Institutionalizing Health Equity Work at Washington State Department of Health: Integrating Health Equity Language into HR Practices

To insure public health staff has the tools needed to address health equity through public health practice, the Washington State Department of Health - Office of Healthy Communities includes health equity language in annual performance expectations. The Office Health Equity Team developed a tool guiding managers to include such language for the staff they supervise. The presenter will describe: (1) the process of creating a management tool to use when writing annual staff performance plans; (2) gaining management support for implementing the tool; (3) resources to help staff meet performance expectations; and (4) a tracking method to examine follow through on performance expectations. Background: In 2010, the Governor of Washington State directed state department heads to insure all staff evaluations and performance plans were completed annually with a December 31 deadline. The Health Equity Team timed release of the management tool to be ready for the deadline. Managers received training and consultation concerning tool use in November 2011. Early in January 2012, managers were interviewed about their experience using the tool, recommended changes, and health equity staff training they included in performance expectations. The team then administered a Health Equity survey to all Office staff that included questions about the clarity of their managers' performance expectations and training opportunities offered. Staff within the Office of Healthy Communities works across the lifespan Programs including family planning, maternal and child health, and chronic diseases prevention and control. The tool is flexible enough for all positions in the Office of Healthy Communities.