Ever pour your heart into a public health initiative, only to see it dismantled when leadership changed? In this episode of Public Health Curated, we tackle the challenge of creating public health change that endures beyond political cycles and funding fluctuations.
Key Takeaways
- Lasting change requires more than good program design—it needs intentional sustainability planning
- Building champions across political spectrums protects initiatives during transitions
- Community ownership is essential for program longevity
- Adaptable, modular approaches survive better than rigid programs
- Your true legacy is what remains when you're no longer there to defend it
Episode Highlights
Three Frameworks for Lasting Change
1. The Institution-Independent Foundation
Building initiatives that can stand even when institutional support wavers:
- Create governance that includes community members with real decision-making power
- Develop multiple funding streams, including non-governmental sources
- Establish documentation systems that preserve institutional memory when staff changes
2. The Relationship Web
Sustainability depends on who's invested in keeping your work alive:
- Identify champions across political spectrums—not just allies who already agree
- Build relationships at multiple levels—from frontline staff to executive leadership
- Create constituencies with something to lose if the program disappears
3. The Evolution Strategy
Design initiatives to adapt rather than break when conditions change:
- Create modular approaches where parts can continue even if other elements get cut
- Build in flexibility to shift emphasis based on changing priorities
- Design evaluation systems that measure multiple types of impact
Success Story: Boys and Girls Clubs of America
- Survived for over 160 years through wars, depressions, and countless political shifts
- Cultivated champions across every political spectrum by framing their work through multiple value lenses
- Evolved their model while maintaining their core mission
- Created an adaptable approach that could shift with changing community needs
Your Action Steps
For whatever program you're currently working on, ask yourself:
- If you disappeared tomorrow, who would fight to keep this work going? If you can't name at least five people from different sectors, that's your first vulnerability.
- What parts of your work could continue with 50% less funding? If the answer is "nothing," you need to create a more adaptable model.
- How are you documenting impact in ways that would make sense to someone with completely different values?
Try the Cross-Sector Champion Approach
Identify three individuals from completely different sectors. Invite them to experience your work firsthand, then ask: "How would you describe the value of this work to someone with your perspective?" Their answers will give you language you might never have considered—framings that could help your work survive the next transition.
Join the Conversation
Have you created public health initiatives that survived leadership transitions? Or watched valuable programs disappear with changing political winds? Share your experiences and strategies using #PHCLegacy, and let's build a community of practice around sustainable public health impact.
About the Host: Veronica Sek-Shubert, MPH, is the founder of Public Health Curated and a DrPH candidate at Tulane University. With over 15 years of experience in non-for-profit and public health spaces, she's dedicated to helping professionals rediscover their spark while creating meaningful system change.