Strategic Planning Services

State health and human services agencies operate in complex environments – balancing limited resources with growing demand, managing multiple divisions, coordinating with other agencies, and meeting federal and state requirements while improving outcomes for the populations they serve. Myers and Stauffer partners with agencies to design and deliver strategic plans that are practical, evidence-based, and ready for implementation.

For decades, we have supported structured, facilitation-driven strategic planning within and across state agencies such as Medicaid, behavioral health, developmental disabilities, aging, children and family services, juvenile justice, public health, and other health and human service agencies. Our approach combines rigorous assessment with inclusive stakeholder engagement, ensuring that every plan reflects the agency’s mission and the voices of the communities it serves.

Our Approach

We use a proven, facilitative method to guide state agencies through each state of strategic planning:

  • Assess the current environment. We conduct needs assessments, environmental scans, and SWOT/C analyses to establish a clear understanding of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats or challenges.
  • Engage stakeholders. We design and facilitate meaningful participation with leadership, staff, providers, advocates, and consumers to ensure ownership and alignment.
  • Set direction. Through workshops and structured discussions, we help define vision, mission, guiding principles, goals, and measurable objectives.
  • Design strategies. We work with agencies to identify critical success factors, prioritize strategies, and develop action steps tied to timelines, responsibilities, and resources.
  • Implement and monitor. We build performance measures, dashboards, governance structures, and change management plans to ensure the strategy is actionable and sustainable.

Our Capabilities

We provide end-to-end strategic planning services, including:

  • Environmental scans, peer-state benchmarking, and policy analysis.
  • Stakeholder engagement across various agencies, cabinets, departments and divisions, as well as providers, advocates, and community voices.
  • Development of strategic themes, SMART objectives, and guiding principles.
  • Resource mapping, scenario planning, and funding alignment.
  • Implementation roadmaps with governance, roles, and timelines.
  • Performance monitoring frameworks, dashboards, evaluation tools.
  • Change management and communications planning and development to drive awareness and support adoption.

Experience

Myers and Stauffer’s consultants have led high-profile strategic planning efforts among various state clients:

  • Child Welfare Transformation Initiative. Facilitated a multi-agency planning process to improve outcomes for children and youth. Produced a comprehensive strategic plan, guiding principles, and a multi-year roadmap endorsed by leadership across Medicaid, behavioral health, child welfare, education, and juvenile justice.
  • Framework for Development of a Five-Year Strategic Plan. The department engaged Myers and Stauffer to provide technical assistance for one of its most pressing system challenges: the shortage of inpatient psychiatric beds for both children and adults. Recognizing that incremental changes would not suffice, they sought a comprehensive, evidence-informed framework to drive a five-year strategy. Our team developed a structured approach that combines a deep environment scan, peer state benchmarking, and options analysis to position the department for decisive action on capacity expansion, regulatory alignment, and system redesign.
  • HCBS Program Redesign. The agency engaged Myers and Stauffer to support the redesign of its 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers and related programs. The goal was to modernize waiver administration to strengthen service delivery and create a more person-centered and sustainable system for residents with complete needs. Our work has been comprehensive, spanning stakeholder engagement, organizational redesign, workforce development, and implementation support.
  • Medicaid Strategy and Structure. Myers and Stauffer was engaged to evaluate and strengthen the design and structure of a state’s Medicaid program. They wanted to ensure its policies and operations were aligned with federal and state regulatory requirements, optimized for efficiency, and positioned to deliver high-quality services to beneficiaries across the state. Our work provided the state with a comprehensive blueprint for modernizing its Medicaid program and improving alignment with broader state health and human service priorities.
  • Mobile Crisis Intervention Services. Designed a state’s Medicaid-funded mobile crisis benefit with input from more than 250 stakeholders, developed a statewide needs assessment and roadmap, and continued to provide technical assistance and evaluation support of statewide Mobile Crisis Services.

Why Myers and Stauffer

  • Domain-Driven Expertise. Our work is rooted in deep knowledge of Medicaid, waiver authorities, behavioral health, child welfare, related human services, and health IT, ensuring strategies that align with real-world policy and funding.
  • From Planning to Action. We do more than facilitate visions. Our expert consultants stay through implementation, helping agencies translate strategies and actionable tasks into programs, policies, and outcomes.
  • Customized Solutions. We tailor every plan to each of our client’s state regulatory and operational requirements, as well as specific cultural context – we do not use one-size-fits-all templates.
  • Value for States. Our public-sector focus delivers high-quality, actionable planning at a cost structure that reflects the realities of state budgets.

Results Delivered

Across all engagements, our clients gain:

  • Unified vision and strategic alignment across divisions and partners.
  • Roadmaps with clear priorities, timelines, and accountabilities.
  • Monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track progress and adjust over time.
  • Governance and communication structures that sustain change.
  • Measurable improvements in coordination, efficiency, and outcomes.

Myers and Stauffer delivers more than a plan – we deliver a blueprint for transformation that states can execute, monitor, and sustain.

Jerry Dubberly, PharmD
Principal
PH 404.524.9519
jdubberly@mslc.com

Kelly Gonzalez, MS, PMP, CUA
Director, Strategy and Emerging Initiatives 
PH 404.524.0775
kgonzalez@mslc.com

“Myers and Stauffer has met every challenge and, in doing so has developed a valuable consulting relationship with our staff. They are the contractor we turn to first when a question arises.”

— State Principal Financial Specialist

“We have been extremely pleased with the services that Myers and Stauffer provides and recommend them without hesitation to assist you with your audit needs.”

— State Medicaid Client

“Myers and Stauffer has established itself as more than an audit contractor. They are who we turn to first when a question arises.”

— State Principal Financial Specialist

“I looked at them as being a role model and ideal vendor. They always met deadlines. They always were flexible. They always were helpful. They always produced things that were accurate, certainly timely. Everything was really tops.”

— Association Director (Formerly with a State Medicaid Agency)

“They deliver a top quality product. I don’t have to second guess or worry. It is timely, professional, complete. They anticipate my needs. I just can’t say enough.”

— State Medicaid Client

“They have never, ever disappointed me. They’ve always been outstanding.”

— State Principal Financial Specialist

“You guys do a lot to ‘make it happen’ … I don’t forget that.”

— State Medicaid Client

Myers and Stauffer “staff conduct themselves in a highly professional manner when working with both state agency personnel and providers of health care services.”

— State Principal Financial Specialist

“Myers and Stauffer makes my job easier. They do complex work so that we can focus more attention on planning and future projects. They help me sleep at night.”

— State Principal Financial Specialist

“We have received the benefit of education, knowledge, and context from Myers and Stauffer’s effective communication.”

— Director (A State Office of Inspector General)