CISU Offers a New Resource for Advancing Equity in Human Services

The Colorado Implementation Science Unit (CISU) supports a variety of partners including cross-agency teams, community organizations, and individuals — all of whom  have voiced interest in developing culturally responsive services and practices. Promoting equity and working through an equity lens is an intentional and necessary practice to ensure services and practices are built with multiple perspectives, not just a select few. To this end, CISU created, “A Guide to Promoting Equity During Evidence-Building Initiatives: Resources for Consideration.”

This guide is intended to support human/social services professionals, including researchers and implementation support practitioners, who are working to promote equity in their work, including service development, research, and data collection. Within the guide, you will find:

• Resources on awareness and frameworks to decolonize and address white supremacy in work. For example, “sense of urgency” versus “slowing down and taking time.”

• Articles about centering work around non-dominant ways of thinking.

• Implementation and skill development resources to highlight how some programs and policies can incorporate a racial equity lens.

• Data collection tips and best practices to avoid marginalization and exclusion of communities and diverse voices.

• Toolkits from national organizations that help address systemic racism, challenge practices and orthodoxies, and share ideas for overcoming barriers.

Not all of the resources included in the guide may be relevant to every initiative a partner is engaging in. While reviewing all of the resources may be helpful, one may prefer to review specific sections based on project or process goals, opportunities, and barriers. 

If there are any questions about this guide, please feel free to contact, mackenzie.mixer@state.co.us.