The Human Services Academy

About the Program

Category: Personnel Management, Employment and Training (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

Many employees across the county have a vast array of qualities and attributes that are otherwise untapped by employers. Wake County is one employer who has realized this potential, and in response has initiated a program that attempts to educate and empower employees. The Human Services Academy created in 2007 is a virtual training model for staff development and training that maximizes the use of current staff’s skills, talents and experience to provide training. This innovative approach to staff training is cost effective and a good strategy for staff training at a time of budget reductions due to the current economic crisis. Another benefit is staff morale improvement and staff performance recognition reflected on the annual evaluation. The Academy faculty is comprised of 53 staff recruited from the agency at large and from the other county departments. The Academy uses a two prong approach to training. The first prong is designed to offer training opportunities and Life Coaching to clients to help them achieve self-sufficiency. The second prong is targeted to staff. Over 100 courses are offered including Life Coaching to equip staff to assist clients in achieving self- sufficiency. A sample of courses include The Culture of Poverty, Child Welfare, Healthy Life Styles, Ethics, Customer Service, Financial Literacy, Diffusing Angry Customer, Improving Communication Skills, Business Process Improvement, Management Training; also Myers Briggs, Program Consultation, Staff Retreat and Team Building, and Information Gathering Sessions. Over 12,000 registrations were processed FY 2008-20011.