07. How to Build a Community Action Plan How to Build a Community Action Plan PART I: Conduct a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis
  1. Using your community readiness results and any other information available to you, think about the strengths and weaknesses of your community.
  2. On sticky notes, write down the strengths of your community. Use the categories on the table below at the left to stimulate your thinking.
  3. On the sticky notes designated for weaknesses, write down the weaknesses of your community. Again, use the categories at the left to stimulate your thinking. Then continue with threats and opportunities.
  4. Be realistic. And be truthful.

Example SWOT Analysis

Categories

Programs and activities

Awareness of programs and activities

Knowledge of

Issue/problem

People within your program

Experience

Organizations

Networks

Norms/Values/Attitudes within your community

Willingness to change

Processes/Systems

Communications

Data

Marketing– reach, messages, awareness

Economics/Business

Strengths/Assets within your community

Weaknesses within your community

Local and state policies and programs

Values, norms, knowledge, programs, attitudes of greater community (e.g. state)

Future trends

Demographics

People/organizations outside of your community

Economics/Business

Location/geographics

Funding sources

Opportunities outside of your community

Threats outside of your community