About

In laying out its agenda for the future, the Policy Analysis Center will be guided by following principles:

Embrace the missions of the Association of Community Services (ACS) and the Horizon Foundation’s “Vision and Mission” Statements

The Horizon Foundation: To promote and enhance the health and wellness of the Howard County, Maryland community.
ACS: To develop, support, and promote the Howard County human service community with education and training, advocacy and community connections.

Adopt and use the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of “Community Health”

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines community health as … “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”  The WHO stipulates that characteristics of a health community include: ”a safe and clean physical environment; provision of basic needs; an optimum level of appropriate, high quality and accessible health care; high-quality educational opportunities; and a diverse and vital economy.

Treat the Center as a resource that helps ACS and the Foundation facilitate strategic change in the community.

The Center’s studies and research programs will be geared to providing the type and quality of information that can be used in affecting positive quality of life changes for county residents.

Assure objectivity and avoid study bias.

Objectivity and lack of bias will characterize all aspects of the Center’s work.

Practice the art of “Common Sense Solutions”.

Striving for “excellence” in research and analysis includes seeking out the “practical”, e.g., “best practice” answers to solving local issues.

Provide relevant data and information.

Create an effective means for collecting and disseminating Center generated and linked products and information services to stakeholder organizations and residents in the community.

Scale Center activities to resources that are available or can be secured.

Over time, an entrepreneurial perspective is desirable in terms of providing value added projects for other organizations as long as it does not interfere with the above.

Adopted October 7, 2009 by the Policy Analysis Center Steering Committee