Enhancing on-the-job performance of new Local Health Officials: Using the Survive and Thrive program 360 degree performance evaluation to develop future leaders in public health

The Survive and Thrive program was designed in response to a need for action-oriented programs that are tailored to train new Local Health Officials in developing and applying effective strategies and solutions to various local-level challenges. More specifically, the Survive and Thrive program was developed to increase the competence and skills of new Local Health Officials to maintain and succeed (“Survive and Thrive”) within the multi-faceted environment of local health practice. Consistent with other leadership and executive development programs, one of the critical components of the Survive and Thrive program is the use of a 360 Degree Performance Evaluation process. The Survive and Thrive 360 Degree Performance Evaluation was developed to assess critical behaviors and skills that new Local Health Officials would be expected to perform at their Local Health Departments. Based on feedback from subject matter experts, including representatives from Local Health Departments and Boards of Health, an evaluation was developed to be relevant and applicable across Local Health Departments nationwide. This presentation will detail the Survive and Thrive 360 Degree Performance Evaluation process, which is designed to enhance professional growth and development of new Local Health Officials and provide evidence of program impact across various communities and Local Health Departments. In addition, lessons learned and best practices will be discussed that address the benefits and challenges of a developing and implementing a tailored 360 Degree Performance Evaluation process across diverse Local Health Departments nationwide.