Applying An Adaptive Leadership Approach to Increase Male Participation within Title X Services
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The benefit of the [adaptive leadership] process was our ability to continue adjusting our approach to complement individual catchment areas. Agencies appreciated the opportunity to share their challenges with other providers who were working toward the same goal. This fostered greater appreciation for Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) and the team approach to problem solving.Darin McMillan, Consultant, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
In January 2018, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MI DHHS) struggled to address low male participation in its Title X-funded clinics. With adaptive leadership coaching from the FPNTC, MI DHHS applied a Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycle to identify and test the effectiveness of male outreach strategies.
The clinics applied these three strategies:
- Messaging and condom distribution at local stores, such as tattoo parlors, smoking shops, bars, and barbershops
- Educating female clients about Title X services for males and encouraging them to share this information with their male partners, friends, family, and acquaintances
- Raising awareness of men’s health and Title X services by distributing flyers and providing basic health screening
MI DHHS overcame challenges that included securing approval for male outreach materials, establishing verbal “scripts” for in-reach activities, and re-stocking condoms. After four months, two of the four MI DHHS clinics that participated in the PDSA cycle nearly doubled the number of male clients they served.
To learn more about PDSA, check out the Quality Improvement Methodologies: Using the Model for Improvement eLearning course. To learn more about male services outreach, download the Getting Ready for Male Reproductive Health Services Toolkit.