Assess your group’s capacity to implement the selected strategies by answering three questions:
- What capacity is required to implement these strategies?
- Does your group have that capacity?
- If not, how will you improve your capacity?
These questions should also be addressed in your strategic plan. Be sure to review the Capacity-Building Plan you completed in Step 2, and make any necessary edits.
Partners who are involved in the assessment and planning processes may find that they lack the skills needed to carry out one or more of the selected strategies. A plan to improve capacity may include involving additional community partners who already have appropriately trained staff, hiring staff with the necessary expertise, or providing training opportunities for staff and members who will be involved in implementing the intervention.
When seeking community partners, keep in mind the principles of cultural competence; ensuring diversity among your partners and developing links with community institutions are good strategies for supporting cultural competence.56