36C24819R0207-002.pdf

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VA CORE VALUES AND CHARACTERISTICS

Because I CARE, I Will...

VA Core Values

Secretary’s Message

“…..it is critical that all of us at VA reaffirm our commitment to our mission and our values. Our commitment to serving Veterans must be unquestioned. Veterans must know that we are “all in” when it comes to accomplishing our mission and living by our values.

Therefore, I am directing that all Under Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries, or those acting in that capacity, report to me by Friday, August 22, via email or phone call, that they and their employees have reaffirmed their commitment to both our mission and our values….”

Secretary Robert A. McDonald

VA Core Values and Characteristics

No organization can succeed without values to match its mission.

Our mission, as the Department of Veterans Affairs, is to care for those “who shall have borne the battle” and for their families and survivors.

Our core values focus our minds on our mission of caring and thereby guide our actions toward service to others.

Much progress has been made across VA, and much more remains to be done

• Position VA to be the provider of choice for all Veterans

• Demonstrate how much we truly care about Veterans, through:

– Stewardship

– Responsiveness

– Quality

• Overcome negative perceptions

• In a changing world, Core Values provide an enduring description of our culture and how we care for Veterans

• Not new, just formalized– we live by them every day

• Relevant, meaningful and actionable for all VA employees–no matter where we work

Who We Are

Core Values also serve a bonding function across VA

• Unified in our mission:

– To fulfill President

Lincoln’s promise, “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.”

What We Stand For

VA Core Characteristics

Core Characteristics describe what we stand for, what we must be:

¨ Trustworthy

¨ Accessible

¨ Quality

¨ Innovative

¨ Agile

¨ Integrated

Every day, you demonstrate who we are and what we stand for

• Look for every opportunity to demonstrate our values in action

• Think, “I CARE, therefore I will…” in everything you do and everyone you encounter

• Recognize and celebrate I CARE behaviors when you see them in action

• Embrace our quest to achieve the characteristics that will continue VA’s transformation

• Consider ways our Core Values can further unify us all in our mission

Visit the I CARE Intranet site today:

vaww.va.gov/ICARE

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