Diversity and Quality Team (DQT)

Recent Updates

• April, May, June
• January, February, March
• December
• November
• October
• July, August, September

2009 Accomplishments

In 2009, DQT and DLT continued their business partnerships that build relationships between DQT members and department leadership for the purpose of accomplishing mutual goals. Each service group identified one or two goals that they wanted to partner with DQT to accomplish over the year. DQT members would be providing consultation and support to move the goals and objectives forward. This approach represents an increased leadership role for the team and a way of working in collaboration with department leadership.

Business partnerships with each service group frame many of the outstanding DQT accomplishments in 2009:

Integrated Clinical Services

Through collaboration between DQT and ICS a training model of Race and Ethnicity Data Gathering was completed and presented to ICS front desk staff.

Business Services

By presentation, Business Services shared their understanding how the Minority Women Emerging Small Business (MWESB) certification process currently works and identified areas where the County could increase the number of MWESB vendors we contract with. Business Services continued to increase their DQT presence by way of increased members.

Human Resources

Human Resources and DQT continued their support to the Health Department’s strategic plan, to increase and communicate departmental workforce development activities.

“Faces of Public Health” posters were developed in English and posted at worksites. Three DQT members dedicated time as participants on the following committees: (local 88, ONA Layoff and HD Transition Team.

Human Resources provided and presented the department employees’ comparative data snapshot of 2007-2008 with identification of age, gender, ethnicity and race. Shared partnerships and presentations occurred with County Talent management, the Environmental Health Service, with a panel of mentor and mentees, their lessons learned with the ICS & CHp3 groups. Succession articles were featured in the director’s Notes: Mentoring, tools to relieve stress for employees during the beginning forecast of budget shortfall and success a story of nursing career achievement.

Health Officer

Health Officer Group engaged DQT members to provide advice and collaborate on the CDC Pandemic Influenza grant process. The goal was to create effective systems for mutual learning and practice and to enhance systemic/institutional approaches to improving public health practices. DQT participants gave feedback, which was used to design and conduct community-based focus groups. DQT members also participated as observers for the MAC group exercise.

Community Health Promotion, Planning and Partnerships

Presentations from the Clinical and Translational Research Institute and from PDES were presented to DQT. An article was also featured in the Notes From the Director on the Health Promotion Framework. This work was to continue the developing collaborations to enhance the effectiveness of the Health Department’s health promotion efforts.

Community Health Services

In an effort to address quality in the Health Department, CHS’s Systems Quality Counsel (SQC) adopted DQT’s definition of quality. SQC has established their membership and began creating a quality dashboard.

The Diversity and Quality Team also maintained a high standard of excellence in the Health Department staff who joined the team and the distinguished staff and community members who made presentations to the team and the broader Health Department community.

Membership:

In 2008, 2 new members joined and 2 members retuned to DQT: Les Walker and Chris Wirth joined; Chareundi Van-Si and LaRisha Baker returned

Hosted Guests, Presenters and Accomplishments:

• Dr. Gonzales-Berry, history of migration especially of Mexicanos into Oregon
• Julia Dilley, Tobacco use among Alaskan & WA Native American
• LaRisha, Marsha & Michell Baker, Colorectal Cancer awareness and advocacy
• Mark Spofford & Arwen Bunce – OCTRI, Community and Practice Research Program
• Tricia Tillman – DHS; April Lewis & Vicki Guinn – Kaiser: Joseph Quinones - City of Portland; Vicki Nakashima – Say Hey; Leslie Garcia – OHSU, Graham Harriman – MCHD, Maribeth Healy – Senator Merkley’s Office – Annual DQT retreat guests
• Abdi Mouse– Layoff Committee
• Sheri Malstrom – ONA layoff committee
• Victoria Cross – Health Department transition team
• Debbie Rood – DQT table top exhibit
• Margret Vu – DQT brochure
• Department of Community Justice (DCJ) – Diversity calendar collaboration
• Race and Ethnicity Training – provided training for HD staff
• “Faces of Public Health” – recruitment poster created to promote a culturally competent, diverse work force
• Notes From the Director –regularly submitted articles that support HD staff in learning about diversity

• Accomplishments 2008
• Accomplishments 2007
• Accomplishments 2006
• Accomplishments 2004-2005
• Accomplishments 2003-2004

Priority Tasks

• Charged with monitoring the progress of Health Department strategies which address health inequities.
• Provide input and feedback on Health Department policies, programs and issues in regards to diversity and quality.
• Support the development of an increasingly culturally competent workforce in the Health Department.
• Provide Leadership Development for DQT members through:
• Facilitative Leadership Training
• Opportunities to develop cross departmental working relationships
• Facilitation and agenda preparation for meetings and subcommittees
• Increased working knowledge of Departmental goals and initiatives

Work in Progress

• Workplan: Health Inequity and Quality Committee
• Workplan: Communications Subcommittee
• Workplan: Internal Workforce Development

Resources and Documents

• Programs and Activities to Address Health Inequities, 2009
• MCHD Health Disparities Report
• MCHD 2006 Programs and Activities Addressing Health Disparities
• MCHD Policy on Diversity and Cultural Competence
• MCHD Policy Addressing Health Disparities
• MCHD Policy Addressing Access to Basic Health Care Services
• DQT Charter
• 2007 Service Group Evaluation
• DQT interview questions, developed in partnership with Human Resources
• Building Partnerships Across Differences (BPAD)
  (On the MINT. Internal access only.)

Updated July 6, 2010