When behavioral health organizations create environments that are diverse, inclusive, and equitable, staff are more likely to feel valued, experience a sense of belonging, and want to stay. Creating this kind of work environment often involves examining and breaking down structures, policies, and practices to address barriers and challenges that individuals experience. How can organizations welcome these changes and work through them?
This NNED virtual roundtable was convened to learn about the innovative strategies that community-based organizations are implementing to create inclusive and equitable workplace environments. Panelists highlighted the relationship between workplace environments and workforce staff retention. The discussion included strategies for increasing workforce diversity through pipeline opportunities and by supporting the growth and engagement of peer specialists. This virtual roundtable was held on April 24, 2019 at 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm EDT.
Learning Objectives:
- Define and understand cultural humility in behavioral health workplace environments
- Increase awareness about approaches for creating inclusive and equitable behavioral health workplace environments
- Identify opportunities to expand diversity, inclusion, and equity in behavioral health workplace environments
- Share innovative strategies that help retain the existing behavioral health workforce
Panelists:
Belisa Urbina
Founder and Executive Director | Ser Familia
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Ms. Urbina was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She studied Business Administration at the University of Puerto Rico. On 2001 she co-founded Ser Familia, Inc. which is the leading program in Georgia providing coordinated multi-disciplinary family, social and mental health services to Latinos.
She is a member of Cobb County’s 2020 Steering Committee and Kennestone Hospital’s Regional Board of Directors past chairperson. On 2012 she was named by Womentics as one of the Women of the year. On 2014, she was chosen as one the 11WhoCare®by Atlanta’s 11 Alive Channel. On 2015 she received the “Family Advocacy Award” from the Interfaith Children’s Movement. In 2017 she was honored by the Georgia Women’s Legislative Caucus with the Nikki T Randall Servant Leadership Award and recognized with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award by the Atlanta Falcons. In 2018, Gideon’s Promise gave her the Community Impact Award and the Atlanta Braves chose her along with her husband as Community Heroes.
She has been married to her husband Miguel for 34 years and is the proud mother of 5 children and grandmother of 5.
Jorge Wong, Ph.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer | Richmond Area Multi-Services, Inc.
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Dr. Jorge Wong is a Licensed Psychologist, dedicated leader, educator and advocate for cultural and linguistic competence, diversity, stigma reduction, and social justice in community behavioral health services at the local, state, national and international levels. He is the President and CEO of the Richmond Area Multi-Services, Inc., (RAMS, Inc.), Trustee at Palo Alto University (PAU), and Adjunct Faculty at PAU and the University of San Francisco (USF). He is Past President of the California and San Francisco Psychological Association while currently serving as the President of the Santa Clara County Psychological Association. He was the recipient of the 2016 Asian American Psychological Association’s Okura Community Leadership Award and the 2015 Mover and Shaker Hero Award by the Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Board and County’s Behavioral Health Services. He believes that it is our responsibility to not forget where we came from and always give back to our communities.
Ruth Shim, M.D., M.P.H.
Professor in Cultural Psychiatry | University of California at Davis
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Ruth Shim, MD, MPH is holder of the Luke & Grace Kim Professorship in Cultural Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine. She is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Director of Cultural Psychiatry, and Chair of the Vice Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Faculty Excellence in Diversity at UC Davis Health.
Dr. Shim received an MPH in health policy from Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University and an MD from Emory University School of Medicine. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the American Association of Community Psychiatrists. She serves on the Editorial Boards of Psychiatric Services, Community Mental Health Journal, and American Psychiatric Publishing, and is co-editor of the book, The Social Determinants of Mental Health. She is a 2018-2019 Fellow of the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program.
Dr. Shim’s research focuses on mental health disparities and inequities, and she provides clinical psychiatric care in the UC Davis Early Diagnosis and Preventative Treatment (EDAPT) Clinic.