Background:

In 2024, North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NC DAC) issued two requests focused on strengthening staff engagement, retention, and wellness. The first request centered on reviewing and assessing NC DAC’s workforce engagement and retention evaluation methods, identifying opportunities for improvement, and incorporating evidence-informed best practices. The second request focused on conducting a staff wellness needs assessment to better understand the needs of staff participating in the SHIELD program. In response, the HILS team partnered with NC DAC to (1) conduct a literature review identifying methods for measuring adult corrections staff members’ support needs and factors impacting retention (2) conduct a survey of state correctional agencies, (3) identify cross-cutting practices for assessing workforce development, engagement, and retention, and (4) conduct a survey exploring staff wellness, service needs, and factors that would impact service engagement.

Aims:

• Collaboratively review, inventory, and revise the assessment methods used by NC DAC’s Office of Employee Engagement

• Provide ongoing consultation to the Office of Employee Engagement as new assessment methods are being implemented and data are analyzed

• Co-design a relevant and feasible needs assessment with and for the SHIELD program

• Conduct a needs assessment with and for the SHIELD program and present deliverables

Principal Investigator:

Tonya Van Deinse