Developing the MAPP community health improvement tool

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Community Health Planning
• Health Management

Background:

• The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) identified a need for a new community strategic planning tool.
• Existing planning methods required enhancement to better serve public health practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a chronological account of the development of the Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) tool.
• To highlight key decisions, milestones, and features of the MAPP framework.

Main Methods:

• A practice-driven development process was employed, ensuring field input and research integration.
• Collaboration between NACCHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was central.

Main Results:

• The MAPP tool was successfully developed, integrating research with practical application.
• The development process emphasized relevance to community health needs and intellectual rigor.

Conclusions:

• The MAPP framework provides a robust, research-grounded tool for community strategic planning.
• The development process exemplifies effective practice-based research balancing relevance and integrity.