One of many external STEP leadership-development instructors, David W. Key, Sr., speaks on change management.

To prepare, develop and educate public health employees to be effective and dynamic supervisors, managers and leaders anywhere, Northwest Georgia Public Health launched the Supervisor Training and Education Program (STEP) in 2008.

Four years later, participation in the unique, competency-based program has become an eagerly sought after job benefit in the 10-county health district.

"Participants are nominated by their supervisor or a workplace peer who sees their leadership potential," says Northwest Georgia Public Health Chief Learning Officer, Nichole Harrison, who developed the program and continues to lead and nurture it. "Getting in STEP has become very competitive among our employees."  

Harrison says she was motivated and challenged to develop the program, which consists of a series of monthly, day-long courses spread over 18 months, because "there was nothing with a dual focus on public health and leadership this extensive and comprehensive readily available. We had no formal training programs available for our employees other than out-of-the box programs."

"STEP is tailored to who we are, what we do, our field  --  public health" Harrison says. "It's not just generalized leadership training, but is specifically designed to identify, cultivate and, most importantly, retain leaders in our field." Harrison developed the program based on public health competencies identified in the Public Health Competency Handbook, The Career Place, University of California at Berkley, and JGN Consulting.  

"We use an algorithm method to tailor and fine tune the program to give our employees the specific training they need instead of relying on canned programs administered by rote year after year," Harrison says. "We try to identify and focus on the needs of each particular class at each particular moment," she emphasizes.      

Harrison updates the program and its competency goals each year based on what's happening in the fields of leadership and, of course, public health. "We added webcasting competency to the program a year or so ago," Harrison says, "and this year were using Ted Talks® as a source for leadership topics."  
 
Over the course of the 18-month program, enrollees receive training from both in-house and external experts in all areas of supervision and leadership. Interspersed with planned trainings, STEP also offers supervisor opportunities to discuss topics of interest. Some STEP sessions are used as support meetings where participants can network, brainstorm and/or share best practices with others.  

"We train participants on our policies, of course," says Harrison, "but we also include training on such leadership components as emotional intelligence and change management. We even conduct Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessments to help each participant understand his or her personality type." Harrison says this knowledge is very useful in self-awareness, interpersonal interactions and building effective teams.      

Most recent Northwest Georgia Public Health STEP graduates (second class): Kneeling (l-r): Leighann Gaines (Polk environmental); Stacy Henderson (Catoosa clinical) Standing (l-r):  Dena Arp (Haralson clinical); Jamie Youngblood (district CWSN/BCW coordinator); Tyra Yarbrough (Walker clinical); Melissa Atkins (district epi); Clay Tracy (Walker environmental); Jill Crump (CCSP); Hilda Mason (district WIC interpretor); Wendy Stephenson (district billing); Kesha Henson (Bartow clinical); Jackie Hovatter (Bartow clinical); Nicholle Harrison district Chief Learning Officer); James Majors (Paulding environmental); Jill Van Dyke (Catoosa environmental).

STEP participants are matched up with a mentor who is identified as a current leader in the district. The mentor-mentee relationship in STEP functions as somewhat of a big brother/sister relationship.  Mentors share experiences and lessons learned with their mentees and have the option of doing some coaching and development work with participants. There's even a mentor-training program; mentors meet quarterly to participate and identify training needs they and their mentees currently have.      

Harrison believes one of the many benefits of STEP is the opportunity for employees to work with and get to know others in the district.  "It's a chance for our rising stars to meet each other and enjoy the support of others in the district doing the same thing. Our supervisors understand the value of STEP and are encouraged to give program participants opportunities in the field to use their newfound leadership and supervisory skills."

Once the 18-month program is completed and a candidate has graduated, the training department performs level three and four evaluations to assess behavior and final results.  Harrison says the program is internally evaluated each year with STEP participants having input in that process.

STEP graduates receive a certificate signed by District Health Director C. Wade Sellers, M.D., M.P.H., to acknowledge the time and effort put forth by the employee. They also get a plaque and are recognized by their peers throughout the district as being leaders. More importantly, "they have received skills that go far beyond the walls of public health," Harrison says. "Of course, public health benefits, our organization benefits."  

"If we can teach our employees to lead here, they'll be leaders no matter where they are  --  their community, their home  --  and they will be leaders with themselves as well as in the field of public health," Harrison says. Most Northwest Georgia Public Health STEP participants "go on to advance in the field of public health," according to Harrison, "but they all go on to be better leaders." 

Previous STEP graduates (first class) include Julie Pierce (Chattooga clinical); Chris Collier (Paulding environmental); Pamela Johnson (Polk clinical); Shelly Lewis (Catoosa clinical); Kelly McKelvey (Bartow clinical); Thomas Middlebrooks (Walker environmental); Brian Morgan (district Budget and Internal Control Compliance Officer); Marie Phillips (Gordon clinical); Melissa Sherman (Harlason environmental); Helen Judd (Floyd clinical); Kathy Smith (Catoosa WIC) and Lynn Tillman (Haralson clinical).    

Current STEP participants (third class) include:  Chris Chester (Bartow environmental); LaDonna Collins (district emergency preparedness); Kathy Couey-Miller (Polk environmental); Suzie Davis (Gordon WIC); Janet Eberhart (district Immunization Coordinator); Virginia Eubanks (CCSP); Helen Franks (Catoosa clinical); Carole Gooch (CCSP); Shane Hendrix (Gordon environmental); Tammy Lackey (Walker clinical); Jennifer Powers (Catoosa clinical); Regina Schultz (CCSP); Alison Watson (Floyd clinical); Tara Wheeler (Floyd environmental) and Lisa Whitfield (district WIC).  

Participant comments

"Leadership principles I learned in STEP as a mentee taught me to believe in myself and my abilities.  It also gave me the motivation I needed to take the necessary action steps to improve my physical health, personal finances, family life and organizational worth. Now as a STEP mentor, I cherish being able to give back and help cultivate our future leaders." -Brian Morgan, district budget and internal control compliance officer.  

"STEP helped me expand my professional skills and encouraged personal growth and development. STEP allows you to think creatively without the constraint of judgment and develops your ability to apply leadership skills that enhance and recognize your capabilities instead of focusing on performance ratings or negative feedback."  -Jill Van Dyke, Catoosa County Environmental Health

-Story by Logan Boss, PIO Northwest Georgia Public Health