Creating a Culture of Equity: Building Awareness Within the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services

Abstract

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recognizes Montgomery County as the county with the best health outcomes, length of life, and quality of life in all of Maryland. While impressive, the overall statistics do not reflect the disparities among certain population groups in the county. As a major provider of safety net health and social services to county residents, the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (MCDHHS) wants to empower staff to think and act differently to generate better outcomes for disadvantaged communities. Among the many phases toward building an equity value driven organization, the Department felt that cultivating a common understanding and buy-in from all levels of staff is critical to a cultural shift. In 2014, a comprehensive workshop was implemented to raise awareness and encourage courageous conversations. The workshop seeks to create a common understanding of equity, its principles and applied strategies, and provide Department staff with the tools to treat their colleagues, customers, and clients more equitably. To date, 828 staff, contractors, and community partners have completed the workshop and 47 staff members have trained as workshop peer facilitators. This paper will explore in more detail the information-related factors and processes present in the workshop and their equity impact on the Department’s practices.