DPH HR Equity Council outlines progress and future goals in racial equity plan

San Francisco's Department of Public Health (DPH) is taking significant strides toward advancing racial equity within its workforce, as highlighted in a recent government meeting. The DPH's Human Resources (HR) team has been actively implementing a comprehensive racial equity plan, which began in 2021 under the leadership of Dr. Bennett and others. This initiative aims to embed equity into every aspect of HR operations, ensuring that decisions are made through a racial equity lens.

The HR Equity Council, formed to strategize and oversee the plan's deliverables, meets monthly to foster discussions and training among HR staff. This collaborative approach is designed to create a safe space for learning and growth, emphasizing that advancing equity is not merely a project but a fundamental shift in organizational culture.

Key accomplishments from the past year include the development of a diversity, equity, and inclusion dashboard, which tracks 16 metrics related to workforce demographics, hiring practices, and pay equity. This dashboard aims to provide insights into the distribution of pay and identify challenges in recruiting a diverse candidate pool. The data-driven approach will enable the DPH to ask nuanced questions and measure progress toward its equity goals.

Looking ahead, the DPH plans to host a training conference for HR professionals in the fall, reinforcing the commitment to align with the city's broader equity objectives. With 19 deliverables set for 2021 and additional goals for the following years, the DPH is dedicated to making meaningful progress in creating an equitable workplace for all employees. This ongoing effort reflects a commitment to not only address current inequities but also to foster a culture of inclusivity and accountability within the city's health department.