmental health issues.
Our Role
We led a joint strategic planning process for two American Public health Association (APHA)-supported groups of environmental health professionals working collaboratively to improve environmental public health. Building on background materials, recent successes, and the expertise and vision of the groups’ leadership and members, the Ross team engaged in visioning sessions with APHA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, group co-leads, and members to develop shared vision, mission, core values, and priority objectives and strategies. Following the strategic plan development, Ross helped the group members identify the operational and day-to-day structures needed to carry out their work and developed a group charter to support implementation. Ross facilitated the merged group, the National Council for Environmental Health and Equity (EH Council), as they implemented their plan to advance strategic objectives.
The Impact
The group developed more clarity in their vision, objectives, and core values and developed clear processes and structures for advancing collaborative work together. With that clarity, they increased member diversity, developed storytelling templates for member use, supported local-level environmental justice organizations through mini-grants, and more. EH Council meetings also provided valuable networking and peer learning opportunities amongst members, thought leaders, and federal partners that enhanced the work of individual members as well as the collective.