Principal Investigator: Alicia Kurowski, Sc.D.

Research Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, UMass Lowell

Project Period: 2021-2026

SHIFT II is a large and multi-phase participatory research study addressing the health safety, and wellbeing of these health care workers. Our overall objective is to evaluate and compare two new strategies for implementing an integrated Total Worker HealthĀ® approach. Both of them use our signature Total Worker Health (TWH) intervention program, the Healthy Workplace Participatory Program (HWPP), which teaches workers to use root cause analysis for identifying problems and generating solutions. Its application in public healthcare facilities in the SHIFT I study will be extended in SHIFT II to compare two very different strategies.

  1. The HWPP will be tailored to conditions within a current study site, a large Massachusetts Department of Mental Health facility. Current worker participants have designed the expansion to cover a broader scope of jobs and departments while remaining feasible within current circumstances. The project also includes a study of the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and well-being of workers.
  2. Researchers will develop and implement a Train-the-Trainer program for the staff of healthcare unions and worker associations in Massachusetts and Connecticut. The goal is to build a long-term, sustainable health and safety leadership and advocacy within these organizations, specifically designed for effectively engaging with management while teaching members concrete problem-solving skills

Healthy Workplace Participatory Program for Unions and Worker Organizations (HWPP-U) ManualĀ 

The HWPP-U Manual was developed for the "Building TWH Leaders in Unions and Worker Organizations Train-the-Trainer" course. It provides step-by-step procedures for union workers and their advocates to lead a worker-centered design process. The HWPP-U Manual is designed to encourage communication, mutual learning, and a shared commitment to worker safety, health, and well-being.