Effective and healthy organizations have long recognized the conventional wisdom that “the people make the place;” in other words, if we do not take care of our people, they cannot take care of our organizations or the animals. The Shelter Diagnostic System (SDS) attempts to capitalize on this wisdom.

Created through an ongoing partnership between the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) and The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the SDS is an assessment tool designed to help private and public animal shelters run better by surveying employees and making specific recommendations based on the results. The SDS does not evaluate all aspects of an organization (such as standard operating procedures or policies) but rather analyzes employee attitudes, perceptions, and opinions on key issues related to organizational health and well-being. Topics such as

The SDS was developed using data collected from animal shelter staff across the country by a team of professors now at the UNCC. These researchers have been investigating workplace issues among shelter employees since 2001. The SDS combines current information from this research and practical experience from the sheltering field with extensive knowledge from the field of industrial-organizational psychology, which focuses on workplace health and effectiveness.

The SDS is designed with the busy shelter environment in mind. The process starts with an initial phone conversation that will help us determine if the SDS is right for your organization. Once your organization has been found to be a good fit, your shelter employees will be asked to complete a brief survey.

Researchers will use the survey results to generate a report defining areas of strength and potential growth areas at the shelter. This report will prioritize action steps for the areas identified as most in need of attention by the SDS system. A feedback guide will help shelter managers implement these action steps and will include specific suggestions that other organizations have found effective including a PowerPoint presentation for disseminating findings to staff.

A trained professional from UNC Charlotte will deliver the results to you, provide a brief presentation of the findings, and provide suggestions on ways to implement changes in your organization.

Step 1

• The process starts with an initial phone call to discuss your organization.
• You will provide input into your index groups - - how you would like your data reported (e.g. by department, by location).

Step 2

• The survey link is emailed to you (a postage survey option is available).
• We will send you information on how to administer the survey and communicate with your employees throughout the process.
• Online survey administration usually lasts between 1 to 2 weeks. With the online survey option, employees may complete the survey from the convenience of any computer at any time during survey administration.

Step 3

• The survey results will be used to generate a summary report, which you can study to identify what your organization is doing well and where improvements can be made.
• You will receive a feedback guide that will assist you in determining specific actions to improve your organization.
• Typically, the data report from the online survey is delivered within 3 weeks after survey administration.

Step 4

• Two options are available for the delivery of your results. A trained professional from UNC Charlotte will visit your shelter or your shelter can visit us at UNC Charlotte. We then deliver the results, provide suggestions for implementation, and answer any questions you may have.

The SDS is designed for shelters with at least 10 part-time or full-time employees; this minimum number has been established to help protect the anonymity of respondents. The SDS can be used in any public or private animal welfare organization or animal control agency. Employees at all levels of the organization—including the leadership team —are encouraged to participate; however, the program is not designed for volunteers.

Confidentiality is assured with the SDS program. No other participant or organization will see your organization’s data or results. The privacy of our clients will be fully respected. At no time will your data or results be seen by anyone (including The HSUS) outside the University research team.