Abstract
The workforce is the essential driver behind mental health service provision and the most valuable asset to any community mental health organization. To build and retain a stable and healthy workforce, systematic recruitment and retention strategies are needed. An organizational health assessment is a valuable tool in developing targeted organizational interventions to create a positive work environment and retain an engaged workforce. Starting in 2017, a large community mental health organization in Southern California implemented such an assessment to drive actionable steps to improve employee experience and decrease turnover. This case study describes the development and implementation of a low-cost organizational health assessment through five phases: development of the assessment, data collection, analysis, metrics and data visualization, and dissemination of findings and development of interventions. Key lessons learned include the importance of utilizing the findings and achieving staff and leadership buy-in.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the community mental health service providers for their dedication to the field and openness to scientific inquiry. Moreover, thank you to the executive management for being invested in the well-being of both employees and consumers.
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All authors certify their responsibility for the manuscript. All authors contributed to the case study conception and design. The first draft of the manuscript was written by all authors and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Lee, S., Pasquarella, F.J., De La Peza, D. et al. Planning and Implementing an Organizational Health Assessment in a Community Mental Health Setting. Community Ment Health J 59, 693–702 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-022-01052-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-022-01052-3