Background: This document was developed to provide future directions for the American Academy of Health Behavior. The content of this document has undergone several macerations over an approximately 3-year period. The initial primary author was Dr. Mohammad R. Torabi who received input and feedback from former presidents of the Academy Drs. Robert McDermott, Elbert Glover, and Chudley Werch. Dr. Torabi during his presidency requested that Dr. David R. Black chair a committee to review and complete an initial draft. The committee members that provided invaluable contributions were Drs. Karen Liller, Dennis Thombs, and Terri Manning. The mission, goals, and other parts of this document were circulated to Academy members during the later part 2004 and underwent further revision after feedback from the membership. We are indebted and greatly appreciate the input of those members who took time to provide feedback and to express their compelling opinions. The intent of the document is as follows: (a) to guide and focus the efforts of the Academy; (b) set priorities; (c) align and proportion the budget in accordance with priorities; (d) increase efficiency by assigning tasks, agreeing on a division of labor, and soliciting help from talented Academy members who wish to volunteer; and (e) ask those assigned a task to refine and further establish what needs to be accomplished and set aggressive, yet realistic timelines. The authors wish to acknowledge that the document is an initial draft and is most likely incomplete and not comprehensive, but it represents a beginning of strategic thought and further prudent management of Academy’s assets and resources. The intent of this document is to implement an important initial step as part of a process to increase the stature and influence of the Academy in the years to come, to further increase the quality of health behavior research, and help establish and set the national and international agenda and priorities for future health behavior research. The document is divided into the following sections for convenience of presentation and abstraction of information quickly: (a) Mission, (b) Conceptual Underpinnings of the Academy, (c) Values, (d) Goals, and (e) Operational Tasks.

Mission

Serve as the “research home” for health behavior scholars whose primary commitment is to excellence in research and the application of research to practice.

Conceptual Underpinnings of the Academy

The Academy was founded April 1, 1997 to transform the health promotion and health education field from a teaching- and service-centered profession to one with a stronger research foundation in which discovery would be valued as a means of improving practice and enhancing public health. The origination of the Academy was based on the belief that the future growth and evolution of the health promotion and health education fields rested on a strong commitment to conducting and disseminating quality research. With a critical eye toward the future, four stewards forged a new course for the field built on a distinctive set of conceptual underpinnings. The first underpinning was a perceived need to establish a meritocracy that acknowledged the competitive nature of the research environment, challenged members produce quality research, and recognized outstanding research contributions. The second underpinning was that to advance evidence-based practice, there was need for an organization to explicitly identify research as its focus. The third underpinning recognized that there was a need for a forum to critically review and evaluate research being conducted by those in the field. The fourth underpinning was the desire to overcome partisan, protective agendas of traditional disciplines by stimulating multi-disciplinary research and learning. Last, the Academy was established to inform and educate scholars about the latest in research innovations and to focus on quality research through its professional meetings and publications.

Values

• Commitment to and continuous engagement in science-based research
• Conduct of new and innovative research
• Pursuit of national health research priorities
• Excellence in all aspects of The Academy
• Honesty and integrity
• Attention to consistency and detail
• Recognition based on merit
  

Goals

• Establish financial solvency and security of The Academy to assure high quality and efficiency of the Academy.
• Foster development and dissemination of knowledge through sponsorship of scientific meetings, symposia, and publications.
• Increase member participation to improve the Academy.
• Recognize outstanding achievements in the areas of health behavior, health education, and health promotion research.
• Increase national/international influence of the Academy.
• Encourage collaborative research efforts.
• Influence health policy and allocation of resources within agencies, private foundations, and universities.
• Foster the research career of young scholars.

Operational Tasks

AAHB’s efforts to become a national and international leader in advancing health education and health promotion through health behavior research are charted below. Completion dates for tasks and who is responsible for each task will be decided by the task leaders.

(*Authors are listed alphabetically. March 29, 2007)David R. Black*
Purdue University
Elbert D. Glover
University of Maryland
Karen D. Liller
University of South Florida
Terri M. Manning
Central Piedmont Community College
Robert J. McDermott
University of South Florida
Dennis L. Thombs
University of Florida
Mohammad R. Torabi
Indiana University
Chudley E. Werch
University of Florida

Recommendation for the Strategic Plan as Discussed at the September 16-18, 2005 Midyear Board Meeting:
1. Perform a SWOT analysis at the annual meeting in February 2006 to improve the strategic plan.
2. Develop agendas for the midyear and annual Board meetings based on the strategic plan and use the strategic plan for direction setting. Brief SWOT analysis conducted March 7th. At the annual meeting several strengths, opportunities, and some threats were discussed on March 7th. A full discussion is needed of these issues.

The following is a synopsis of the findings thus far:

Strengths
1. Small size that promotes many opportunities to network and establish a “research home” for qualified members.
2. Opportunity to meet and have discussions with leading national and international scholars. 3. Excellent scientific meetings that are unique in venue and overall program structure and quality.

Weaknesses
1. For some the cost of the meeting may be prohibitive.
2. Concerns about financial solvency continue.

Opportunities
1. Development of a Review Board for Academic Doctoral Programs using the doctoral competencies developed by Academy members (Thombs et al.). This review may lead to a type of accreditation or Academy Seal of Approval.
2. Further publications of the competencies and research ethics will help establish the Academy’s role in promoting advancements in research.

Threats
1. There is a need to foster the professional development of young scholars so they will become the new leaders of the Academy.
2. Additional funding would help solidify the funding base. September 10-11, 2006 At the 2006 Midyear Board Meeting it was decided that Goal H that focuses on fostering the research career of young scholars would be formally added to the strategic plan and the revised plan would be reviewed by the Board and then the membership for full approval.