Winthrop University’s Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research, formerly known as the Social and Behavioral Research lab, will conduct three new surveys this year as part of two new state contracts totaling to $3.4 million.
The state contracts were originally with the University of South Carolina’s public opinion research center.
When USC found out their public opinion survey and research center was going to shut down, the Department of Health and Environmental Control, or DHEC, and the director of USC’s survey center contacted Scott Huffmon, founder and director of the Winthrop Poll, about the Winthrop Poll and the state contract opportunity.
Huffmon said the negotiation for the chance to be contracted with the state started last summer.
The new surveys will focus on improving health, health policies, children’s health and attitudes and behavior about tobacco use around the state.
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, or BRFSS, will be conducted monthly. BRFSS is a federally required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in every state and U.S. territory.
This survey asks South Carolinians about the status of their health and which choices they are making to stay healthy regarding drug use, exercise use and health insurance coverage. BRFSS is administered through the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
The Children’s Health Assessment Survey, or CHAS, surveys parents about their children’s health, wellbeing, and adverse experiences. Huffmon said this is a monthly survey specifically for South Carolina.
Respondents who are given the BRFSS will also be asked the CHAS. Both the BRFSS and CHAS surveys are under one contract.
The second contract covers the Adult Tobacco Survey, or ATS. ATS is a DHEC survey, however, it is funded by “tobacco settlement money,” Huffmon said. South Carolinians will be asked the ATS survey every other month.
With 12 additional surveys, the Winthrop Poll had to expand their call center from 25 calling stations to 54 calling stations.
The assistant director of CPOPR, Summersby Okey, said she is looking forward to see how the Winthrop Poll “will rise to the challenge.”
“I am also excited that we have the opportunity to get not only Winthrop students, but also community members, involved with these projects,” Okey said.
Huffmon said the Winthrop Poll has partnered with a Find Great People LLC, a local temp agency, to hire callers outside of Winthrop.
“Because it’s 12 months out of the year, we had to figure out a way to make sure we would be fully staffed all year. So, what Summersby has done is developed a relationship with a temp agency that is on state contract and other places,” Huffmon said.
The Winthrop Poll will now have about 120 callers year around. An increase in callers would allow the Winthrop Poll to reach their goal number of calls each day. Students can be hired through the university or through Find Great People.
All callers are trained in several areas, including survey methodology and trainings specific to each new survey. Callers are required to sign confidentiality waivers because of the content asked in each survey.
Okey said that she felt “overwhelmed” when she initially found out the Winthrop Poll was going to be in contract with the state, but she is thrilled about the Winthrop Poll serving the community.
“…Now that we are up and running, I am humbled and excited that DHEC would trust us with such a huge and important project,” Okey said.
