Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, North Carolina Division of Public Health, Department of Health and Human Services

The Situation

In 2007, the North Caroline Legislature designated the Department of Health and Human Services as the state’s lead agency for injury and violence prevention. This spurred the Injury and Violence Prevention Branch within the Department to build partnerships with other stakeholders and highlighted the need for a statewide injury and violence prevention strategic plan. Having such a plan would also make North Carolina eligible to apply for certain types of federal funding.

The Process

The Branch selected Nonprofit Impact to guide the development of a statewide strategic plan. The process began internally by holding a retreat where Branch staff created a mission statement and clarified the Branch’s role and priorities distinct from others in the injury and violence prevention community. With this newfound clarity, the Branch moved forward to create a plan that was truly statewide, rather than a plan that only informed its own efforts.

Twenty-five key injury and violence prevention leaders from around North Carolina were invited to a 2-day meeting where the mission, values and goals for the statewide plan were developed. Shelli’s expertise and experience signaled needed credibility so that the group trusted the process. According to Valerie Collins Russell, Branch Head, “People left those two days feeling like they had accomplished something really significant.”

The Results

The Branch is putting the final touches on the statewide plan. The draft has been vetted by many stakeholders around the state and seven goal groups have drafted objectives, work plans, and action steps for each goal. Another outcome has been the creation of the new North Carolina Injury and Violence Prevention Advisory Council. Valerie explains, “We didn’t have the infrastructure in this field in North Carolina, and now we are building leadership to seek support for policy change and pursue new funding.”