Union County Health Department officials said a proposed strategic plan for the agency highlights “a commitment to who we have been as we explore how we need to change and grow.”
Deputy Director of Health Promotion and Planning Liz Fries and Accreditation Coordinator Tim Kelley presented the Board of Health on Wednesday with the strategic plan that will guide UCHD through Fall 2026.
Kelley said about half of the health department’s staff participated in the creation of the plan.
They began by “exploring who we are” and establishing UCHD’s mission, vision and values.
Kelley said he was encouraged by the fact that the health department’s values remain largely the same, no matter which staff members may be working at the agency at the time.
“In 25 years of being here, the values have been pretty consistent,” he said.
As far as the agency’s culture, values include being caring, knowledgeable and dependable. When it comes to UCHD’s service, it is listed in the strategic plan as equitable, engaging and efficient.
With this foundation in place, in order to determine priority issues, leadership at UCHD was then asked, “In the next 10 years, what is going to impact the health department the most?” Kelley said.
Together, the group zeroed in on four priorities: community growth, employee recruitment and retention, government relations and modernization of the health department.
Kelley said four “think tanks” of UCHD staff members were formed that would meet monthly from October 2022 through March 2023 to address goals related to each priority issue. He noted that the modernization group was put on hold due to staffing changes in the agency.
Each of the remaining three think tanks used a logic model to break down their topic.
They laid out key insights from data, then created tangible, measurable goals. From there, the group determined its target audience and specific strategies and initiatives. They established what staff and resources would be needed to achieve their goals, then a means to measure their success.
Kelley said, in his think tank, he appreciated that things could occasionally become a little “heated” because staff members were willing to challenge each other’s perspectives. Fries added that group members always came ready to talk about their topics and share insight.
Public Information Officer Jennifer Thrush said she appreciated that the think tanks included members from different divisions of the health department, so employees were able to see how priorities and strategies may vary.
Kelley said it was also interesting to consider changes in the area UCHD serves and factor them into different facets of the strategic plan.
For instance, he said when he began working at the health department, there was not much of a difference between the northern and southern ends of Union County. Now, he said different demographics and needs are clear.
He said there are other similar changes, like the growth in community members for whom English is not their native language.
Each think tank then identified three to five goals.
As far as community growth, UCHD staff will aim to implement connection strategies in the southern portion of the county, specifically Plain City and Jerome Township. They will also work to connect with new residents and those who speak English as a second language.
They will also “conduct an analysis of divisional service demands and staffing projections.”
To improve employee recruitment and retention, staff will work to incorporate best practices into the interviewing and hiring processes. They will also communicate more strategically with prospective employees.
Goals also include reviewing and updated the onboarding process and providing training to create “a work culture that retains experienced staff.”
Fries said it is also important to emphasize a work-life balance that is becoming more and more accessible in a variety of workplaces.
When it comes to government relations, Kelley noted that there are more than 140 elected officials in Union County.
Fries said think tank members envisioned the health department being viewed as a “go-to” resource for those in local office.
The strategic plan’s goals include UCHD staff frequently and routinely engaging with elected officials and preparing staff members for those interactions.
UCHD staff will also have a goal of being attentive to the various needs and themes within the community.
Kelley said the modernization think tank will reconvene in the near future and its insights and goals will be shared with the board at a later date.
The strategic plan will be before the Board of Health at its next meeting for members to vote upon.