CATEGORY: / ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND VALUES
SUBJECT: / Diversity and Inclusion
POLICY NO.: / #50
Approved: / NEW – December 19, 2014
Reviewed/Revised:

POLICY

Diversity and inclusion are key elements of our service philosophy and organizational culture. Children’s Centre Thunder Bay is committed to creating an environment and culture in which all people are safe, respected, included and equal.

Our Centre recognizes,values and celebrates human diversity and uniqueness; We uphold the Human Rights Code and actively welcome, appreciateand protect the dignity and worth for people of all expressions. We respecthow individuals define their identity and how they view mutual differences. Using an anti-oppressive practice framework, we strive to address injustice and oppression, both within the Centre and community.

Children Centre provides clients, employees, students,volunteers and the community an opportunity to be together in a way that identifies the cultural needs that are relevant in our work. To this end, we believe in the following anti-oppressive practice principles:

  • Social identity and oppression are complex, take many forms and have many intersecting relationships.
  • Power and privilege are relative to one’s location or position in society.
  • Anti-oppression means allying with the marginalized individual or group and requires that we acknowledge the power and privilege that comes with our social location.
  • Strategies for change require that we all share responsibility to address oppression.
  • There is a need for ongoing dialogue to learn from each other and the clients we serve to make positive change happen at the individual, family and community levels.
  • We recognize this type of change is a work in progress and are committed to learn from our successes and our mistakes.
  • Removing barriers rooted in oppression and racism is key to creating safe, respectful and inclusive spaces.

PROCEDURE

  1. The Centre shall establish a standing Diversity and Inclusion Committee which is responsible to the Management Leadership Team. A Senior Manager will Chair the committee and a terms of reference will be developed and guide the work of the committee. This committee will provide leadership, organize training and support the Centre’s involvement in creating positive change within our organization and community.
  1. The Centre will provide training and ongoing educational opportunities in anti-oppressive practicesto all employees on a regular basis.
  1. Staff providing clinical services shall ensure that a client’s individual diversity is included in every phase of service delivery from intake, assessment, treatment through discharge planning.
  1. Staff willadvocate, with and for clients, in order to address systemic barriers to justice, equality, equity, inclusiveness, access and respect.
  1. Staff will work with and for each other to address injustice and oppression that may be present in the workplace.
  1. The Centre shall provide the opportunity for staff and clients to voice comments or concerns about diversity and inclusivity through a variety of quality assurance processesincluding but not limited to informal and formal complaints processes, meetings, program evaluationandsatisfaction surveys.
  1. The Centre will work toward ensuring anti-oppressive language and images are used in agency communications, policies, procedures and practices.

Definitions:

The Human Rights Code prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, ethnic origin, citizenship, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, gender expression, disability, colour, creed, age, marital status, family status, reprisal, receipt of public assistance, record of offences and discrimination because of association.

Anti-oppressive Practice

Anti-oppressive practice promotes equality and power sharing for all people. It challenges existing social relationships in which powerful groups maintain power and influence over less powerful groups. It includes specific practice behaviours and relationships that minimize power imbalances and promotes equity and empowerment for users of service. (CorneauStergiopoulos, 2012).

Advocacy

Advocacy refers to ensuring that, both internally and externally, policies and services seek to eradicate systemic barriers that support oppression.

Inclusion

Inclusion is a sense of belonging, feeling respected and valued for individuality. The process of inclusion engages people by helping them feel valued and essential to the success of the organization. Inclusion is the degree to which an agency actively seeks, welcomes and collaborates with its diverse community.

Diversity

Diversity encompasses acceptance, respect and the understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizes individual differences. It is about understanding and valuing each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual.

Respect

Respect is the act of recognizing and valuing different views, values, orientations, histories and cultures of diverse groups, while aligning with Human Rights legislation, the Centre’s mission statement, Code of Conduct and any other relevant agency policies.

References:

Diversityand Inclusive Committee Terms of Reference

Children’s Centre Thunder Bay Code of Conduct

Carneau, S. & Stergiopoulos, V. (2012) More than being against it: Anti-racism and anti-oppression in mental health services. Transcultural Psychiatry 49 (2) 261-282

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