HEALTH PARTNERSHIPS DIVISION
GOOD GOALS AND SMART OBJECTIVES
Good Goals:

Include a broad, future-oriented statement that describes expected effect

Establish direction

Define scope

Provide a framework for objectives
Good Goals Checklist:
Concise – statement should be to the
point
Jargon-free – use plan language, no
acronyms
Framework for Objectives – objectives
need to fit within the scope of the goal
Specifies an expected effect - may be a population health
problem, health risk behavior or organizational challenge.
Easily Understood – Stakeholders should be familiar with
concepts written in the goal
Declarative Statement – simple, definitive statement.
SMART Objectives:

Include all components of SMART objectives

Relate to a single result

Are clearly written
SMART Objectives Checklist:
Specific – the “who” and the “what.” Who will execute the action? Who or what are you intending to
impact?
Measurable – A measure shows success or impact over time. How much will your measure change, and in
what direction? What data will you use to show change and how will it prove that change occurred?
Achievable – How this will we accomplished? How will you objective be achieved and contribute to your
goal? Is it within reach, given your available resources, knowledge and time?
Relevant – Why is this relevant? Does this objective work towards your goal? Is it meaningful to
stakeholders? Who cares if you do or do not work towards this objective?
Time-bound – Is your timeframe realistic? Too short of a time frame can prevent success, too long can
encourage procrastination.
Example Sentence Structures for Objectives
[Who] will do [what] resulting in [measure] by [when].
By [when], [who] will do [what] resulting in [measure].
By [when], [measure - includes who and what].
[Measure – includes who and what] by [when].
1|Page
Updated 1/21/2016
HEALTH PARTNERSHIPS DIVISION
Terminology
Goal – Aspirational statement about what you want to achieve. Should be measurable, but does not need to
have the means to measure it embedded in the statement.
Objective – Describes how to meet your goal using SMART criteria. Breaks down the goal statement into
manageable parts. Lays out the high-level plan for how you’ll know if you’re making progress towards your
goal. A goal may have several objectives.
Measure – The number, percent or some standard unit used to illustrate success or impact over time.
Target - The desired level of performance you want to see that represents success.
References and Resources:

MDH QI Toolbox - SMART objectives:
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/opi/qi/toolbox/objectives.html

MDH Webinar – Monitoring and Revising your CHIP:
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/opi/cd/training/events/2015/11_chipmonitoring.html

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services SMART Objective Editor:
http://dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/Pages/minorityhealth_smartedit.aspx

CDC Evaluation TA Brief – Goals and Objectives:
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/evaluation/pdf/brief3.pdf

CHIP Collaborative Handbook from the Kansas Health Institute:
http://nnphi.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/CHIPCollaborativeHandbook2014.pdf

Developing Goals, Objectives and Performance Indicators for Community Health Improvement
Plans (NACCHO):
http://www.naccho.org/topics/infrastructure/CHAIP/upload/NACCHO_GoalsandObjectives_05-0912Final-Slides.pdf
This document is intended to accompany the Minnesota Department of Health’s Good Goals and SMART
Objectives Webinar, and is not intended as a stand-alone guide. The information in this document is
intended to broadly apply to public health assessment and planning, and does not elaborate on specific
considerations for objectives in different types of plans.
MDH’s Good Goals and SMART Objectives webinar is located here:
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/opi/cd/training/events/2016/01_goals-objectives.html
2|Page
Updated 1/21/2016