OPHEN’S MISSION

The mission of OPHEN is to advance and promote evaluation as a key component of evidence-informed decision making in public health in Ontario. OPHEN enables public health professionals to connect with each other and share best practices, tools and experiences. It creates learning opportunities through knowledge exchange between members. It also serves as a resource for building capacity and facilitating an evaluation culture, which supports effective public health practice.

OPHEN’S VALUES

OPHEN has two sets of values: core and aspirational. OPHEN’s values are written as verbs to reflect that the membership is actively engaging in and with these values as they work together.

Core values are the principles that guide the membership’s collective and individual actions and define OPHEN’s culture.

Connect - the membership brings people and organizations together; shares information, expertise, experience and tools; and helps others feel supported and validated.

Grow - the membership advances and elevates evaluation practice by building evaluation capacity; applying a critical lens to what it does and finding opportunities to improve; and effecting change at the level of the individual, organization, and system.

Aspirational values are the principles that OPHEN needs to embrace to be successful in achieving the Network’s mission.

Lead – the membership wants to be at the forefront of discussions about public health evaluation practice and be the “go to” network for individuals and organizations looking to improve public health and evaluation.

Advocate – the membership wants to promote diverse and traditionally marginalized perspectives, combat oppression, and influence what is measured in, and what questions are asked about, public health programs and interventions.

Innovate - the membership wants to seek out and adopt new technologies, adapt our work, try new things, and invent solutions.

OPHEN’S STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

To provide professionals working on evaluation in public health with an opportunity to network and exchange knowledge.​

To advance evaluation practice, promote its value, and build evaluation capacity in public health within Ontario.​

To promote professional development among evaluation professionals in public health within Ontario.​

To advocate for high standards in evaluations of public health initiatives within Ontario.​

To collaborate and consult with other relevant stakeholders on evaluation activities throughout the province.