Table 4.1.

Sample Action Plan

Action Plan	Methodology	Timeline	Participants
Recruit group members and establish links to relevant groups and organizations.	NM attended local NAMI meeting. KM sent invitation to BDL, DMH consumer rep., will follow-up with her. KM and/or NM will attend the local NAMI Chapter Directors’ meeting.	Ongoing	All
Build cohesion and rapport among group members.	Work on allowing/ensuring that all group members to participate equally.	Ongoing	All
Develop a fact sheet about group to be used for promotion and member recruitment.	PY, in collaboration with NM, drafted a fact sheet. Sheet was circulated to group members for feedback, and will be revised accordingly. Once completed, fact sheet will be distributed to local and state policymakers.	February–March 2004	PY, with input from group.
Develop links to policymakers in LA County and State offices.	Using the fact sheet, group members will contact policymakers and inform them of our goals and activities and try to identify areas for collaboration and resource sharing.	Ongoing	All
Get informed about mental health policy and people/organizations in the field who could be potential collaborators.	Gather and review materials. Develop a directory/library/binder of resources. Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health Disparities was circulated to group members. Identify local organizations and/or individuals who are involved in health policy (e.g., MC at USC; Community Health Councils; DMH client coalition).	Ongoing	All
Inform community about mental health policy and resources.	Develop a glossary of terms regarding policy for community. CB will identify someone who can assist with the glossary. Identify and distribute useful materials.	Ongoing	All
Organize trainings for group and community: Policy 101 Advocacy 101 Media Advocacy 101	Group members will identify representatives from different organizations who could conduct the trainings (CB will work on Policy 101 training, KD will look into having someone from DMH lead a training, KM will look into someone from UCLA’s Community and Media Relations to conduct a training on Media Advocacy).	March–August 2004	All
Brainstorm and share passions about what topics group will address. Rank and prioritize ideas.	Group has discussed various policies that would be an appropriate focus. Continue to share ideas and begin to narrow focus. UCLA research assistant will begin to search for policy gaps and/or policies that aren’t working.	January–June 2004	All
Present topic ideas to the community and get community’s feedback on goals and future activities of group.	Formulate a list to be distributed to community participants at future trainings and report back meetings.	At community trainings and at Report Back to Community in July 2004	All
Based on community feedback, develop 2–3 action items for group and community; 2–3 policy goals and a media strategy for dissemination and advocacy.		July–August 2004	All
Identify potential funding sources and seek funding.	CB suggested approaching the California Endowment about their private/public partnership grants.	Ongoing	All