MAPP

 
The final phase of MAPP is the Action Cycle. It is through the steps of the Action Cycle that the core function of Assurance is practiced. During this phase, participants plan, implement, and evaluate. These activities build upon one another in a continuous and interactive manner and ensure continued success.

The essential services most associated with Assurance are:

7. Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable.
8. Assure a competent public health and personal health care workforce.
9. Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services.
10. Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems.

The Action Cycle links three activities— Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation. Each of these activities builds upon the others in a continuous and interactive manner.

The Action Cycle can be a very satisfying phase, as the efforts of the previous phases begin to produce results through the implementation of the action plan. This is also a challenging phase, as it requires substantial effort to sustain the process and continue implementation over time.

The strategies identified in the previous phase form the foundation for the Action Cycle. Clear strategic goals are another important element. Crisply articulated goals will not only fuel the activities of practical work plans, but will also prompt accountability and evaluation. For the local public health system, such accountability will depend on the specific objectives and components of a work-plan agreed upon by the necessary participants.

The evaluation component of the Action Cycle answers the following fundamental questions: “With the implementation of activity X, what was accomplished?” and “How does that compare what we said we would accomplish?” In essence, these lead to four questions of practical utility: 1. What have you done? 2. How well have you done it? 3. How much have you done? 4. How effective have you been?

There are two focal points to MAPP evaluation activities: evaluation of the overall process and evaluation of each strategy and action plan. Both evaluations should rely on objective parameters (e.g., facts and figures), but should also accommodate subjective value judgments. This interplay between objective and subjective aspects provides the MAPP Committee with an opportunity for a well-balanced evaluation process.

The Action Cycle can be summarized as follows: Planning — Determining what will be done, who will do it, and how it will be done.Implementation — Carrying out the activities identified in the planning stage. Evaluation — Determining what has been accomplished. The cycle repeats itself, offering a sustainable method for the community to build upon accomplishments and position itself for even greater achievements.

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