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HITEC
Program
Start-Up

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What is HITEC?

HITEC stands for Health Improvement through Employee Control. The program was created by a team of researchers from UConn and UMass Lowell on the foundation of a National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Total Worker Health® (TWH) participatory approach to support CT DOC workers health, safety and well-being. The HITEC evidenced-based program was introduced to CT DOC in 2006. It is a collaboration between CT DOC administration, UConn, correction staff and their bargaining units. HITEC is currently supported by the State of Connecticut.

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Workers participate in creating solutions in their workplaces, based on their first hand knowledge of the problems and areas that need improvements. Personal and organizational health are considered as front-line staff and administrative leaders work together towards new solutions to improve work life quality, health, safety and well-being. The focus of past CT DOC Design Teams has been on workforce issues related to mental health, stress, nutrition, sleep, work-family conflict and fitness.

HITEC Design Teamsare working togetherto improve the livesof frontlinecorrections staff.

What are Design Teams?

A Design Team consists typically of 8-10 front-line staff who identify and design interventions and agree to attend regular meetings. They may meet two hours every 2 to 4 weeks.

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How does this work and what are the roles of the staff?
 

  • A Design Team (DT) provides a forum for dedicated workers to identify problems within the workplace and propose solutions without concern of how managers will perceive an idea in progress. Staff may be less likely to discuss potentially controversial ideas in the presence of managers, even if addressing controversial ideas could provide a great deal of benefit. The Design Team provides a safe place to discuss solutions among workers/front-line staff.
     

A Facilitator(s) is a design team member trained to provide team coordination, to assist with the intervention design process and to communicate with the liaison(s). There may be more than one facilitator on a DT. Facilitators are trained by HITEC to encourage positive group dynamic, by using techniques to promote team cohesion, shared purpose, trust, and inclusion. Facilitator(s) are trained to be open and objectively neutral within the DT and to be DT advocates with administrators and peer workforce. They help to guide the IDEAS tool process from Steps 1 – 5. Receiving guidance from a UConn Advisor on the IDEAS Steps focusing on building the business case, they represent the DT when presenting solutions to the Facility Steering Committee.
 

  • A Facility Steering Committee (FSC) represents the workers perspective and works with Design Teams to select and refine intervention proposals. When an intervention is approved for implementation, the FSC organizes resources (staffing, budgets, policies, etc.) and provides oversight. The FSC are represented by Wardens, Deputy Wardens, and other Supervisors who express interest in staff well-being.

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  • A Liaison(s) is available daily and can make basic decisions on behalf of the FSC to accomplish simple things. They may help set up meeting space and provide basic materials, such as access to a computer and printer for the DT and support implementation and evaluation of workplace interventions, as requested by the DT. Captains, Lieutenants, and Supervisors are the likely candidates.
     

  • The Executive Steering Team (EST) from top agency administration provides oversight and tracks progress of all FSCs and DTs operating within the agency. They make decisions on staffing, budgeting, policies, etc., at a higher operational level than the FSC.

How are these teams and committees formed?

 

The Facility Steering Committee coordinates the recruitment of Facilitators and Design Team members. Selection consists of 8-10 front-line staff for the Design Team. Preferably, the bargaining unit leadership and facility administration will collaborate in the initial DT member selection. Once established, the DT should be involved in the collaboration to select new members.
 

  • Design Team members should be chosen based on:

  • Their commitment to health, safety and well-being of workers

  • Their ability to become a leader, the level of respect shown by their peers and co-workers, and the ability to represent other workers

  • Showing a willingness to collaborate and to volunteer

  • Seeing HITEC as a learning opportunity
     

  • Suggestions for identifying a Design Team member through outreach include:

  • Organizing an Open House at a facility. Staff can meet/talk with DT members from other teams to gather information.

  • Selecting one or two core members who can then select others who share their motivation and enthusiasm.

  • Distributing and posting flyers in facilities

  • Engaging bargaining unit leadership

  • Arranging post-to-post outreach to individual candidates who best represent the workers
     

Recap of steps to forming a facility Design Team

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  • Find Design Team participants. 8-10 front-line workers

  • Select candidates within the Design Team to become the team Facilitator(s). 2 workers

  • Assign one or two Liaisons

  • Set-up the Facilitator Trainings (UConn Advisors or the Training Academy at CT DOC)

  • Confirm Facility Steering Committee member roster

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