The Best Behaviors of Leaders
At RDA, we stand committed to developing leadership from within the organization and insuring that leadership is shared to create what Craig Pierce describes as the “dynamic, interactive influence necessary to achieve organizational goals.”
Changing Organizational Culture
Organizational culture is the embodied values, principles, and practices underlying the social fabric of a business, agency, or any organization. Culture permeates our actions and connects stakeholders to each other and to the organization’s purpose, people, and processes. Positive and high functioning organizational cultures promote caring, inclusiveness, trust, and effective communication among all team members and stakeholders.
A Civil Society
In 1996, I was fortunate to travel to the Czech Republic with a small group of professors and graduate students. We were guests of Charles University, which arranged for us to meet with a wide variety of NGOs and local government officials in our capacity as organizational development professionals. Only now do I begin to recognize the significance of what I was observing.
Measuring Justice System Effectiveness: Looking Beyond Recidivism
By Ardavan Davaran, Ph.D. Recidivism is considered by probation and parole systems to be the primary measure of their own effectiveness, as well as the effectiveness of reentry services, which can include services such as mental health, substance use, employment, education, and housing, among others. However, justice reform scholars and reformists Jeffrey A. Butts and…
Organizational Culture
Every organization has a culture. Peter Drucker, considered the father of the field of organizational development, once said, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” In other words, culture is much more powerful than the best laid strategy in achieving organizational success.
Collaborative Approach to Children’s Mental Health
By John Cervetto, M.S.W. In 2011, the passage of California Assembly Bill 114 realigned the responsibility of providing Education Related Mental Health Services from county mental health departments to Local Education Agencies. While this bill recognized the importance of local control of special education funds by school districts, the realignment of funds has resulted in…
Creating Resilient Organizations
I have always been fascinated with the parallels between understanding human beings and describing the complexity of organizations, and how like in people, we can foster healthy organizations through mindfulness. A mindful organization is one that adopts cultural norms that promote positive communication practices in groups, between individuals, and especially during times of conflict.
Opportunities to Advance California’s Public Mental Health Workforce
By Kevin Wu, M.P.H. California’s public mental health system (PMHS) is the largest in the Country, and its foundation is the PMHS workforce, which strives to provide high quality services that meet the needs of consumers. In 2016-17, the Office of Statewide Planning and Development (OSHPD) sought to better understand the future of PMHS workforce…
Looking Beyond Perfection
A good leader believes in the potential of others and supports efforts to reach their goals. As we strive to meet those goals, we often stumble and make mistakes. This is true of every person at all levels of an organization.
Los Angeles Times Highlights RDA Probation Report
This morning’s Los Angeles Times featured an editorial underlining the importance of a recent report, released by RDA, that provides a thorough examination of the Los Angeles County Probation Department. The report, LA Probation Governance Study, which came before the County Board of Supervisors today, is the end result of RDA’s review and evaluation of the Probation Department’s organizational structure and the logistics of changing that structure.
Upcoming Conference in Oakland Focuses on How Research Can Improve Justice Policy and Practice
In just over six weeks, leaders in justice research from across California will be in Oakland to discuss the latest criminal justice research and new evidence-based practices. On March 22 and 23, the Association for Criminal Justice Research – California (ACJRCA) will host its semi-annual Spring Conference, Research to Improve Justice Policy & Practice.
Taking a Systems Perspective
People who depend on public services often have to interact with multiple systems and many different people who work in those systems. When public systems work together effectively, there is an opportunity to leverage resources and help ensure better outcomes for individuals and families.
A Framework for Ethical Decision-Making amid Limited Public Resources
Government agencies must consistently manage limited resources and competing stakeholder priorities. Given the high levels of need and the reliance that so many have on public services, managing resources can often require tough decisions. How do public systems make these decisions ethically without exacerbating needs among certain populations?
Happy New Year From RDA
The New Year encourages us to look back at the past year and reminisce about all we’ve done. I will break with that tradition and begin by telling you about what RDA is planning to do in 2018.
Navigating Organizational Change
We all know how hard it is for us human beings to change. Our brains are hardwired to experience change as a threat to which we automatically respond with a flight or fight response. So it should be no surprise that when we try and change the ways in which an organization operates, we often experience a negative reaction.