MHD504_SLP

Health Promotion Program Plan, Mission Statement, Goals and Interventions

Modular Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module, the student will be able to satisfy the following outcomes:

· Case

· Review goals, objectives, and strategies of health promotion programs/interventions.

· SLP

· Present the mission statement, the goals, and the objectives of your health promotion program/intervention, including strategies, types of intervention, and settings that will be selected.

· Discussion

· Identify strategies and interventions for health promotion programs.

Module Overview

Planners need a solid foundation to guide them through planning, implementation, and evaluation of health promotion programs. A well-formulated strategic plan provides a clear mission statement, goals to match the program vision and focus, and objectives to meet the goals.

The mission statement, goals, and objectives should not only give the necessary direction to a program, but also provide the groundwork for the eventual program evaluation. Without a mission statement, goals, and objectives, a program may lack direction and will be difficult to evaluate.

Mission Statement

Sometimes referred to as program overview or program aim, a mission statement is a short narrative that describes the general focus of the program. The statement should state the purpose of a program and reflect the philosophy behind it. The mission statement also helps to guide program planners in the development of program goals and objectives.

Examples of Mission Statements:

Program Goals

Some use the terms goals and objectives synonymously. However, they do not mean the same thing. A goal is a future event toward which a committed endeavor is directed; objectives are the steps to be taken in pursuit of the goal.

A goal is the overall intent of the program; objectives are the ways that intent will be met. A goal is something to look forward to.

In comparison to an objective, a goal:

· Is much more encompassing or global.

· Is written to include all aspects of the program.

· Provides overall direction of a program.

· Is more general in nature.

· It usually takes longer to complete.

· Usually is not observed, but rather must be inferred because it includes words like evaluate, know, improve, and understand.

· Is often not measurable in exact terms.

Program goals must be simple and concise, and should include two basic components: who will be affected and what will change as a result of the program.

Some programs have a single goal while others have several goals.

Examples of Program Goals

· To reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease in the employees of the Smith Company.

· All cases of measles in Orange County will be eliminated.

· To stop the spread of HIV in the youth of California.

· To reduce the cases of lung cancer caused by exposure to secondhand smoke in Milford, MA

· The survival rate of breast cancer patients will be raised through the optimal use of community resources.

Objectives

Objectives are more precise. They represent smaller steps than program goals. If completed, these steps will lead to reaching the program goals. Objectives outline in measurable terms the specific changes that will occur in the target population at a given point in time as a result of exposure to the program.

Objectives can be thought of as the bridge between needs assessment and a planned intervention.

Different Levels of Objectives

There are several different levels of objectives associated with program planning. Objectives are placed in a hierarchical order and must be successively more refined and more explicit, level by level. Achievement of the lower-level objectives will contribute to the achievement of the higher-level objectives and goals.

A strategy is a plan of action that anticipates barriers and resources in relation to achieving a specific objective.

Health promotion strategies vary, for example from an individually focused brief intervention, to the development of a large national health promoting policy. Strategies are the methods you are going to use in the program to achieve the objectives, that is, how you will do it.

Health promotion uses strategies for individuals, groups, and communities to determine behavioral and environmental changes that will together lead to better health.

Things to think about when choosing strategies:

· All strategies are potentially useful, but combinations of strategies will likely produce the best results.

· The strategy has to match the objective.

· Knowledge about the health issues (content) and about the best ways to approach these issues (process) are very important. Reading about these issues and talking to other health professionals will help.

· An understanding of team members' potential and limitations is important. Additional training may be necessary.

Some questions to ask when developing strategies:

· Who is the project for?

· What are the project's objectives? What does the project want to achieve?

· What does the community think the best strategies would be?

· How ready and willing are people to become involved?

· How long have you got to do the project?

· What skills and knowledge do project team members have individually and collectively?

· What resources (human, financial and material) are needed? What is available?

Interventions

An intervention can be defined as a part of a strategy, incorporating method and technique that actually reaches a person or a population. Interventions can also be defined as activities that permit the most effective and efficient achievement of a goal and its objectives. Most effective means those activities that will lead to the desired outcome, most efficient means that resources are used in a responsible manner.

The term treatment can also be used interchangeably with intervention. It may also be viewed as the "something" that occurs between the beginning and the end of a program.

For example, a needs assessment was used to identify the need and justify the program (Good bicycle safety is needed to protect children from accidents), the mission statement elicited the purpose and philosophy (to promote bicycle safety in a rational, effective, and efficient manner), and goals (helmet use, riding skills, courtesy), and objectives (how to use helmets, ride correctly, be courteous) were developed to provide direction. The intervention is what makes it work. Following the intervention will be an evaluation to determine how effective and efficient that intervention has been.

Module 3 - Background

Health Promotion Program Plan, Mission Statement, Goals and Interventions

Required Reading