Developing a Mission Statement

If you've brought together a group of people, they're probably asking themselves "What are we doing here?" By developing a mission statement, they'll be able to answer that question.

A clear mission statement properly put to use can work wonders for organization development. An organization that rarely reexamines its mission is missing an opportunity to increase its purposiveness and productivity. It is useful to think of the organization's mission as a bright light, which illuminates everything the organization does. Policy, management, and practice decisions can be made in light of the mission. Priorities can be set, and programs can be designed with its clear beam as a guide

Mission Statement:

  • Program overview
  • Program aim
  • Short narrative that describes the general focus of the program, including the intent and philosophy behind the program
  • Helps to guide program planners in the development of program goals and objectives


 

What is the Purpose of a Mission Statement?

  • An organization's mission is an expression of the values you want to see implemented in your community.
  • A mission statement is a stable foundation on which to base planning-both for the long- and short-term.
  • Mission statements serve as a good measure of the integrity of a team-there must be consistency among and between the values, vision, goals and objectives, and strategies.
  • The heart of a vision of mission is not the actual words, but the process and act of creating it, and then making a commitment to carry it out.

Examples of Mission Statements:

Setting
Mission Statement
Medical Care Setting The program is aimed at helping patients and their families to understand and cope with physical and emotional changes associated with recovery following cancer surgery.
School Setting School District #77 wants happy and healthy students. To that end, the district's personnel strives, through a coordinated school health program, to provide students with experiences that are designed to motivate and enable them to maintain and improve their health.
Community Setting The mission of the Walkup Health Promotion Program is to provide a wide variety of primary prevention activities for residents of the community.
Worksite Setting The purpose of the employee health promotion program is to develop high employee morale. This is to be accomplished by providing employees with a working environment that is conducive to good health and by providing an opportunity for employees and their families to engage in behavior that will improve and maintain good health.

Building a Team Main Page

Community Health Promotion Main Page



See also > Center for Health Promotion > Health Promotion and Chronic Disease