A nonprofit focused on the federal workforce.
The Partnership for Public Service, founded in 2001 by Samuel J. Heyman with a $25 million endowment, is a nonpartisan nonprofit that works to make 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.3
I joined the Federal Workforce team and produced focus group transcripts and engagement analyses for a project with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The project was part of the Partnership's work with agency leaders to find and fix organizational problems.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
SAMHSA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services charged with reducing the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on American communities.4,7 The agency administers the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline until July 2022),5 the Disaster Distress Helpline, and the FindTreatment.gov treatment locator, among other national programs.4
Why Engagement Matters
Agencies with higher engagement scores tend to perform better and deliver better outcomes.8 SAMHSA runs crisis lines and treatment programs, so how well the agency functions affects whether people get help.
Engagement scores doubled.
SAMHSA's Best Places to Work scores rose in every category shown between 2020 and 2022, the period of the Partnership's collaboration.1 The overall score rose from about 37 to 74, above the 2022 government-wide average.2
SAMHSA Best Places to Work scores, 2020 and 2022
Score out of 100, rounded. Every category shown improved.
- 2020 (before the collaboration)
- 2022 (after)
Source: Partnership for Public Service, Best Places to Work in the Federal Government (SAMHSA, 2020 and 2022).1
What I worked on.
Focus Group Research
Produced transcripts and thematic analyses from SAMHSA employee focus groups, covering workplace culture, leadership, communication problems, and obstacles to getting the agency's work done. The improvement recommendations were based on these transcripts.
Employee Engagement Analysis
Compared SAMHSA's Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) results against government-wide benchmarks. Broke out what raised and lowered engagement by division, leadership level, and demographic group so the team could decide where to start.
Agency Leadership Work
Worked within the Partnership's work with agency leaders, in which its consultants help federal agencies find organizational problems and fix them with senior leaders.
Five months in Washington.
Program Start
Joined the Partnership's Federal Workforce team in Washington, D.C. and was assigned to the SAMHSA engagement project, which had started in August 2021.2
Focus Group Facilitation
Started producing and transcribing employee focus groups across SAMHSA divisions. Built a thematic coding framework to sort employee feedback.
Data Analysis & Reporting
Analyzed FEVS data and focus group findings. Wrote summary reports for SAMHSA leadership and the Partnership's consulting team.
Recommendation Development
Helped write recommendations on leadership communication, professional development, and work-life balance policies.
Program Conclusion
Finished the program. Over the full Partnership collaboration, SAMHSA's Best Places to Work score rose from about 37 in 2020 to 74 in 2022.1
Working on the SAMHSA project showed me how much an agency's internal health affects the services it delivers to the public.
Sources
- 1Ranking Detail: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration · Partnership for Public Service, Best Places to Work in the Federal GovernmentSAMHSA scores, 2020 vs 2022: engagement 37.1 to 74.2; senior leaders 29.2 to 73.8; supervisors 72.2 to 85.0; pay and benefits 67.8 to 73.1.
- 2SAMHSA STRONG: Teaming up to transform the workplace · Partnership for Public ServicePartnership began August 2021; score doubled from about 37 to 74, surpassing the 2022 government-wide average.
- 3Partnership for Public Service · WikipediaFounded 2001 by Samuel J. Heyman with $25 million; Best Places to Work, Service to America Medals, Center for Presidential Transition.
- 4About Us · SAMHSAAgency within HHS; its helplines include the 988 Lifeline and Disaster Distress Helpline, and FindTreatment.gov.
- 5988: US to launch mental health and suicide prevention hotline · Al Jazeera, Jul 15, 2022National Suicide Prevention Lifeline moved to 988 on July 16, 2022.
- 6Biden Signs New Funding Bill, Boosting Money for Mental Health · MindSite News, Mar 15, 2022SAMHSA funded at $6.5 billion in FY 2022.
- 7Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration · USAFactsAbout 527 civilian federal employees (May 2026).
- 8About · Partnership for Public Service, Best Places to Work in the Federal GovernmentRankings based on OPM's Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey; "increased employee engagement leads to better performance and outcomes."
- 9The Best Places to Work in the Federal Government: 2021 rankings overview · Partnership for Public Service and Boston Consulting Group, Jul 20222021 rankings include 503 federal agencies and subcomponents.