What We Offer

Our Services

Since 1992, IPS has been a leader in upstream prevention. We focus on changing conditions to improve public health, safety and quality of life at a population level.

We have developed and refined our approach, strategies, processes, practices, and materials based on our decades of experience implementing programs.

Our subject matter experts provide nationwide consultation, collaboration, training and technical assistance across a range of functions for funders, government agencies, prevention services organizations, and community groups.

If you are interested in learning more about IPS’s services, we can help.

Policy Mapping Lab

IPS’ Policy Mapping Lab (PML) offers technical assistance to other equity-focused organizations using geographic information systems (GIS). The PML assists nonprofit organizations, local agencies, and community groups by providing data-driven tools that enable a better understanding of the relationship between geographies and health disparities. The PML provides organizations access to maps, web apps, story maps, and/or data dashboards that enable them to advocate more effectively. If you would like a consultation with a member of the PML team, please fill out this form and we will respond to your request shortly.

Program Design

The design of upstream prevention programs is crucial to their success. IPS works with funders to strategically design programs for maximum impact. We provide training and technical assistance for request for proposal (RFP) development, integrating evaluation strategies that inform program planning and implementation, staffing considerations, and synergistic design that connects programs and geographies.

Community Transformation

Communities are comprised of complex, interconnected systems that are constantly in motion and resistant to change. Our Approach to Community Transformation (ACT) Model provides a comprehensive method to implement community change projects and has been utilized around the nation. IPS provides intensive training and technical assistance to support organizations and groups in applying the ACT Model to advance their vision for equity-forward, community-wide change.

Advancing Equity

Inequity is at the root of most consequential disparities in health, wealth, and opportunity. For this reason, equity tops the list of IPS’s Core Values. However, advancing equity in communities is challenging. It requires a widespread embrace of collective responsibility, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and an “unsiloing” of resources. IPS has developed tools and processes to assist organizations and groups that want to integrate equity into population-level programs aimed at reducing health disparities. We provide a framework for understanding problems, identifying evidence-informed solutions, integrating disaffected populations, and advocating for policy and systems change that breaks down systemic barriers to health and wellbeing.

Community Trauma, Toxic Stress and ACEs

Populations plagued by inequity often experience one or more of these effects. It’s typically the result of the shared negative experiences associated with certain community characteristics, such as poverty, failing schools, unsafe streets and parks, or lack of good nutrition. To optimize health, safety and opportunity, the origins of community trauma, toxic stress and Adverse Childhood Experiences must be assessed, understood and prevented through trauma-informed policy and systems change. IPS provides tools, training and technical support to organizations and groups aiming to prevent community trauma, toxic stress and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) at a population level.

Strategic Planning

Strategic planning provides a roadmap for implementing outcome-driven prevention programs and advocacy campaigns. IPS facilitates a rigorous strategic planning process designed to advance goals related to equity, health, safety, opportunity, and quality of life at the population level. The process includes visioning, setting goals, identifying SMART objectives, mapping assets, assessing resources, and establishing a capacity building plan. Our process produces a flexible roadmap for the data collection, advocacy campaigns, community building, media advocacy, and policy work necessary to create sustainable systemic change.

Media Advocacy

Strategic media advocacy drives change. It sets the pace, frames consequential issues, builds social capital, and shifts political will. Since the early 1990s IPS has received national and international recognition for our earned media campaigns. IPS has provided media advocacy training to organizations in dozens of states and in Mexico. We have packaged our knowledge in a Media Advocacy Toolkit that is constantly evolving. We train groups on how to develop comprehensive media strategies that integrate traditional and digital communications platforms, as well as how to reach target audiences despite an ultra-competitive media landscape. As technology continually changes the ways we communicate, our media advocacy strategies and tools evolve to meet those changes. IPS incorporates social media platforms as both a media advocacy and community organizing tool.

Research & Data

IPS consults on public health research and data collection strategies. We are not researchers or evaluators, but we offer quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis tools that support every aspect of planning and implementation, from understanding problems, to selecting evidence-informed solutions, to establishing benchmarks for gauging progress and tracking outcomes.

Community Organizing

Community organizing is a messy, unpredictable, powerful and rewarding endeavor. It is also one of the most important strategies for creating change. IPS has developed a collection of tools to assess community readiness and coalition effectiveness. We provide consultation and training on grassroots organizing strategies and intentional coalition building that engage those most impacted by disparities in health, wealth and opportunity. We offer models for developing multi-sector collaborations that engage in effective advocacy and drive change.

Policy Advocacy & Systems Change

Addressing health disparities and advancing equity are complicated endeavors. IPS has developed strategies and tools to identify and illustrate systemic problems, explore policy or systems-based solutions, support advocacy efforts, and compel action from key decision makers. IPS offers training and technical assistance in all of these areas, along with policy analysis and guidance on policy formulation and development.