Establishing Services for our organization Final Capstone Project: Phase 2

Reflecting on our Mission Statements The mission statements should be short, use powerful, specific language, and give a brief, broad overview of your organization. Exchange your mission statement with someone NOT in your group. Then, check the exchanged mission statement to make sure it has purpose, business, and values established for your organization.

Your organization has a mission. Now, your organization should work. Using your mission statement as a road map, we can now create a list of specific services that your organization will provide. This may require a rewriting of the mission statement. Your services should be reflected in the mission statement in some manner. If they are not, either the service should be eliminated, or the mission statement should accommodate the service.

“if we were on the board…” Let’s practice Creating Services. Read the mission statement below. Let’s see if we can establish services based on what we read in the following statement. “AIDS Foundation Houston, Inc. envisions a supportive community free of new HIV infections where individuals affected by HIV/AIDS lead healthy and productive lives without stigma and discrimination. AIDS Foundation Houston, Inc. leads the innovative efforts in the prevention of new HIV infections and empowers individuals, families, and communities affected by HIV/AIDS to create and sustain healthy lives.”

Use these points to create your list. AIDS Foundation Houston, Inc. envisions a supportive community free of new HIV infections where individuals affected by HIV/AIDS lead healthy and productive lives without stigma and discrimination. AIDS Foundation Houston, Inc. leads the innovative efforts in the prevention of new HIV infections and empowers individuals, families, and communities affected by HIV/AIDS to create and sustain healthy lives.

Are these services appropriate for the organization? “…supportive community free of new HIV infections…” “…leads the innovative efforts in the prevention of HIV infections…” “…create and sustain healthy lives…” Safe-sex education and promotion Group and individual counseling Promote regular testing for at-risk populations Nutrition education Medical treatment access/management Assist/provide funding for children who have HIV/AIDS

Let’s Try One More… The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. The American Red Cross, through its strong network of volunteers, donors and partners, is always there in times of need. We aspire to turn compassion into action so that… ...all people affected by disaster across the country and around the world receive care, shelter and hope; ...our communities are ready and prepared for disasters; ...everyone in our country has access to safe, lifesaving blood and blood products; ...all members of our armed services and their families find support and comfort whenever needed; and ...in an emergency, there are always trained individuals nearby, ready to use their Red Cross skills to save lives.

Now, it is your turn. Using your mission statement, you can create a “wish list” of services you want to provide to your target audience. There are a few things to keep in mind… 1. Some services have a broad impact; others might focus on a few specific services and do those VERY WELL. Think about the span of your organization. We’re not trying solve the world peace problem…just a part of it. 2. Be realistic – your organization is a “start-up”, meaning you will have to raise a TON of money to do everything you really want to do. Don’t be afraid to think big, but prioritize the work you want your organization to accomplish. 3. Refer to the mission statement! If you want to accomplish something that is not in your mission, you should either throw it out or re-write your mission statement.

Examples… Look at this profile. Name: DiscoverU Cause: College Access Location: Houston, TX Mission: We envision the day when every young person has the academic and personal skills to succeed in high school, college, and life. To realize this vision, we focus our efforts on one mission: to provide resources and learning experiences that empower at-risk youth to take the next step toward higher education. Services: Financial assistance, including tuition for summer programs, application fees, equipment acquisition, etc. Student aid, counseling, and resource connections for applying to Fantastic Learning Opportunities (FLOs) After-experience counseling to connect students to college curriculum from a sponsored learning experience. Student identification and matching to potential programs of interest Collection of programs that cater to a very broad range of interests, talents, and academic experiences.

For Next Friday… All groups should begin creating a list of services that match their mission statement. The list of services is not limited by number, but should connect to and fulfill all parts of your mission statement. Names of organizations need to be finalized soon. If you haven’t chosen a solid name (just have a placeholder), it’s time to get creative. Show investment! Plans should be typewritten and ready to submit for peer edit next Friday. Next Friday: Financial Plans for Your Organization