Project Management Principles
This particular project is from the IHS 4445 class, also known as, Healthcare Innovation. It was a semester long group project about a topic of our choice that included an implementation plan as well as SMART goals. Mind Over Matter is a program that is structured around improving the access to Mental Health Care of college students in the Metro Atlanta area. To be more specific those colleges included: Kennesaw State University, Georgia State University, Morehouse College, Spelman College, Morris Brown College, Georgia Tech University, and Clark Atlanta University. For project management, we used a four phase implementation plan; Exploration, Installation, Initial Implementation, and Full Implementation. Instead of launching our full services at once, it was best to build trust and awareness alongside navigating support groups first before anything else. This was because we wanted to reduce risks and allow adjustments in between the different phases. We also used Stakeholders and their engagement which included mental health professionals, campus health clinics, student organizations, and wellness organizations that are local in the Metro Atlanta area. We also used a communication plan to make sure the stakeholders are informed throughout the program. Lastly, the sustainability plan used in this project reflects long-term viability.
SMART Goals
The three goals we have for the Mind Over Metro program are structured around the SMART framework. The first goal we have is to target at least 500 students around the Metro Atlanta area within a semester through campaigns, social media, and workshops. The second goal aims to increase the use of resources by 20% within one year, with resources such as mental health screenings, hotlines, and on-campus clinics. The third and final goal surrounds around peer support groups, at least six of them within one year. All together, these SMART goals prevent vague aspirations from stalling execution. The SMART goals gave us targets to report against, allow evaluators to assess impact through pre/post surveys, and signal to funders and university partners that the program operates with measurable adversities.