Driving Informed, In-depth Strategic Planning

In the summer of 2007, one of the largest Community Mental Health Organizations in the state, Gateway Healthcare, Inc., needed to conduct a periodic goal assessment and strategic planning process with their Board of Directors. They turned to Clarendon to help create and implement a process which would involve both facilitation skills and in-depth knowledge of current issues in health education.

After formulating an interview guide that covered the potential strategic planning directions Gateway sought to pursue, Clarendon conducted one-on-one interviews with each of Gateway’s board members about the organization’s mission, reputation, and short- and long-term goals. Clarendon then presented the aggregated and anonymized results of the interviews at a Board retreat and facilitated the resulting conversation and planning. As a follow-up to the retreat, Clarendon produced a summary report and recommendations for review and adoption by the board.

In the spring of 2008, Clarendon helped Gateway to undertake an external assessment to better understand the organization’s reputation with relevant state agencies, other health and behavioral health care providers, fellow nonprofits, and partners. Clarendon worked with Gateway to craft an interview guide and develop a list of stakeholders, then conducted the interviews and presented the findings and analysis at a Board meeting to inform Gateway's future plans.

The result: a strategic planning initiative with energetic buy-in from all participants.