Racial & Health Equity and Shared Community Power
Many people in our county do not have the same opportunities for good health, education, income, or long-term financial stability. These disparities require restorative methods, such as repairing harm and building relationships. This is especially important for African American and American Indian communities. Ramsey County is committed to reducing racial and ethnic-based disparities that affect both our residents and our employees.
Ramsey County will integrate racial equity and shared community power through county tools, policies and decisions. This means identifying solutions and leveraging data to create fair systems and practices that will prevent harm across racial and ethnic groups of people. The county works across departments and service teams to break down long-standing barriers and strengthen how the organization leads, plans, and makes decisions so outcomes are fair for all residents and employees.
Ramsey County continues to partner with people who are most affected by county systems and decisions. The county recognizes their lived experience and knowledge are essential to creating better programs and services. By listening, learning, and building solutions together, the county can reduce harm, avoid unintended impacts and improve outcomes.
Goal 1: Build equity into the workplace
Actionable Strategy: Strengthen inclusive hiring
Ramsey County will work to make sure its workforce and leaders reflect the people who live in the community. This will include improving how the county operates such as using workforce data to inform fair hiring practices.
Goal 2: Increase county-wide understanding of racial equity terms and practices
Actionable Strategy: Expand equity learning opportunities
Ramsey County will support all employees’ learning by offering and expanding racial and health equity learning opportunities.
Goal 3: Ensure planning and decision-making focus on racial equity and shared power
Actionable Strategy: Advance equity goals
Ramsey County will work with community members and county staff to move racial and health equity goals forward. This includes tracking progress and supporting countywide initiatives.
Actionable Strategy: Integrate shared decision-making with community
Ramsey County leaders will be provided learning opportunities such as WITH the People training and work with the Equity Team and the Racial and Health Equity liaisons to incorporate community engagement and shared community power throughout all strategic priorities and county-wide initiatives.
Goal 4: Remove unfair differences in services and results.
Actionable Strategy: Advance equitable outcomes
Department and county leaders will work to remove unfair differences in services and outcomes. The equity team within the Office of the Chief of Staff will provide coaching, tools and technical support to help leaders integrate and embody equity in planning and decision making.
Actionable Strategy: Expand Person-Centered Approaches
Ramsey County will partner with community organizations to sustain and expand person-centered approaches like family coaching. These approaches guide service delivery, program design and system improvements to reduce disparities for American Indian and African American families.
Goal 5: Strengthen collaboration and partnerships with communities across Ramsey County.
Actionable Strategy: Engage with the American Indian Community
County leaders will take part in learning groups such as St. Paul Indians in Action (SIA). These partnerships help build strong relationships, reflect on progress and set clear goals for the future. Ramsey County will also collaborate with the Urban American Indian community and Tribal Nations. Through meaningful allyship, the county and these organizations will work with one another in shared understanding to address historical traumas to reduce barriers and improve outcomes for American Indian individuals and families.
Actionable Strategy: Engage with the African American Community
Ramsey County will strengthen partnerships with African American communities to address systemic barriers. Strategies include:
- Leveraging community knowledge to sustain family stability and promote economic mobility.
- Working collaboratively to identify and implement culturally responsive solutions that support long-term prosperity.
Actionable Strategy: Engage with racial and ethnic communities
Ramsey County will deepen relationships and partnerships with immigrant, refugee and other racial and ethnic communities that experience disparities in our county such as Latine, Hmong, Somali and Karen to strengthen well-being and economic security.
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