Strategic Plan

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit offers a wide range of programs and public health services focused on promoting and protecting health, and preventing disease, disability and injury. These programs and services are funded by municipal and provincial tax dollars. The Board of Health governs the affairs of the health unit and oversees agency operations.

Our Mission

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is committed to excellence in promoting and protecting health, and preventing disease and injury. Our goal is to work with individuals, families, communities and agencies to achieve optimal health through the delivery of programs and services.

Our Vision

We see the people of Simcoe Muskoka leading healthy, fulfilling and productive lives. The health of people, communities and the environment in which we live, work and play is a key consideration in community planning and policy making.
The health unit makes a significant contribution to population health and quality of life through its leadership and work with communities, such that:

• people of all ages build on strengths and opportunities to nurture healthy, lifelong growth and development, achieve optimal levels of education, employment, shelter and nutrition, and develop socially supportive networks of relationships;
• people and communities have the information, knowledge and skills required to make choices for health;
• services are designed and implemented in partnership with people to meet their needs, respect diversity, and are accessible, culturally appropriate, and coordinated;
• a healthy environment is sustained through public policy and actions to ensure clean air, land and water;
• threats to people’s health are anticipated, prevented or minimized, and communities have the capacity to respond to emerging and emergency issues.

Our Values

We Value:

• EXCELLENCE in providing services to our clients and our communities
• ACCOUNTABILITY for our individual and collective choices, actions and outcomes; and for the responsible and efficient use of public funds and resources
• RESPECT for the rights of all people to be treated fairly and with dignity, and to make choices that reflect individuality and diversity while working toward improved health for all
• WORKING TOGETHER and sharing responsibility among health unit staff, and with government, agency and community partners
• POSITIVE WORKING ENVIRONMENTS which foster open communication, work-place wellness and work-life balance
• ACHIEVEMENT of equal opportunity for health

A new strategic plan for the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is the result of 10 months of planning and consultation. It identifies a number of emerging health issues that affect people’s day-to-day lives. And it sets out directions to respond to those issues, to maximize the health of the citizens of Simcoe and Muskoka.
There are three main goals in this plan:

• To tailor public health programs and services to the needs of Simcoe Muskoka’s population.
• To strengthen partnerships to enhance public health.
• To provide a healthy working environment at the health unit. This will help keep and attract high calibre public health professionals.

SMDHU Strategic Plan 2007 (full document)

SMDHU Strategic Priorities 2007 (Executive summary)