Press Release from National SOPHE:
SOPHE Board Adopts New Five-Year Strategic Plan
Added focus on social determinants, health equity & anti-racism in research, practice, policy & pedagogy
Washington, D.C. – May 10, 2021 – The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) is proud to release its updated mission statement and strategic plan
for 2021-2025. This new roadmap builds on SOPHE’s prior efforts and progress over the last five years, and further emphasizes SOPHE’s role in addressing
the social determinants of health, health equity, and racial and social justice.
for 2021-2025. This new roadmap builds on SOPHE’s prior efforts and progress over the last five years, and further emphasizes SOPHE’s role in addressing
the social determinants of health, health equity, and racial and social justice.
SOPHE’s updated mission statement, “Support leaders in health education and promotion to advance health equity in communities across the globe,” builds
on SOPHE’s vision and values. It confirms that health education and promotion professionals at every level are trailblazers in applying our discipline’s
theory, research, or practice.
on SOPHE’s vision and values. It confirms that health education and promotion professionals at every level are trailblazers in applying our discipline’s
theory, research, or practice.
“The new strategic plan is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the SOPHE Board of Trustees and Strategic Planning Committee, which gathered
input through surveys and focus groups with members, chapters, staff, donors and external stakeholders,” said SOPHE President Dr. Deborah Fortune.
“Despite challenges of the last five years, including the COVID-19 pandemic, SOPHE has achieved much progress and has emerged even stronger as
the leading voice for the health education profession.”
input through surveys and focus groups with members, chapters, staff, donors and external stakeholders,” said SOPHE President Dr. Deborah Fortune.
“Despite challenges of the last five years, including the COVID-19 pandemic, SOPHE has achieved much progress and has emerged even stronger as
the leading voice for the health education profession.”
The new strategic plan lays out a determined path for work of the 71-year young organization — focusing on the future while navigating a challenging
year and grappling with important issues.
year and grappling with important issues.
The plan includes four key priorities for the next five years.
Strengthen health education and promotion capacity to achieve health equity by providing pre-service and in-service development opportunities
and increasing the diversity of the profession; and expanding leadership development to include anti-racism training that ensures an infrastructure
for equity and inclusion.
and increasing the diversity of the profession; and expanding leadership development to include anti-racism training that ensures an infrastructure
for equity and inclusion.
Advance health education and promotion pedagogy, practice and research by Increasing the reach and impact of SOPHE’s peer-reviewed journals;
and promoting emerging and promising areas for health education research, practice, and pedagogy, with a focus on scientific gaps that address
social determinants of health.
and promoting emerging and promising areas for health education research, practice, and pedagogy, with a focus on scientific gaps that address
social determinants of health.
Promote and advocate for health-equity enhancing systems and policies by strengthening advocacy impact and effectiveness to address health
promotion, prevention, and health equity priorities; and increasing public and partner knowledge and support for the profession of health education
and promotion as leaders in health equity.
promotion, prevention, and health equity priorities; and increasing public and partner knowledge and support for the profession of health education
and promotion as leaders in health equity.
Support operational excellence to achieve the greatest public health impact possible by strengthening SOPHE’s operational performance practices;
and ensuring organizational policies and procedures that promote anti-racism and advance health equity.
and ensuring organizational policies and procedures that promote anti-racism and advance health equity.
Using a Results-based Accountability™ framework, SOPHE’s Strategic Planning Committee is working with various departments and staff to determine
the specific indicators that will be used to measure and report on SOPHE’s work during the next five years.
the specific indicators that will be used to measure and report on SOPHE’s work during the next five years.
About SOPHE
The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) is a nonprofit 501c(3) organization founded in 1950 whose mission is to support leaders in health education
and promotion to advance health equity in communities across the globe. SOPHE represents a diverse membership of 4,000 professionals and students
who work and learn in various public and private organizations and universities to advance health education theory and research, develop disease
prevention and health promotion programs, and promote public policies conducive to health. For more information visit www.sophe.org.
and promotion to advance health equity in communities across the globe. SOPHE represents a diverse membership of 4,000 professionals and students
who work and learn in various public and private organizations and universities to advance health education theory and research, develop disease
prevention and health promotion programs, and promote public policies conducive to health. For more information visit www.sophe.org.
