SELF-DISCOVERY, SYNERGY, and OTHER CHPP
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
The inclusion of self-discovery in one’s personal life in CHPP provides a synergistic
setting for critical insight and problem solving. People from all walks of life and many sectors of
the community (including local power brokers) come together to compare notes about what they
are doing to address health in their own life. In the process, they realize they are not alone on
their personal journey. CHPP provides an avenue for bringing interested individuals in a
community together to make these discoveries and to journey together in pursuit of the goals
they establish for themselves and the community.
In the structured supportive group setting created by CHPP, individuals share
experiences, skills, resources, and frustrations. Such sharing helps the individuals involved
better appreciate and understand the health-related needs of both themselves and the community
at-large. In the process of discovering and examining the challenges and the barriers to living a
healthy lifestyle, participants can identify and mobilize community resources to overcome and to
improve health in a community. The exchange also contributes to a form of group cohesion that
supports and inspires change, creating a synergistic cycle to motivate continued efforts.
In addition, people’s input in identifying and solving problems gives them an investment
in the success of solutions. By this we mean that through the direct involvement of interested lay
and professional individuals in problem identification and problem solving, a form of ownership
emerges that reduces resistance to change and mobilizes talents, energy, and insights of all
members. The process, therefore, creates a win-win situation for everyone.
COMMUNITY HEALTH PARTICIPATORY PLANNING |
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| Information Sessions | Experiential | Action/Task Forces |
Sessions 1,2,3,4,5 Practice: Nutrition |
Practice Health Screenings Healthy Eating Physical Activity Mindfulness Spirituality Social Support |
Nutrition Physical Activity Stress Reduction Mental, Emotional Spiritual Addictive Behaviors Funding Organizational Charge |
As the table illustrates, the three essential elements of CHPP are
informational sessions, experiential practice, and task force activity. Each of these elements is
important and no single element is any more important than the others. Each is designed to elicit
maximum participation from the participants and allows participants to interact in a way so that
their importance in planning for the well-being of their community is valued by themselves and
others in the group. The informational sessions allow the group to learn from local experts.
Adequate time is allowed for questions to bring the topic to a more personal level and to allow
the group to interact. The experiential practice (pot lucks, energizers, screenings) is to allow the
participants to utilize their knowledge and “try on” new ways of thinking and behaving. The
task force work allows the participants to become part of the solution and to become energized to
seek creative new ways to aid themselves, their friends and family, and their community.
Let’s review:
Strengths and Outcomes of the CHPP process:
• Participants come together to examine their health and the health of their
community.
• Participants compare notes and realize they are not alone.
• Participants experience the challenges of attempting to live a healthy lifestyle.
• Participants experience community, society, and personal barriers to living a
healthy lifestyle.
• Group cohesion contributes to a greater appreciation of the value of both a
personal and community need to be healthier.
• Participants identify, reflect on, and discuss common barriers to being healthier
(e.g., food-related, physical-activity related).
• Participants work together to identify and mobilize community resources toward
overcoming barriers and establishing healthier habits and environments.
• Group cohesion works to overcome resistance to change and to mobilize the
talents, energy, and insights of the group.
• Group cohesion mandates ownership of the problems, the solutions, the process,
and the successes.
• Group cohesion develops meaningful input and commitment to the success of
participants’ lifestyle process and to overall community planning/problem
solving.
• The very nature of community ownership of its problems means the community is
more well.
Exercise: As you read through the rest of the workbook, the strengths and outcomes of the CHPP process will become more clear to you. Right now, read through the above list again and think about each concept. Which of the concepts are not clear to you? Which concepts require you to “think outside the box”? Make comments below.
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