The Need for Community Health Program Mission Statement Essay

The Need for Community Health Program Mission Statement, Goals and Program Objectives to fit the Target Population

Community health programs are mostly instituted to provide low cost and affordable health-care to the people. It is meant for the betterment of the health of the people sharing a common geographical area, or similar health characteristics. The program is, therefore, for a particular segment of the population. It is very important to have a community health program mission, goals and objectives fitting the target population because of the following reasons:

1. A mission statement explains why the program is in place. The core reason for the program is to help the target population and it should fit in perfectly to the needs of that population.
2. The mission statement explains what the program is supposed to be doing at what time and at what place. Since the program is to be undertaken in the community, it needs to involve them in whatever is done. Otherwise it may appear irrelevant to the people it is meant to help.
3. The goals of the program are towards a better health for the population that is targeted. There is, therefore, the need to involve them in formulating those goals so that they are of essence in the livelihoods of the target population.
4. The target population is made up of different age groups and people with health characteristics that vary in size and distribution. This necessitates that the population must be clearly studied and defined.
5. By fitting in the target population, the program will be more efficient and save costs. These costs include cost of changing the program to suit the target population, getting the required professionals or even starting the program all over again in case it is totally in applicable.

By concerning themselves with program goals and objectives formulated by health professionals only, planners may end up taking programs that are too broad for the target population. These goals may be too general and not relevant for the target population since every population has its own unique characteristics and needs (Clark, 2008).

Why Planners Are Reluctant To Involve Community in Budgeting

The first reason is that it may not be in the best interest of the program planners to involve the community in program budgeting. This arises especially where the community may start comparing itself with other populations and probably make accusations or unnecessary complaints. The second reason is that the planners may be weary of community interference in the operations of the program. They, therefore, choose to budget on their own and leave out the community.

Reasons Why Community Should Be Involved In Budget Development

By making the community part of the budgeting process, it legitimizes the program. The program, therefore, enjoys support from the community, government and donors. The community can only appreciate something that they are involved in formulating since they ‘own’ it. When the community is involved in formulating the budget; they can keep track of the set goals, gauge how well those goals have been achieved and/or give their ideas for a better program. This serves to measure the effectiveness of the program (Barzilai, 2003).

It is through the involvement of the community that the planners will feel accountable to them. They will in turn work harder, more efficiently and deliver the best services. This will increase transparency and accountability in the provision of health care through community health programs.

References

Barzilai, G. (2003). Communities and Law: Politics and Cultures of Legal Identities. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.

Clark, M. (2008). Community Health Nursing: Advocacy For Population Health. New Jersy: Upper Saddle River.