About the Strategic Plan
The foundation of our agency and our strategic plan is composed of our mission, vision, and core values. These elements clearly identify what we do and why we do it.
- Our mission states why we exist, what we do, and who we serve.
- Our vision indicates what we want to achieve and what success looks like for us in the future.
- Our core values define who we are and how we conduct ourselves in our work environment and in the communities we serve.
While the strategic plan is not a completely fixed document, it is developed to provide structure, standard guidance, and a defined path forward for our staff.
Mission
To protect, promote, and improve the health and well-being of everyone in South Carolina.
Vision
Healthy people living in healthy communities
How Do We Achieve Our Mission and Vision?
We achieve our mission and vision through a comprehensive, people-first approach to public health. Our approach guides how we design programs, shape policies, and strengthen systems to support the health and well-being of everyone in South Carolina. Our work is grounded in the 10 Essential Public Health Services, a proven framework that helps us assess community needs, develop effective policies, and ensure the services and protections that keep people healthy. At the heart of our strategy is a people-first approach. We place the individuals, families, and communities we serve at the center of our work, acting as trusted stewards and champions for better health and quality of life across our state. We also recognize that caring for our communities starts with caring for our team. To serve others well, we must support, empower, and invest in the employees who carry out this critical work every day.
Core Values
DPH Core Values define our identity and guide our conduct both within the workplace and in the communities we serve. They inform our decision-making processes and reflect our organizational beliefs about how we fulfill our mission.
We keep these core values in SITE2 (Service, Innovation, Teamwork, Excellence, Equity) through the work we do each day.
Embracing Service
We embrace our responsibility to reliably serve our communities, customers, and each other in a respectful manner, relying upon clear and uncompromised commitments to integrity, trust, dependability, and responsiveness.
Inspiring Innovation
We encourage and empower our teams to find creative, science-and-data-driven solutions to protect, promote, and improve the health of the public.
Promoting Teamwork
We cultivate inclusive and collaborative teams that value the diverse thoughts, experiences, and expertise of every team member, our stakeholders, and our communities.
Pursuing Excellence
We are steadfast in our commitment to the highest achievable standards of quality and professionalism.
Advancing Equity
We are committed to giving all South Carolinians the opportunity to attain optimal health outcomes by fostering a culture of fairness, equity, and inclusion for everyone.
Priority Areas
Our strategic priority areas are the high-level themes or categories that encompass how we accomplish our mission and vision. These priority areas help define the work we do and the things we intend to focus on and accomplish throughout the lifespan of the strategic plan. Based on input from staff and leadership, statewide health priorities, and an ongoing evaluation of current and future needs, we have identified four strategic priority areas to carry out our mission.
Health Services & Care
Improving population health outcomes by minimizing disparities and providing, facilitating, and promoting access to high-quality health care services that meet our communities’ needs.
Preparation & Response
Protecting the health of the state by monitoring and assessing data trends to address population health risks, preparing for emerging threats, and guiding public health emergency preparation, response, and recovery efforts.
Public Health Infrastructure
Striving for operational excellence by building and sustaining a skilled public health workforce, and improving the coordination of systems, processes, and policies with internal and external stakeholders.
Collaboration & Engagement
Strengthening partnerships, aligning statewide efforts and initiatives, and engaging with all sectors and communities to promote trust and transparency.
Results Statements by Priority Areas
For each priority area, the agency has further identified result statements as desired well-being conditions for the population DPH serves. These desired results reflect long-term outcomes that further the agency’s mission and vision. This section contains our result statements and the strategies we will implement in collaboration with our partners and teams to drive meaningful progress towards these results.
