Evidence -based work
Evidence - our guiding principle
At Healing Fields Foundation (HFF), evidence-based work is not just a principle—it is the foundation of our engagement. While committing to this approach is easy, its implementation and adherence depend on several key factors:
- Capacity building to ensure knowledge and skill development.
- Transparent practices and responsible resource allocation.
- Commitment and zeal to achieve meaningful, measurable impact.
- A strong sense of purpose driving the organization forward.
At HFF, we have achieved a balanced integration of these elements, successfully combining facts, funds, and commitment to serve underserved communities. Evidence-based work is our guiding beacon, helping us intervene effectively, validate our efforts, and gain recognition.
A testament to this commitment is the 2022 Roux Prize, awarded to our Founder, Mukti Bosco, in recognition of our data-driven, impactful healthcare initiatives.
A PLAN AND METHOD FOR RESULTS
Our Model: a structured approach to community health
At Healing Fields Foundation (HFF), our model is built on a systematic, evidence-based approach to healthcare intervention. Each step ensures that our work is data-driven, impactful, and sustainable.
1. To know
Understanding the community is the first step. We conduct ongoing community surveys to capture baseline data on demographics, healthcare habits, and the village’s overall awareness and access to healthcare. These surveys serve as our first immersion into the local landscape and provide the foundation for evidence-based intervention.
2. To dig deeper
Our trained CHEs engage directly with community members to gather qualitative insights. Through structured questions, impromptu discussions, and interviews with village elders, local leaders, and government healthcare officials, we develop a layered understanding of health challenges and access gaps.
3. Benchmarking
Community surveys and interviews help us establish a benchmark study of the village or cluster of villages. We analyze social demographics, women’s status within households, and health-seeking behavior, particularly regarding non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and other prevalent health concerns.
4. Planning the interventions
With insights in hand, we design targeted interventions based on our extensive experience in the sector. These interventions go beyond healthcare to include kitchen gardens, sanitation, clean water access, and other health-impacting community projects.
5. Map, monitor, and measure
Once interventions are implemented, we establish continuous monitoring and evaluation processes to measure impact. In special cases or long-term strategies, we collaborate with reputed medical institutions to integrate scientific methods into our assessments, working toward a predictive model for behavior- focused interventions.
6. Technology as a support system
Our technology platform plays a crucial role in ensuring efficiency. Surveys, field coordination, and activities are digitally recorded and managed through a tiered reporting mechanism, enabling real-time tracking and analysis.
Commitment to evidence-based work
HFF combines structured planning, trained professionals, and unwavering commitment to ensure evidence-based work is at the heart of our model. We don’t just intervene—we measure, refine, and create lasting change.
bringing it all together
Training: the foundation of evidence-based work
Training is the bedrock of our commitment to evidence-based work. It lies at the core of Healing Fields Foundation's energy and empowerment programs, ensuring that our principles translate into real-world impact.
Through our accumulated experience, we have recognized that CHEs come from diverse backgrounds, facing varying literacy levels, societal pressures, and different levels of commitment. To truly understand and address these challenges, we have embraced empathy in our approach. Our training ensures that despite these differences, all CHEs evolve into responsible, capable health catalysts.
Our training model combines classroom learning with mentorship, focusing not just on theory but on practical application. It is not enough to tell CHEs that data is important—we must demonstrate its value, showing them how data builds their credibility and establishes them as trusted health leaders in their communities.
Training sessions for CHEs and other organizational members take place at regular quarterly intervals, supported by audit mechanisms and corrective measures to ensure continuous improvement. The impact is clear—our 7,000+ trained CHEs stand as living proof of our effective training and development framework.