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Results from TJJD Staff Survey on Enhancing Staff Support and Supportive Work Environments

AUSTIN, Texas – The Supporting Staff Workgroup, a subgroup of the Youth in Custody Practice Model (YICPM)*, conducted an assessment to identify ways that agency leadership may better support the needs of staff. TJJD seeks to recognize staff as the agency’s most valuable resource, establish systems of support for mental and physical wellness, and develop a highly-qualified workforce to ensure employees are fully prepared to meet the challenges of their positions through training, building safe and supportive environments and avenues for responsive communication. This was this first quarterly survey sent to staff.

Some of the outcomes of the survey are noted in the infographic on the following page. The Supporting Staff Workgroup has used information contained in the survey results to strategically plan how TJJD can enhance systems of support for staff and the workgroup anticipates providing staff with a regular update on measures taken as a result of these results.

The first survey focused primarily on job stressors. Future surveys will focus on efforts for staff recognition that would be most meaningful; whether or not pre-service training adequately prepares staff; and how supervision could be enhanced and identifying key characteristics of an ideal supervisor. The workgroup has identified many areas that we will ultimately seek staff input on.

The workgroup appreciates those individuals who responded to survey and hope to achieve an even greater response as the surveys become more routine to allow staff to have additional input. The ultimate goal is for all staff to know that their voice is heard and to improve overall employee satisfaction.

* YICPM is an initiative that began in Spring 2016. TJJD continues to make advances to align the agency’s every day practices to core, research-based principles of best practices in four key areas to include: case planning, transition planning, communitybased services and facility-based services (e.g. education, behavioral health, behavior management, rehabilitative programming). The agency will continue to develop customized action plans to implement desired policy and practice improvements and achieve measurable objectives.

For more information, please contact Kristy Almager at 512.490.7125 or Kristy.Almager@tjjd.texas.gov or Chris Ellison at 512.490.7245 or Chris.Ellison@tjjd.texas.gov.

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