MAPP Handbook - The National Association of County and City ...

Additional tips for conducting the LPHSA
• Recruit all system partners that are appropriate to assess the public health
system. If the entire system is well-represented, then responses will better
reflect current activities. Work closely to ensure their full involvement in the
assessment process.
• At the beginning, review the methods and process with participants. Allow the
group to make suggestions regarding the best way for moving through the
instrument efficiently.
• Design a process that keeps the discussion moving and focused on the content
of the standards, rather than getting “bogged down” in the questions.
• Track ideas, comments, and potential solutions so that these ideas can be
revisited later.
• Think about creative ways to reduce paper shuffling. For example, the
instrument can be projected from a laptop to an overhead screen so that all
participants can follow the questions easily.
• Consider sharing only the model standards to keep the discussion focused on
the overall activities being conducted in the system. The facilitator and recorder
can use copies of the full instrument to prompt discussion and track responses
to questions. Or, voting on the measures can occur.
• Consider the pros and cons of using different sets of individuals to respond to
different sections of the instrument. A process using one large group will
promote maximum cross-fertilization of ideas and sharing of information. If small
groups are used, be sure that there is a core group present to ensure consistency.
Also, present key ideas or discussion points back to the entire group, so that all
participants become informed about and make comments on all sections.
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