In the ever-changing field of human services, agencies collaborate with new partners, create new programs, manage new people and systems--all while staying focused on the needs of vulnerable children, adults and families.

Through professional services The Center supports agencies in meeting new challenges, improving service delivery and achieving high performance.

Addressing a range of issues

Through years of work with agencies, The Center has developed expertise in a number of areas

• performance improvement
• strategic planning
• employee retention
• succession planning
• organizational assessment and diagnosis
• problem solving
• conflict resolution
• customer service improvement
• work process improvement

Center consultants bring to these efforts best practices in the public and private sectors. To help ensure the success of a change effort, they work closely with agencies to assess needs, plan and evaluate actions taken.

Drawing on knowledge of and experience in human services, Center consultants use a variety of organizational development approaches. These tools help agencies bring people together, build high performance organizations and develop more effective services.

Responding to each agency's needs

In all professional services, The Center responds to the unique circumstances of an agency.

Center consultants and staff work within the agency's structure, systems and culture. They take into account local values and resources, and consider characteristics of the community and client population.

Leadership development

Through assessment and coaching, The Center works closely with agencies to improve and promote the kind of expansive thinking and personal change necessary to move organizations in new directions.

As with other Center programs, The Leadership Development Program can be customized to the needs of sponsoring agencies. The following courses are currently offered

• Leadership Assessment
• Management Team Development
• Coaching for Executives, Managers or Supervisors
• Succession Planning

Organizational development and change

In consultation with agencies, The Center works to improve and develop professional services which may include developing new services, building new partnerships, setting agency direction, improving work processes and identifying training needs. The program helps agencies generate broad involvement in and support for change, develop specific plans for change, and create strategies for increasing customer service and satisfaction.

Programs include

• Strategic Planning
• Process Improvement
• Customer Service Assessment

Applied research

The Center's association with the University of California offers agencies access to one of the best research and higher education systems in the world. As a public institution, the University of California has a special charge to provide public service.

A variety of academic programs on the UC Davis campus address issues and concerns relevant to human services agencies. Faculty with expertise in human, community and economic development share agency interests in child welfare, health, housing, human resources, nonprofit organizations and labor markets. Schools of medicine, management and law offer a variety of resources related to clinical matters, public sector management and legal issues and processes.

The combination of The Center's action orientation, the university's service mission and the depth of faculty knowledge offers agencies a rich resource for a broad range of activities

• applied research on issues ranging from organizational functioning to the impact of policy changes on clients and communities
• exploring options for program redesign
• developing new models of public-private collaboration
• strengthening community resources in both urban and rural areas
• alternative dispute resolution
• expanding and updating the knowledge and skills of practitioners