Skip to main content

National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence Prevention

Environmental Scanning

Photo of three children looking at a crowd

Environmental scanning is an initial step in the strategic planning process. According to the Peter Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management, environmental scanning is a process for discovering and documenting facts and trends in the environment that are likely to affect the organization in its future work.

Environmental Scanning in Project LAUNCH

Before embarking on a plan for shaping their future work, Project LAUNCH grantees first need to determine what services and supports children and families need to reach their full potential, what services and supports already exist, and what gaps need to be filled.

Project LAUNCH grantees are required to conduct a complete strategic planning process that begins with an environmental scan in the first year of their grant. While grantees conducted a needs assessment as part of their grant application process, the environmental scan process provides state, tribal, local, and District of Columbia Project LAUNCH programs with the opportunity to revisit and expand upon the needs assessment in a systematic way that involves staff and child wellness council members. The scan provides grantees with an opportunity to assess the services available in the community.

By engaging community partners and constituents in the scanning process, Project LAUNCH leaders can build public support for the initiative and help to ensure that the project’s services are responsive to state, tribal, and community needs.

Project LAUNCH grantees use a variety of methods to gather data about the types and levels of services currently provided in the Project LAUNCH core areas (developmental assessments, integration of behavioral health into primary care, home visiting, mental health consultation, and family support) and also for assessing system-development activities (e.g., governance and interagency coordination and collaboration) related to promoting young child wellness in the community and state. For example:

  • Many begin by examining existing scans, such as scans conducted for state Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS) grants.
  • They expand upon these core documents by conducting focus groups and key informant interviews, and/or surveying partners and constituents.
  • Finally state, tribal, local, and District of Columbia teams analyze the scan data to identify gaps or duplication of services, community trends, and potential partners.

For more information on Project LAUNCH’s approach to environmental scanning, read SAMHSA’s Project LAUNCH—Environmental Scan Guidance or contact a Project LAUNCH technical assistance specialist.

Keywords
Program Planning and Implementation: