Author: Ashley Thornton
For nearly a decade, NCDAC has offered one-on-one and group peer support services to employees in an effort to help staff be at their best.
This year, the S.H.I.E.L.D. team has transformed services and service provision to provide improved, confidential mental health counseling, peer support, and outreach services to all NCDAC employees. S.H.I.E.L.D. is an acronym that stands for “support, hope, inclusion, empowerment, loyalty and dedication.”
S.H.I.E.L.D., directed by Charla Suggs, is made up of two support units within the same program, one focuses on peer support while the other focuses on clinical support. The peer support unit has full-time peer support managers, peer counselors and almost 200 adjunct peer support team members across the state. The behavioral support unit is staffed by full-time clinicians, clinical services managers, and clinical interns. Together with the administrative team, these units make up S.H.I.E.L.D.’s 20 full-time employees.
Accessible, confidential services available to all Team NCDAC
S.H.I.E.L.D. prides itself on how service accessibility. Offering an access line that is available Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m., a general email mailbox and an online referral form for yourself or coworker, there is “no wrong way to access S.H.I.E.L.D.” Employees are also welcome to contact members of S.H.I.E.L.D. directly and they will work with you to help get you the services you need.
In most cases S.H.I.E.L.D. offers same day or next day triage appointments.
“One of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s tag lines is no matter where you work or how you serve, S.H.I.E.L.D. is here for you” says Suggs. Indeed, the team has made it as easy as possible for employees to connect with services, whether that’s peer support, clinical/behavioral support or even if someone is not yet sure what they need.
If an employee needs urgent after hours mental health care, the access line can connect the person to the North Carolina Employee Assistance Program that offers immediate mental health care.
S.H.I.E.L.D. uses several strategies to help assist employees, offering clinical mental health services through individual therapy and group therapy.
“S.H.I.E.L.D. exists to support the personal and professional wellbeing of the NCDAC workforce though peer and behavioral support services so that employees can be the best version of themselves at home and while on the job,” says Suggs. “We practice from a holistic standpoint meaning we treat the entire individual with a combination of services to heal the mind, body and spirit.”
Responding to the Charlotte Tragedies
Recently, S.H.I.E.L.D. found its services needed more than ever as the agency grappled with the tragic deaths of task force officers Sam Poloche and Alden Elliot in Charlotte. The day of the tragedy, S.H.I.E.L.D. was in Charlotte offering support to the bereaved families and NCDAC employees impacted by the shootings.
Suggs and her team saw the total amount of contacts between both support units soar to over 500 within a week.
“We spent a great deal of time in Charlotte, and in follow up of the incident we have extended therapeutic support, a compassionate ear and a connection to resources to all who were impacted by the tragedy, which has had a ripple effect on us all,” she says.
S.H.I.E.L.D. worked closely with the Poloche and Elliot families, leadership, and the SOIU team to coordinate the memorial services in recognition of our fallen officers, S.H.I.E.L.D. has visited every community supervision office in the state since April 29. The team is starting a second round of visits now.
To connect with S.H.I.E.L.D. call 855-774-4353 or click here.
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