Taking Action

Plan for action

Create a Community Action Plan (CAP)

• Acting Up: Action Plan Development

  This downloadable workshop from Idealist on Campus on action planning encourages community members to focus their purpose and goals, as well as produce written plans and documentation that can be used to persuade others, garner resources, and move forward.

• Developing an Action Plan

  As part of The Community Tool Box, this section discusses the importance of developing a Community Action Plan (CAP), details the process of writing one and gives an example of an actual CAP used by a community group.

• Writing a Community Action Plan

  The Community Action Plan is a road map for creating community change by specifying what will be done, who will do it and how it will be done. This resource from The Alameda County Health Department has a resource to help you and your members create a Community Action Plan.

Examples of Actual Community Action Plans

• UMass Community Action Plan

  This community action plan is aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion. The University of Massachusetts - Amherst posted its Community Action Plan online for its constituencies to view. It offers one example of the way in which a CAP can address a long-term objective.

• Ottawa Community Action Plan

  This CAP was prepared by The Ottawa Talent Initiative Project Team, a grassroots organization composed of volunteers and community stakeholders, to address several important issues they have identified in their community.

• Mississauga Community Action Plan

  This CAP was created with the goal of increasing health by promoting physical activity in Ontario and lists the goals that they hope to achieve by 2010. With the YMCA and organizations from 16 communities throughout Ontario contributing to this plan, it is a good example of how writing a CAP can be a highly colaborative process.