7 Steps of Sustainability Planning
Natalie: The 7 Steps of Sustainability
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The Head Start five-year planning cycle comprises seven basic steps. The proactive sustainability planning process mirrors these steps, aligning directly with the ongoing planning already in place.
Let’s look at the first step of sustainability. In Step 1, you conduct a self-assessment of your organization and an external assessment of your community. In sustainability planning, the sustainability assessment explores threats and opportunities related to all program aspects, both internal and external.
Step 2 involves integrating long-term goals and SMART objectives related to sustainability, encompassing both cash and non-cash resource targets as well as capacity building for engagement and impact. Regularly review and, if needed, revise your broad goals and SMART objectives on an annual basis.
Step 3 involves integrating your sustainability plan into an annual action plan and identifying data to measure progress toward sustainability goals and objectives.
Step 4 entails implementing the sustainability action steps.
In Step 5, analyze the progress toward the action plan’s sustainability goals and objectives, including resource and capacity-building targets.
In Step 6, make regular course corrections, as needed, to achieve sustainability goals and objectives.
Step 7 brings the program full circle, conducting an annual self-assessment to evaluate progress toward sustainability goals, objectives, and expected outcomes.
With the sustainability plan fully integrated into your Head Start program’s five-year and annual planning cycle, this is a reminder that the sustainability planning process directly aligns with the ongoing planning you are already conducting.
Planning is a cyclical process that continuously develops and evolves as different aspects of the planning cycle converge. Think of it as a gradual, forward-moving wheel. Remember, this is a process iterated for each year of the five-year project period.
The Head Start five-year planning cycle includes seven basic steps. Proactive sustainability planning mirrors these steps, aligning directly with ongoing planning efforts. It involves assessing threats and opportunities, setting long-term goals and objectives, implementing action steps, making course corrections, and monitoring progress. Aligning sustainability planning with your five-year planning cycle allows you to evaluate progress alongside other goals and ensures a comprehensive approach to program development.
