Community Tool Box (http://ctb.ku.edu/en) is a Web site created and maintained by the Work Group on Health Promotion and Community Development at the University of Kansas, in collaboration with AHEC/Community Partners in Amherst, Massachusetts. The Leadership, Management, and Group Facilitation section of the website includes information and techniques for building and leading teams, as well as conducting effective meetings of these teams.
Identifying Prevention Priorities and Strategies for Success
(http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/safety/training/priorities/index.html)
This workshop is designed to facilitate efforts to develop a comprehensive plan for schools. Included in the workshop is an exploration of factors to consider when developing a mission statement that accurately reflects community priorities, anticipated outcomes, and selected strategies for achieving those outcomes.
SAMHSA's Prevention Platform (http://www.preventiondss.org/) is a Web site created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) including resource and tools for those working on issues of substance abuse prevention. It includes tools and resources in the areas of assessment, capacity, planning, implementation, and evaluation. The Capacity section of the Prevention Platform includes resources and information on creating a vision statement as part of a program’s planning process.
Publications Available Online
Building the Will and Vision for Districtwide Instructional Reform: Chapter II. of Beyond Islands of Excellence: What Districts Can Do To Improve Instruction and Achievement in All Schools (http://www.learningfirst.org/lfa-web/rp?pa=doc&docId=62) by Wendy Togneri and Stephen Anderson. Washington, DC: American Association for Curriculum and Development/Learning First Alliance, 2003. Although primarily oriented to instructional reform, Chapter II. contains some excellent information on how a vision can be created that drives a school improvement process.
Charter Starters Leadership Training Workbook 1: Start-Up Logistics
(http://www.nwrel.org/charter/Workbook/cs_workbook1.pdf ) by Joyce Levy. Portland, OR: Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory Rural Education Program, 1999. This workbook written for people starting charter schools contains some concise and valuable information (including tools) for anyone on why and how to develop a vision or mission statement. See “Vision and Mission” on pages 17-24.
Drucker Foundation Self-Assessment Tool: Content: How to Develop a Mission Statement (http://www.leadertoleader.org/knowledgecenter/sat/index.html). New York, Leader To Leader Institute. This tool includes a useful step-by-step workplan for developing a mission statement.
Getting to Outcomes 2004: Promoting Accountability Through Methods and Tools for Planning, Implementation and Evaluation
(http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR101/) by M Chinman, P Imm, and A Wanderman. Santa Monica: Rand Health, 2004. This manual presents a ten-step process that enhances practitioners’ prevention skills while empowering them to plan, implement, and evaluate their own programs. It was specifically designed to help agencies, schools, and community coalitions improve programs aimed at preventing or reducing drug and tobacco use among youth. The manual includes text and worksheets and can be applied to any type of prevention programming. It includes chapters on needs and resources assessment; goals and objectives; choosing best practice programs; ensuring program “fit;” capacity, planning, process, and outcome evaluation; continuous quality improvement, and sustainability.
Sustaining Community-based Initiatives
(http://www.wkkf.org/default.aspx?tabid=100&CID
=287&CatID=287&NID=211&LanguageID=0&Letter=S)
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation and The Healthcare Forum partnered on these modules designed to help grantees sustain community-based initiatives. Defining and communicating a vision is discussed in Module 2./Chapter 2. (Defining Who You Are). Mission statements are discussed in Chapter 5/Module 3. (The Business Plan).
