Planning for and Supporting Sustainment
Considering future sustainment at the beginning, middle and end of a pilot can help continued intervention delivery.
Tips to Planning for and Supporting Sustainment
What is Sustainment?
Sustainment is the extent to which a program is to be delivered and maintained in the intended way over time after initial implementation – once initial funding, research support, or external facilitation ends.
Why is this step important?
Having a successful project does not guarantee that it will be sustained.
The context for programs (things like policies, reimbursement, and competing demands) heavily influences program impact. Context can and will vary over time.
Planning for sustainment can help your program continue throughout these changes.
| Common Pitfalls | Actions to Avoid Them |
| Making the guidance too formal and generic | Use examples, quotes, stories, and humor. |
| Providing an insufficient level of detail | Include worksheets and completed examples. |
| Waiting to engage partners only at the end | Engage partners throughout all stages. |
| Designing a guidebook without highlighting iteration and adaptation | Update your guidebook frequently. |