Overcoming Racism ConferenceMetropolitan State University

Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council (CECLC)

Achieving Equity in Access and Outcomes in Human Services

November 14, 2014

• Vision: Across all department programs, recipients from all racial and ethnic

communities have an equal opportunity to achieve successful outcomes.

• Mission: DHS working with community, will reduce disparities in access and outcomes

for cultural and ethnic communities served by

the agency.

• A Collaboration: Community and the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Disparities Reduction Strategy

• Have Shared Mission & Purpose

• Commit to Action & Outcomes

•Have a Group Identity

• Research & Evaluation:

• What is it that we need to know about disparities at DHS? What are nationwide best practices?

• Partner to

Educate About Disparities:

• Learn together foundational topics - issues of historical

trauma, discrimination, identify audience, outreach to staff,

partners, community.

•Reform Policies that Perpetuate Disparities:

• History of policymaking; analysis

of specific policy, recommendations for

change.

• Fund Reform and Transparency:

• Focus on prevention,

intervention and cost effectiveness;

annual public “state of human services” by commissioner.

• Ensure Accountability:

• Examine current policies &

procedures; track findings; increase

participation of others.

•Percentage of eligible Minnesotans who experience improved access

to health services.

• Definition of culturally competent health care organization.

• Ensuring DHS request for proposal process is accessible to smaller culturally-

specific organizations.

• 2011 – 2012 Priorities

• Strategic Lenses for Framing Implementation of Priorities

• Collaborative Guidelines

• Have Principles & Values

• Leverage Technology & Information

From left: Community Relations Director Antonia Wilcoxon, Disparities Reduction Advisory Committee member Ruthie Dallas and Deputy Commissioner for Direct Care and Treatment Anne Barry.

From left: Community Relations Director Antonia Wilcoxon; Disparities Reduction Advisory Committee member Elizabeth Anderson, director of cross-cultural services for HealthEast Care System; and Deputy Commissioner for Direct Care and Treatment Anne Barry.

• From left: Community Relations Director • Antonia Wilcoxon, Disparities Reduction

Advisory Committee member Ruthie Dallas and Deputy Commissioner for Direct Care and

Treatment • Anne Barry.

• From left: Community Relations Director • Antonia Wilcoxon, Disparities Reduction

Advisory Committee member Elizabeth Anderson, Director of Cross-Cultural Services

for HealthEast Care System, and Deputy Commissioner for Direct Care and Treatment

Anne Barry.

•From left: Community Relations Director

• Antonia Wilcoxon, Disparities Reduction Advisory Committee

member Sai Her, Executive Director of the State Council on

Asian Pacific Minnesotans, and

Deputy Commissioner for Direct Care and

Treatment • Anne Barry.

Updates, 2012 Diversifying the workforce at DHS

Anti-Racism Training, Actionable Items Establishment of an Equity Stewardship

Work Group – strategic planning/implementation

Establishment of the CECLC: advises the commissioner of human services on disparities reduction

•Legislation

Effective August 1, 2013.Laws of Minnesota 2013, chapter 107, article 2, section 1

ARTICLE 2CULTURAL AND ETHNIC COMMUNITIES

LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

    Section 1. CULTURAL AND ETHNIC COMMUNITIES LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.    Subdivision 1. Establishment; purpose. There is hereby established the Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council for the Department of Human Services. The purpose of the council is to advise the commissioner of human services on reducing disparities that affect racial and ethnic groups.

Legislation

Council MembersBack row, left to right: Brian Ambuel, DHS intern; David Haley, Ramsey County Community Human Services; Kamaludin Hassan, Hennepin County; DHS Commissioner Lucinda Jesson; Mitchell Davis Jr., Minneapolis Urban League; DHS Health Care Assistant Commissioner Nathan Moracco; State Sen. Tony Lourey; Paula Haywood, Continuous Practice Improvement manager, Department of Community Corrections; Maria Sarabia, DHS Health Care Administration.

Front row, left to right : Denise Flock, DHS; Antonia Wilcoxon, DHS community relations director; Vayong Moua, Blue Cross Blue Shield; Mee Cheng, DHS intern; Pam Cosby, Minnesota Urban Area Health Ed Center and council chair; Titilayo Bediako, WE WIN Institute Inc.; Pahoua Yang, Amherst Wilder Foundation; Bauz Nengchu, Office of the Ombudsperson for Families.

Not pictured: Rep. Jim Abeler, Legislature – Representative; Rep. Tom Huntley, Legislature – Representative; Rep. Tina Liebling, Legislature – Representative; Sen. Michelle Benson, Legislature – Senate; Rep. Tara Mack, Legislature – Representative; Sen. Julie Rosen, Legislature – Senate; Sen. Kathy Sheran, Legislature – Senate; Annamarie Hill, Minnesota Indian Affairs Council; Hector Garcia Chicano Latino Affairs Council; Edward McDonald, Council on Black Minnesotans; Yende Anderson, Council on Black Minnesotans); Sia Her, Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans; Ann Hill, Office of the Ombudsperson for Families; Muriel Gubasta, Office of the Ombudsperson for Families; Jill Kehaulani Esch, Office of the Ombudsperson for Families; Anna Mazig, DHS Compliance Office; Hassan Samantar, PACER; Jose Gonzalez, Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Multicultural and Minority Health; Kamala Puram, SEWA-AIFW; LaJuana Whitmore, Target Corp.; LaRone Greer, DHS Chemical and Mental Health Services Administration; Pa Lor, St. Catherine University; the Rev. Janet Johnson, Wayman African Methodist Episcopal Church; Saciido Shaie, Parent Leader/Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota; Sarita Ennis, Fernbrook Family Center Inc.

What do you wish to see as a result of the work of the council?

Governance (process and implementation) Pursuit of better data Inclusion and engagement Creation of an equity cabinet in

collaboration with other agencies, entities Equity integrated into vision, project, plans

and policies.

Key Issues DHS leadership demographics that match

broader community demographics Increase the number of minority providers Increase the cultural relevance of policies

and the broader system so it is more attuned to the needs of diverse people

Engage the broader community Add oversight and accountability through a

culturally competent lens to the system Review administrative policies and practices

to ensure they allow equal access

Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council (CECLC)

Fundamental NPA Goals

Awareness

Leadership

Health system and life experience

Cultural and linguistic competency

Data, research and evaluation

DRAC Strategic Lens

Partner to educate about disparities

Reform policies that perpetuate disparities

Fund reform and transparency, accountability

Ensure accountability

Research and Evaluation

National Stakeholder Strategy (NSS) http://tinyurl.com/NationalStakeholderStrategy

Developed with input from thousands of individuals and organizations at the grassroots level

Establishes a common set of national goals and strategies

Encourages partners and stakeholders to identify and implement community-based strategies

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Fundamental Principles Community engagement and leadership

Partnerships – critical to multiple and complex issues

Cultural and linguistic competency

Non-discrimination – mandated by federal civil rights, moral imperative and practical necessity to achieve health equity.

Action Plan’s Main ObjectivesAwareness – increase awareness in community about disparities.

Leadership – develop the leadership of diverse work force.

Community Health and Health System Experience – focus on the Triple Aim.

Cultural and linguistic competency – certification of interpreters

Research and Evaluation – improve community-defined data collection

Recommendations to DHS

Awareness:

Invest in consciousness raising efforts on

significance of inequities and its harm to

populations in the state.(historical trauma,

improve capacity to use racial lenses)

Recommendations, cont’dLeadership

Strengthen the dialogue among CECLC,

cultural communities and the governmental

structure.(equity analysis and an equity

note, embed equity criteria in all relations

with cultural communities, diverse new

leadership, hiring and retention,

contracting) .

Recommendations, cont’dCommunity Health and Health Systems

Promote culturally appropriate care and reduce barriers to receiving care (providers are capable to deliver services that address complex needs, cultural beliefs and practices are embedded in healing; require MCO’s to increase network to include more culturally competent providers; redefine access: affordability, geo accessibility, accommodation, acceptability (Penchansky and Thomas, 1981).

Recommendations, cont’dCulturally and Linguistically Competent

Services

Careful vendor selection (interpreters)

Clarity in eligibility determination

Audit Minnesota Statute 16c (procurements from small businesses, targeted groups, Vet owned small businesses, economically disadvantaged areas, etc.

Grant making more transparent with key outcomes on Equity

Recommendations, cont’dResearch and Evaluation

Data driven decision making on community-defined cultural and linguistic groups Promote translation of evidence-based research into practice

Engage communities in this effort so they are better users of publicly funded care

Change/update DHS Equity dashboard to more fully reflect the status on disparities reduction for target populations.

Contact

Antonia Wilcoxon

Community Relations Director

Office of the Deputy Commissioner

Policy and Operations

651-431-3301

antonia.wilcoxon@state.mn.us