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.
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.