Program Development Resources

In this part of the toolkit, you will find resources related to the processes of program development, including partner cultivation, needs assessment, community mapping, and strategic planning. These are essential steps in developing sustainable programs that effectively address needs, utilize resources, and engage a wide array of stakeholders.

Arts in healthcare programs for rural communities vary greatly from those designed for urban and suburban settings. In larger communities, arts in healthcare programs are often designed to serve large healthcare facilities with hundreds, or even thousands, of in-patients per day. These programs provide an array of opportunities for artists to be engaged and provide services that enhance the experience of healthcare and also effect health outcomes (see Arts in Healthcare State of the Field Report: 2009). In rural communities, the average daily census in a hospital or clinic may be as little as two to three patients. Additionally, the health concerns and needs in rural communities vary greatly from those in larger communities. Rural community members utilize healthcare services less than people in urban and suburban communities, and rural culture itself accounts for 50-60% of the overall influence on health outcomes in rural communities. Therefore, arts in healthcare programs in rural communities are often more community based than those in larger communities.

For more information on arts in healthcare programs for rural communities, please see:

Before you Begin:

Then, click the following links to explore the first steps in program development:

Needs Assessment:

Community Resource Mapping:

Program Planning + Development: