We addressed racial inequities and the associated stigmas underlying mental health and substance use care disparities, while ensuring our members have the tools to do the same in their communities.
Fighting for Health Equity
Through our Center of Excellence for Integrated Health Solutions (CoE-IHS), we created a toolkit for addressing health equity and racial justice within integrated care settings and led 12 ECHO collaborative sessions on topics like health equity and oral health integration. We also facilitated eight sessions in our Social Justice Leadership Academy (SJLA) Learning Series and our new SJLA Workbook helped organizations better understand where they are when it comes to embedding principles of social justice and equity in their services.
Raising Awareness of Racial Inequities
To help boost racial equality in health care, we developed a report about the recruitment and retention of Black men in our field and shared tools for improving outcomes for individuals with mental health and substance use challenges at risk of criminal legal system involvement. We also created an environmental scan to help public safety personnel prevent overdose among Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities.
Partnering for Positive Change
We partnered with the African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence to create a solutions guide for addressing the disparities in access and utilization of mental health and substance use services among Blacks and African Americans. We also joined the African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, Morehouse School of Medicine, to issue a brief on suicide in U.S. Black and African American communities.
Delivering Virtual Learning
We created a new video series highlighting members of the National Council Medical Director Institute (MDI) and their diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) journeys. We also hosted a virtual learning event with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, on the state of health equity in America and created online resource directories in support of Black History Month, Minority Mental Health Awareness Month and LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
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