Free 8-Week Program
Adaptive Planning ProgramFrom assessment to evaluation, an Agile, AI-augmented program-planning curriculum
A self-paced public-health program-planning course covering 8 weeks of material: assessment frameworks, social determinants, digital epidemiology, generative AI for literature and policy scanning, Human-Centered Design, logic models, evidence-based interventions, Agile implementation, budgeting and innovative finance, and rigorous evaluation. Each lesson pairs a short video with a written brief and key takeaways.
Public Health Track
Adaptive
Planning
by Angel Reyes
What you will be able to do
By the end of the program, you will be able to:
- Diagnose a public-health problem with the PRECEDE-PROCEED framework, social determinants analysis, and a 5-Whys root-cause synthesis
- Use generative AI responsibly for literature scanning, policy review, and community-assessment summarization with a Human-in-the-Loop workflow
- Apply Human-Centered Design — empathy maps, evidence-based personas, journey mapping, and "How Might We" framing — to surface real intervention opportunities
- Write SMART process, impact, and outcome objectives anchored in an explicit Theory of Change and a complete Logic Model
- Select evidence-based interventions from established repositories, balance fidelity vs adaptation, and integrate behavioral theory into every component
- Run an Agile public-health team — sprint planning, Kanban WIP limits, user-story backlogs, and adaptive replanning under crisis
- Build line-item budgets, evaluate Social Impact Bonds and Pay-for-Success models, and write fundable grant narratives with strategic alignment
- Design CDC-Framework evaluations with dashboards, digital storytelling, and a final social-impact pitch ready to defend to a funder panel
Course outline
40 lessons across 8 weeks · ~20 hours total · click any lesson to start
- Week 1Lesson 1
The Evolution of Planning: From Waterfall to Agile
- Week 1Lesson 2
The PRECEDE-PROCEED Framework
- Week 1Lesson 3
Social Determinants and Equity Analysis
- Week 1Lesson 4
Intervention Mapping: Logic Models of the Problem
- Week 1Lesson 5
Agile Team Chartering
- Week 2Lesson 6
Digital Epidemiology and Surveillance
- Define digital epidemiology and its applications in public health
- Compare traditional and digital surveillance data sources
- Evaluate the validity and reliability of digital health data
- Week 2Lesson 7
Generative AI for Literature & Policy Scanning
- Construct effective prompts for AI-assisted literature review
- Validate AI-generated outputs against primary sources
- Apply ethical principles to AI use in public health contexts
- Week 2Lesson 8
Primary Data Collection with Digital Tools
- Design digital survey instruments with appropriate logic flows
- Implement data validation rules to ensure data quality
- Deploy mobile data collection tools in field settings
- Week 2Lesson 9
Asset Mapping and Capacity Assessment
- Apply Asset-Based Community Development principles
- Identify and categorize community assets across multiple domains
- Integrate community strengths into intervention planning
- Week 2Lesson 10
Synthesizing the Problem Statement
- Synthesize multiple data sources into a unified narrative
- Apply the 5 Whys technique for root cause analysis
- Write clear, evidence-based problem statements
- Week 3Lesson 11
Introduction to HCD in Public Health
- Explain the four phases of the Double Diamond design process
- Compare Human-Centered Design and Community-Based Participatory Research
- Identify opportunities to integrate HCD into traditional planning approaches
- Week 3Lesson 12
Empathy Mapping
- Construct empathy maps using the four-quadrant framework
- Identify contradictions between stated preferences and observed behaviors
- Extract insights from empathy mapping exercises
- Week 3Lesson 13
Persona Development
- Create evidence-based personas from qualitative and quantitative data
- Avoid stereotyping while maintaining persona specificity
- Use personas to guide intervention design decisions
- Week 3Lesson 14
Journey Mapping
- Map user journeys across multiple touchpoints
- Identify pain points and moments of truth in health-seeking behavior
- Use journey maps to prioritize intervention targets
- Week 3Lesson 15
Ideation and "How Might We"
- Reframe problems as "How Might We" opportunity statements
- Apply divergent thinking techniques to generate multiple solutions
- Use convergent thinking to prioritize promising ideas
- Week 4Lesson 16
Goals and SMART Objectives
- Write objectives that meet all SMART criteria
- Distinguish between process, impact, and outcome objectives
- Align objectives with program theory and community priorities
- Week 4Lesson 17
The Theory of Change
- Articulate the causal pathway from activities to outcomes
- Identify and document underlying assumptions
- Challenge assumptions using behavioral science principles
- Week 4Lesson 18
Building the Logic Model: Inputs & Activities
- Identify all required inputs for program implementation
- Design activities that logically connect to intended outputs
- Assess resource sufficiency for planned activities
- Week 4Lesson 19
Building the Logic Model: Outputs & Outcomes
- Distinguish between outputs, outcomes, and impacts
- Define measurable indicators for each logic model component
- Articulate the pathway from short-term outcomes to long-term impact
- Week 4Lesson 20
Reverse Engineering with "If-Then" Logic
- Apply "If-Then" reasoning to validate logic model coherence
- Identify logical gaps and missing assumptions
- Revise logic models based on critical analysis
- Week 5Lesson 21
Selecting Evidence-Based Interventions
- Navigate evidence-based intervention repositories
- Evaluate the strength of evidence for candidate interventions
- Balance adaptation for local context with fidelity to core components
- Week 5Lesson 22
Integrating Behavioral Theory
- Map intervention components to behavioral theory constructs
- Explain the theoretical mechanisms of behavior change
- Strengthen interventions by addressing multiple theoretical constructs
- Week 5Lesson 23
Rapid Prototyping
- Create low-fidelity prototypes of intervention components
- Use prototypes to communicate design concepts
- Iterate rapidly based on early feedback
- Week 5Lesson 24
Finalizing the Intervention Plan
- Document intervention scope and sequence
- Ensure alignment between intervention design and logic model
- Create implementation-ready intervention specifications
- Week 6Lesson 25
The Agile Manifesto for Public Health
- Translate Agile Manifesto principles to public health contexts
- Define and assign Agile team roles
- Contrast Agile with traditional project management approaches
- Week 6Lesson 26
Backlog Creation and User Stories
- Write user stories in standard format
- Prioritize backlog items based on value and feasibility
- Estimate effort for user stories
- Week 6Lesson 27
Sprint Planning and Kanban Boards
- Plan sprint cycles with appropriate scope
- Use Kanban boards to visualize workflow
- Apply WIP limits to optimize team productivity
- Week 6Lesson 28
Implementation Mapping and Fidelity
- Identify key actors in implementation systems
- Design strategies to support adopters, implementers, and maintainers
- Monitor and maintain intervention fidelity during implementation
- Week 6Lesson 29
Crisis Response and Adaptive Planning
- Anticipate common implementation disruptions
- Develop contingency plans for critical risks
- Pivot program plans while preserving core objectives
- Week 7Lesson 30
Budgeting Fundamentals
- Construct line-item budgets for public health programs
- Calculate indirect costs and fringe benefits
- Align budget allocations with program priorities
- Week 7Lesson 31
Innovative Finance: Social Impact Bonds
- Explain the mechanics of Social Impact Bonds
- Identify programs suitable for outcomes-based financing
- Evaluate the advantages and limitations of innovative finance models
- Week 7Lesson 32
Grant Writing Strategy
- Structure grant proposals using standard components
- Align program narratives with funder priorities
- Write compelling specific aims statements
- Week 7Lesson 33
Sustainability Frameworks
- Assess program sustainability across multiple domains
- Identify sustainability strengths and vulnerabilities
- Develop strategies to strengthen sustainability capacity
- Week 7Lesson 34
The Social Impact Pitch
- Structure social impact presentations for diverse audiences
- Balance data with compelling narratives
- Deliver clear and persuasive funding requests
- Week 8Lesson 35
Evaluation Frameworks
- Apply the CDC Framework for Program Evaluation
- Design process, outcome, and impact evaluations
- Link evaluation indicators to logic model components
- Week 8Lesson 36
Data Visualization and Dashboards
- Apply data visualization best practices
- Design dashboards for program monitoring
- Balance comprehensiveness with clarity in data presentation
- Week 8Lesson 37
Digital Storytelling for Advocacy
- Craft compelling narratives from program data
- Produce digital stories using multimedia elements
- Use storytelling strategically for advocacy and policy influence
- Week 8Lesson 38
Capstone Preparation and Integration
- Integrate multiple program components into unified proposals
- Ensure internal consistency across all planning documents
- Prepare comprehensive program documentation
- Week 8Lesson 39
The Final Pitch
- Deliver polished presentations under time constraints
- Respond effectively to stakeholder questions
- Demonstrate mastery of program planning competencies
- Week 8Lesson 40
User Testing & Feedback Loops: A UX Design Guide
- Run effective user testing sessions using the think-aloud method
- Capture and prioritize feedback with the feedback grid framework
- Close the loop with stakeholders after testing
Questions about the program?
Reach out on LinkedIn, happy to discuss curriculum fit, suggest where to start based on your public-health role, or talk shop on AI-augmented program planning and evaluation.