Tools

Tools

Tools by Step

Finding the Right Tool at the Right Time

These resources help move you from knowledge to practice with your needs assessment work. A list of all tools are presented below, organized by step; specific tools are also repeated on the corresponding Needs Assessment Step page.

You can also access an alphabetical list of all tools. Also, check out new webinars posted to the homepage; from there you can access experts in the field discussing how to use many of these tools.

  • Appreciative Inquiry. (National MCH Workforce Development Center). A tool that focuses on how to build on existing strengths and engage stakeholders to create change. This approach helps organizations identify what's working well, envision ideal futures, and develop actionable implementation plans.
  • How to Engage Stakeholders Tool. (Cottage Health). This tool provides practical strategies, background information, case studies, and step-by-step methods for effective stakeholder involvement in community health initiatives. This tool is part of the Engage Stakeholders page within the Cottage Center for Population Health's evaluation toolkit, offering valuable guidance for community engagement.
  • Network Mapping and Analysis. A visual tool to identify existing partnerships and collaborations within the MCH system. This approach helps organizations discover potential gaps in their partnership networks and reveals strategic opportunities to engage new stakeholders for improved outcomes.
  • Successful Engagement with People who have Practical Experience. (National MCH Workforce Development Center). A detailed workbook providing step-by-step guidance for professionals seeking to authentically engage people with practical first-hand experience. This resource offers strategies for creating trusting relationships and meaningful involvement to improve policies, services, systems of care, and health outcomes.
  • Youth Engagement: A collection of resources from multiple organizations demonstrating strategies for effective youth engagement:
  • A3 Change Tool. (National Workforce Development Center). A tool designed for quality improvement and managing change. On the assessment side, it helps groups to frame their work together, uncover perspectives, find root causes, and establish measures of success for the change. On the action side it encourages learning, prototyping and testing. The tool is meant to be used longitudinally to track change over time.
  • The Five Rs. (National Workforce Development Center). A tool used to break down elements of a complex problem.  It consolidates stakeholders’ perspectives on the system supporting MCH.
  • System Support Mapping. (National Workforce Development Center). A tool used to understand the role, responsibilities, needs, resources, and wishes of individuals navigating or supporting the MCH system.
  • Developing a Plan for Addressing Local Needs and Resources. (Community Toolbox). Part of a comprehensive process developed Center for Community Health and Development at the University of Kansas to develop a plan for community assessment to guide efforts to better understand community needs and resources.
  • Start Here: MCH Workforce Capacity Assessment Templates. (MCH Evidence Center). Two draft assessment tools focused on: (1) capacity related to MCH levels of service and (2) internal staff capacity. Users can adopt or adapt either or both tools to assess capacity and identify areas for growth.
  • Asset Mapping. (National MCH Workforce Development Center). A tool to help stakeholders examine assets and identify gaps within the maternal and child health system. Understanding existing resources will help stakeholders select priorities and take strategic action.
  • Capacity Assessment for State Title V (CAST-5). (AMCHP). A set of assessment and planning tools for examining organizational capacity to carry out key MCH program functions.
  • Hexagon Tool. (NIRN). This planning and evaluation tool guides the selection of the appropriate, evidence-based/informed strategies through a six-step exploration process. It can be used in collaboration with your partners to better understand how a new or existing program fits into your existing work, context, and health outcome priorities.
  • Network Mapping and Analysis. (National MCH Workforce Development Center). A visual tool to identify partnerships and collaborations that support selected priorities. This approach reveals linkages that need to be created or strengthened to reach desired outcomes.
  • Whole System Mapping. (National MCH Workforce Development Center). A tool used to capture a full picture of current services provided for maternal and child health, including where, by whom, and intensity of service. This tool provides an opportunity for stakeholders to see complementary system components and discuss how various parts could work together to address identified needs.
  • Causal Loop Diagramming. (National MCH Workforce Development Center). A tool used to help stakeholders identify leverage points and priorities that shift entire systems rather than just treating symptoms. This approach helps stakeholders understand forces shaping problems, uncover assumptions, identify unintended consequences, and develop strategies to influence the system.
  • Concept Mapping. (National MCH Workforce Development Center). A tool used to help stakeholders identify areas of consensus and priorities that are both important and actionable through a structured visual approach.
  • Guide to Prioritization Techniques. (NACCHO). A structured mechanism for objectively ranking issues and making decisions, while gathering input from agency-wide staff and considering all facets of competing health issues.
  • Impact Matrix. (National MCH Workforce Development Center). A tool to help groups identify and achieve agreement on activities that can be implemented with maximum impact given the effort invested. This easy-to-facilitate approach is ideal when stakeholders have many potential courses of action to consider.
  • Prioritization Matrix. (AMCHP). The last phase of the CAST-5 Process highlights selecting priorities. This document provides an overview and tool for prioritizing needs in a systematic way.
  • Prioritization Toolkit. (MN Department of Health). This toolkit guides choosing prioritization methods, engaging community members, and selecting effective strategies.
  • Title V Prioritization Process Tool. (National MCH Workforce Development Center). This tool (Word format) asks Title V agencies to consider if: (1) they have the capacity to carry out selected activities; (2) the selected activities will be acceptable to partners; (3) there is momentum/interest in the selected areas; and (4) the selected activities align with planned Title V goals/NPMs and current activities. structured planning and evaluation tool that guides the selection of appropriate, evidence-based strategies through a six-step exploration process.
  • ESM Review & Resources: National Summary. (MCH Evidence). This report serves as a conversation starter as we learn how to strengthen our strategies, work with the Evidence Center, and look toward the next iteration of block grant applications and work. 
  • Logic Models. (National MCH Workforce Development Center). Logic Models are simplified graphic depictions of a program, initiative, or strategy. They provide a map of the relationships between the resources, activities, and benefits or changes that result. Logic Models demonstrate the theory of change, and can be useful in program planning, management, communicating with partners, and needs assessment. This tool (downloadable as a Word document) contains instructions and an editable logic model template.
  • Results Based Accountability (RBA) Tip Sheet. Check out this quick "cheat sheet" to learn about how RBA relates to ESMs and for tips on writing effective measures.
  • Strategy Planning Tool. (MCH Evidence Center) A tool to help maternal and child health agencies develop strategic plans by using results-based accountability and root-cause analysis to improve health outcomes.
  • MCH Workforce Capacity Assessment Templates. (MCH Evidence Center). A tool for assessing MCH workforce capacity across service levels, technical skills, program management, leadership, and technology integration.
  • 30/30 Action Plan. (National MCH Workforce Development Center). A simple way to monitor progress and record future action steps in ongoing work. The idea is that the team meets for 30 minutes every 30 days to discuss progress over the past month. The progress, roadblocks and other relevant ideas are noted on the form, along with an action plan for the following month.
  • Birth Outcomes Action Plan. (AMCHP) An interactive map that describes urgent actions needed by specific system actors to address identified barriers to change. This tool helps Title V programs strategize their role in improving birth outcomes and identify high-impact actions while maintaining a systems perspective.
  • Causal Loop Diagramming. (National MCH Workforce Development Center). A tool to help stakeholders identify leverage points and priorities that shift entire systems rather than just treating symptoms. Use this approach to understand forces shaping problems, uncover assumptions, identify unintended consequences, and develop implementation strategies.
  • Developing an Action Plan. (AMCHP). The final step of the Capacity Assessment for State Title V (CAST-5) tool, this step provides an action plan worksheet to help organize implementation activities and timelines.
  • Developing an Action Plan. (Community Tool Box). Web portal that provides instructions, a checklist, examples, tools, and training for effective action planning with practical guidance for implementation.
  • Plan-Do-Study-Act Cycle. (National MCH Workforce Development Center). This MCH version provides video training and a structured way to plan how the test will be carried out, try it, observe and collect data, and adapt the strategy based on what is learned.
  • Simulation. (National MCH Workforce Development Center). A tool used to predict outcomes based on formulas and selected variables and interventions. This approach allows stakeholders to "test" interventions virtually and understand their potential impacts before implementation.
  • Balance of Petals. (National MCH Workforce Development Center). A tool used to clarify needs from and benefits to community partners. Knowing what you need from partnerships, as well as what each partner stands to gain from your initiative is an important part of allocating resources. Use this tool to identify which partners need to be engaged for success.
  • Impact Matrix. (National MCH Workforce Development Center). A tool to help groups identify and achieve agreement on activities that can be implemented with maximum impact given the effort invested. This is an easy-to-facilitate approach when a team has many potential courses of action to consider.
  • MCHwork: The Hexagon Tool — A Budgeting Perspective. (National MCH Workforce Development Center and MCH Navigator). State and local MCH departments can utilize the Hexagon Tool in conjunction with a budget analysis to strategically allocate resources and enhance implementation readiness for new or re-imagined programs.
  • Measuring Population Health Management Return on Investment. (HITEQ Center). Toolkit that includes a conceptual model for measuring ROI and a Matrix Tool for ROI calculation.
  • Prioritization Matrix. (AMCHP). The last phase of the CAST-5 Process highlights selecting priorities. This document provides an overview and tool for prioritizing needs to guide resource allocation.
  • Resource Allocation Tool. (HEG). This tool presents nine actions to allocate resources to improve outcomes and includes related case studies for practical application.
  • Return on Investment Guidebook (ROI). (NCIPH). ROI is a tool used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment or compare the efficiency of several investments. The use of ROI can help guide the allocation of resources. This guidebook is designed to assist local health department staff assess the value of their contributions, with a particular focus on population-based prevention interventions.
  • ROI Calculator for Partnerships to Address Community Circumstances Affecting Health. (The Commonwealth Fund). This calculator is designed to help community-based organizations and their health system partners plan sustainable financial arrangements to fund the delivery of social services to high-need, high-cost (HNHC) patients.
  • 30/30 Action Plan. (National MCH Workforce Development Center). A simple way to monitor progress and record future action steps in ongoing work. The idea is that the team meets for 30 minutes every 30 days to discuss progress over the past month. The progress, roadblocks and other relevant ideas are noted on the form, along with an action plan for the following month.
  • Evaluation Resources:
    • Evaluation Learning Bundle. (MCH Navigator). This training spotlight uses the CDC framework as a conceptual model to organize learning opportunities. It presents introductions to the six steps of program evaluation in short video podcasts. You can also download materials from the CDC about each step. After reviewing the introductory material, you can access additional learning opportunities to gain knowledge and skills related to each step of the framework.
    • Evaluation Toolkit. ( MCH Digital Library). This deep-dive resource contains an evaluation primer, a collection of key resources, and an interactive Choose-and-Use tool to assist users in finding instructions on how to conduct evaluations and examples of successful evaluations from the field.
  • Measurement Tables. (National MCH Workforce Development Center). Tools to document an agency's plan to monitor progress toward goals over time. These can be used to further develop measurement strategies for activities described in logic models.
  • Results-Based Accountability Tools: (MCH Evidence Center). A suite of tools designed to help agencies develop stronger Evidence-based Strategy Measures (ESMs) and implement effective measurement processes: