In a community context, we can think of a system as a set of interconnected components—including people, programs, organizations, policies, resources, and environments—that work together to influence the lived experience and resulting well-being of community members. Examples include community systems for education, food, health care, housing, public safety, and transportation. At CHS we provide strategy supports to help people work together for positive system change.
- Defining a shared purpose is the first step toward collaborative system change.
- CHS can provide facilitation support to help system stakeholders explore the challenges and opportunities they care about most.
- Common activities at this stage include conversations, data insights, storytelling, and generating insights and ideas for focusing system change.
- Having develop a shared sense of purpose, the next step is to define the focus for action. Key steps at this stage include:
- Develop a clear view of the system elements and influences that are relevant for the work (e.g., policies, practices, infrastructure, cultural factors).
- Identify system elements that should be the focus for positive change.
- Identify the key actors, relationships, and leverage points that will need to be engaged as part of a system change effort.
- After the focal points for system change, the next step is to design the change strategy.
- The scope of a change strategy may include policy change, program change, practice change, infrastructure change, or culture change.
- The design process typically includes identification of action steps and responsibilities (the ‘who, what, when, where, and how’) necessary to begin the change process.
- The design is developed through a collaborative process that reflects the wisdom and insights of the people who know the system best.
- System change requires people who are informed, equipped, mutually supportive, and motivated to lead.
- CHS can provide learning support, coaching, and tools to help individuals and teams build their capacity for change.
- We can also facilitate a series of collaborative meetings where partners can check in on progress, spotlight opportunities, identify challenges, and decide next steps.
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We know from decades of research and experience that system change is not complete until the changes are actually implemented in sustainable ways. CHS can help support the work of implementation by helping partners:
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Identify needs and priorities for supporting implementation at the organizational and community level.
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Deliver training and performance support to help local teams achieve their goals for implementation.
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Develop strategies to leverage funding and resources for long-term success.
- Support replication and scale of successful models.
