FOCUS

                              Mission: Focus is dedicated to enhancing the knowledge and skills of

                              Mississippi’s future leaders today.

                                    Focus is an accelerated leadership program designed for the Mississippi Department

                                    of Mental Health (DMH) to develop leaders from within.  The overall goal of Focus

                                    is to have the right people, with the right skills,  at the right time.  There is a critical

                                    need to develop a pipeline of leaders in DMH to create bench strength with depth.

                                    Focus is designed for  people who want to hone their leadership skills to a higher level.

                             Key components of FOCUS

•  Competitive blind selection of participants

 

•  Approximately 30 participants in each group

 

•  Time frame of 18 months

 

•  Quarterly three day and overnight retreats

 

•  Additional trainings:
  • Meyers Briggs
  • Legislature and Mississippi History
  • Knowledge Transfer

   

•  Individualized professional coaching sessions and feedback

 

•  Comprehensive career assessment

 

•  Community Service Projects

 

•  Outside reading assignments for professional development

 

•  Networking with DMH leadership

 

•  Formal Mentoring Program

 

Several things that FOCUS is NOT about.

1. Participation in Focus does not insure a promotion.
2. Participants in Focus will NOT receive a benchmark.

         

          There are currently plans to start a Focus IV in the Fall of 2009.

          During tough economic times studies show that workforce development

          is critical to help improve the knowledge and skills of your current staff

          and also to increase morale.  At DMH we want to retain our qualified

          and dedicated staff to help better serve our individuals.  One of the

          best ways is to offer training programs designed to broaden their individual

          skills that can be applied to their daily activities both at work and their

          community.

          Please contact Cary Walt at 601-359-1288  or send an email to

          focus@dmh.state.ms.us for more information.

 

                                        Click on the following for more information

                                        Focus I                                  Focus II                                 Focus III

                                        August 2007                          January 2008                        September 2008

                                        Graduated June 15, 2008     Graduated June 13, 2009    Graduated July 31, 2009

                                         Frequently asked questions and answers

                                         Schedule of  events

                                         Community Service Projects

                                         News Article