CFIPP is an integrated framework that brings together the processes, steps, and recommendations identified across various disciplines involved in the design of social program planning. The CFIPP is comprised of 10 phases and 31 steps for effective program planning and implementation. It functions as a comprehensive guide for program planners, helping them systematically design, plan, implement, evaluate, and scale social programs in diverse contexts. By synthesizing scattered knowledge into one coherent structure, the framework fills a critical gap in practice-oriented guidance for public health and social initiatives. It supports your social program's successful development from start to finish.
CFIPP provides systematic structure to:
- Program design and planning
- Implementation strategy development
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Iterative adaptation
- Scale-up and sustainability
Why CFIPP Matters
- Reduces implementation failure
- Improves intervention effectiveness
- Aligns design, implementation, and evaluation
- Supports long-term program viability
Who is CFIPP for?
CFIPP is intended for program designers, planners, program managers, and evaluation designers who are responsible for moving social programs from concept to practice.
Its target audience is similar to that of widely used implementation science frameworks such as CFIR, EPIS, AIFs, and RE-AIM, which provide structured guidance for the implementation of evidence-based practices.
The CFIPP is tailored to practitioners and program evaluators who often need a practical, step-by-step resource that can be applied directly in real-world contexts. By consolidating lessons from diverse disciplines and presenting them in a coherent roadmap, the framework equips these professionals with tools to systematically plan, implement, and evaluate social programs across varied sectors and settings.
How to use CFIPP?
Program planning
CFIPP provides concise recommendations and guidelines for completing each step of the program planning process. It comprised of 9 phases and 26 steps for effective program planning and implementation, providing a structured approach to help ensure your program’s success.
Theories, MODELS, and frameworks
95 unique program planning and implementation resources were analyzed for the creation of CFIPP.
37 of the resources provided unique processes that make up CFIPP.
CFIPP links the process steps in the tool to source resources, so users can identify which frameworks can provide further details regarding the execution of each step
use cfipp to build a checklist for your project
CFIPP is presented in a user-friendly format with clearly defined phases and actionable steps. This structure can serve as a checklist or workbook for practitioners, helping ensure that no critical component of planning or implementation is overlooked. Using CFIPP as a guide, a program planner can systematically proceed through each phase – from defining the problem, designing an intervention with implementation in mind, establishing evaluation metrics and sustainment plans.
cfipp for reporting
CFIPP can serve as a quality assurance tool for program planning: ask what program planners have done to ensure effective execution of each step of CFIPP. If they are thoughtful and proactive about each step, it will increase the likelihood of their intervention’s success and sustainability.
CFIPP DEVELOPMENT
The authors
CFIPP was developed by a diverse group of practitioners and implementation researchers from Harvard University, UNC-Chapel Hill, Universidade de São Paulo, and UTHealth Houston.
the results
An umbrella review was conducted to identify, analyze, and consolidate program planning and implementation theories, models, and frameworks.
- 57 literature reviews were analyzed,
- 127 unique frameworks were identified,
- 614 recommended planning/implementation processes were extracted
- 271 unique process elements make up CFIPP
user friendly design
CFIPP was co-designed through multiple improvement iterations to ensure the steps are clear and concise, and the presentation is user-friendly. CFIPP continues to be in-development by co-designing with end-users to ensure completeness and feasibility.
Ongoing Training and Development
continuous improvement of cfipp
continuous improvement of cfipp
continuous improvement of cfipp
Do you have suggestions for how to improve CFIPP?
Have you identified evidence-based steps / processes that are not yet represented in CFIPP?
Reach out so we can continue to build CFIPP together!
submit a Framework
continuous improvement of cfipp
continuous improvement of cfipp
Share a resource or framework that is not yet represented in CFIPP. We can review your framework, together, and integrate the steps/processes into the CFIPP tool.
training
continuous improvement of cfipp
training
Bring CFIPP training to your organization and empower your team with best practices and effective strategies for implementation.