You have completed your data collection, interviews, and analysis, and you are ready to prepare an action plan. The plan that you create is an important activity that will guide your advocacy project. This involves setting goals, making commitments, and thinking about the resources and steps you will need to take to fulfill them. It is important to note that any action plan must be fluid and dynamic and is subject to change at any given time. Changes in stakeholders, resources and the political environment all influence the way you will enact your plan successfully. Carefully review your plan a regular intervals. Were there things that you missed? Can you think of things that were not included in the sample but that are unique to your particular situation? The key is to continue to work and adjust the action plan in collaboration with others until your mission has been accomplished.

To practice this process, download this political action plan template and prepare an action plan based on this case.

When you have finished, save your work and then compare it to this sample political action plan. Were there things that you missed? Did you think of things that were not included in the sample? There is no absolute right or wrong. The key is to have clear goals and a realistic plan for achieving them.

For further reflection:

•  What health policy issues are important to you? To your patients?
•  Do you think political advocacy is a social responsibility of all healthcare providers? Why or why not?
•  Do you think an individual can make a difference? Why or why not?
•  Can you make a difference? Are you ready and willing to try?