SUSTAINABILITY

A Retrospective Assessment of Diabetes Initiative Projects

A Retrospective Assessment of DIABETES INITIATIVE PROJECTS

April 2008

April 2008

improve quality in chronic illness care

improve quality in chronic illness care

improving the quality of chronic illness care

providing technical assistance to improve the quality of chronic illness care

April 2008

Sustainability: A Retrospective Assessment

of Diabetes Initiative Projects

A Report from the

National Program Office

Mary L. O’Toole, PhD

Carol A. Brownson, MSPH Victoria V. Anwuri, MPH Candice M. Nalley, MA Edwin B. Fisher, PhD

®

Table of Contents

Preface ...................................................................................................................... 3

Background .............................................................................................................. 5

Data Collection ......................................................................................................... 5

Survey Findings ....................................................................................................... 6

What was Sustained ...................................................................................... 6

Successful Sustainability Approaches ........................................................ 6

Broaden the Scope of Self-Management Programming ..................... 6

Systematize Quality Improvements .................................................... 8

Increase Expectations ...................................................................... 10

Build New Partnerships or Expand the Role of Existing Partners…. 12

Threats to Sustainability ............................................................................. 15

Time and Effort to Maintain Effective Partnerships .......................... 15

Staff Turnover .................................................................................. 16

Need for Continual Grant Writing ..................................................... 16

Thinking About Sustainability Too Late ............................................ 17

Critical Success Factors ............................................................................. 18

Data to Support Work ....................................................................... 18

Passion ............................................................................................ 18

Lessons Learned and Implications for Practice .................................................. 19

Preface

Background

Data Collection

Survey Findings

AA.. WWHHAATT WWAASS SSUUSSTTAAIINNEEDD

BB.. SSUUCCCCEESSSSFFUULL SSUUSSTTAAIINNAABBIILLIITTYY AAPPPPRROOAACCHHEESS

1) Broaden the scope of self-management programming

2) Systematize quality improvements

3) Increase expectations

4) Build new partnerships or expand the role of existing partners

CC.. TTHHRREEAATTSS TTOO SSUUSSTTAAIINNAABBIILLIITTYY

1) Time and effort to maintain effective partnerships

2) Staff turnover

3) Need for continual grant writing

4) Thinking about sustainability too late

DD.. CCRRIITTIICCAALL SSUUCCCCEESSSS FFAACCTTOORRSS

1) Data to support work

2) Passion

Lessons Learned and Implications for Practice