Partnership for Public Service
Member of the Federal Workforce team in Washington, D.C. Supporting SAMHSA's organizational improvement through focus group research, engagement analysis, and evidence-based intervention design.
Making government work better.
The Partnership for Public Service, founded in 2001 by Samuel J. Heyman with a $25 million endowment, is the leading nonpartisan organization dedicated to making the federal government more effective. It produces the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government rankings, administers the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals (the “Sammies”), and runs the Center for Presidential Transition.
As a member of the Federal Workforce team through the Future Leaders program, Evan produced focus group transcripts and engagement analyses for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) improvement initiative — part of the Agency Leadership Program that helps federal agencies diagnose and address organizational health challenges.
The Future Leaders program provides 10-12 week paid internships (approximately $6,500 plus a $5,500 housing stipend) placing emerging leaders in federal agencies and supporting organizations. It is designed to build the next generation of public servants by providing hands-on experience in federal policy and operations.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
SAMHSA is a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services charged with reducing the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on American communities. The agency administers the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the Disaster Distress Helpline, and the SAMHSA Treatment Locator, among other national programs.
Why Engagement Matters
Federal employee engagement directly impacts mission delivery. Agencies with higher engagement scores show better outcomes in service delivery, innovation, cost-effectiveness, and employee retention. For an agency like SAMHSA, whose work touches millions of Americans in crisis, organizational health is not an abstraction — it determines whether help reaches people who need it.
Engagement scores doubled.
SAMHSA's employee engagement scores improved across every measured category during the Partnership's collaboration. The overall score rose from approximately 37 to 74 — a transformation that placed SAMHSA among the most improved agencies in the federal government.
The work behind the numbers.
Focus Group Research
Produced detailed transcripts and thematic analyses from SAMHSA employee focus groups. Captured candid feedback on workplace culture, leadership effectiveness, communication breakdowns, and barriers to mission delivery. These transcripts formed the evidentiary basis for the improvement recommendations.
Employee Engagement Analysis
Analyzed Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) data to identify SAMHSA-specific trends against government-wide benchmarks. Mapped engagement drivers and detractors across divisions, leadership levels, and demographic groups to prioritize interventions.
Agency Leadership Program
Contributed to the Partnership's Agency Leadership Program — a structured initiative that embeds consultants within federal agencies to diagnose organizational health issues and implement evidence-based improvement strategies in collaboration with senior leaders.
Best Places to Work Rankings
Work supported the broader Best Places to Work in the Federal Government initiative, which ranks over 400 federal organizations based on employee engagement data. SAMHSA's improvement was among the most significant score increases tracked during this period.
Five months in Washington.
Program Start
Joined the Partnership's Federal Workforce team in Washington, D.C. as part of the Future Leaders program. Assigned to the SAMHSA engagement improvement initiative.
Focus Group Facilitation
Began producing and transcribing employee focus groups across SAMHSA divisions. Developed thematic coding framework to systematically categorize employee feedback.
Data Analysis & Reporting
Analyzed FEVS data and focus group findings. Prepared summary reports for SAMHSA leadership and the Partnership's consulting team to inform intervention design.
Recommendation Development
Contributed to the development of improvement recommendations targeting leadership communication, professional development, and work-life balance policies.
Program Conclusion
Completed the program. SAMHSA engagement scores would rise from approximately 37 to 74 during the broader Partnership collaboration — one of the most significant improvements in federal government rankings.
The federal workforce serves 330 million Americans. When agencies work better, people get better outcomes — whether that means faster disability claims, more effective disaster response, or more accessible mental health services. The Partnership for Public Service exists to make that improvement possible, and the work at SAMHSA demonstrated what happens when employee engagement is treated as a strategic priority rather than an afterthought.