DHS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

Presenter: Rosemary Calhoun

Presentation to: DHS Leadership

Date: July 16, 2014

Georgia Department of Human Services

Vision, Mission and Core ValuesVision Vision

Stronger Families for a Stronger Georgia.Stronger Families for a Stronger Georgia.

MissionMissionStrengthen Georgia by providing Individuals and Families access to services that promote self-sufficiency, independence, and protect Georgia's vulnerable children and adults.

Core ValuesCore Values• Provide access to resources that offer support and empower Georgians and their families. • Deliver services professionally and treat all clients with dignity and respect. Manage business

operations effectively and efficiently by aligning resources across the agency. • Promote accountability, transparency and quality in all services we deliver and programs we

administer. • Develop our employees at all levels of the agency.

The Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG) was asked to develop a training and development program to address the need for enhanced leadership, management, and supervisory skills in the Department of Human Services in an effort to align with and transition to Commissioner Horton’s vision and to build organizational capacity.

THE ACADEMY

The first Session started January 21, 2014 and participants who successfully completed the program graduated June 25, 2014.

The Leadership Academy consist of 9 days of in-person and group learning activities.

There were 26 students enrolled in the first session.

REQUIREMENTS

Commit to attend all sessions.

Completion of course assignments to include reading 5 current management books.

Identify a mentor and actively collaborate on personal leadership development.

Propose and prepare a team based organizational improvement project.

Each session will feature different topics. In support of the progressive nature of the course design and to reinforce learning, students will complete components of an Organizational Improvement Plan during the five intersessions periods and will present their plan in the final session

Participants will arrive at Sessions 2–5 with a revised version of the organizational improvement program component(s) that was submitted during the previous session. For Session 6, project teams are expected to arrive prepared to orally present their final organizational improvement project and submit a written version of it.

The CVIOG facilitator and participant peers will provide constructive, critical assessments of each plan presented.

THE SESSIONS

Project Name General Purpose Scope; Impact; Outcome

Successful Career Track Development

 

Establish comprehensive career tracks to strengthen succession opportunities 

Foster and strengthen the atmosphere of employee appreciation while subsequently encouraging employees to produce quality work towards intrinsic goals of exposure and recognition. 

Universal Intake 

Allow customers to apply for benefits at either a DFACS office or a Child Support office

Improve customer and field office efficiency and service by providing seem-less benefits to customers. Address technology constraints and offer multiple location common data interaction 

Rebranding the Image of DHS by Restoring Trust 

Restore trust in DHS and ultimately improve the internal and external image of DHS 

Address strategies for increasing the internal and external positive perception of DHS. 

The Mentorship Project   

Explore the benefits and needs of reestablishing a mentorship program in DHS 

The general belief is that mentoring is beneficial to staff; it provides an increased level of skill and knowledge, and increases retention. There is consistent interest throughout DHS Leadership Academy participants and field staff in the importance of a support system to ensure the appropriate skills and knowledge are acquired, which in turn will increase the likelihood of success.  

  Employee On-Boarding Program 

 Develop a comprehensive onboarding program for new DHS employees with an initial focus on the FICUM position

 A) Address turnover trends and the associated costs.B) Build and train a more competent cohesive workforce

BENEFITS AS DESCRIBED BY PARTICIPANTS

ACADEMY 2ND SESSION

GRADUATES OF THE FIRST SESSION

QUESTIONS