Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging [DEIB] is not simply a ‘box to check’ for running a progressive or “woke” company. DEIB is an evolving and growth-oriented lens through which we view, interpret, and experience the world. DEIB is a responsibility and charge shared by all to build, create, and maintain spaces that support diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We know that welcoming, embracing, and celebrating diversity in all its forms enriches our lives and our workplace, drives creativity and innovation, and plants the seeds of TRUE, MEANINGFUL CHANGE. More than that, we KNOW that welcoming, embracing, and celebrating diversity is the RIGHT THING and the ONLY WAY.

Three Oaks Behavioral Health & Wellness' commitment is to be a resolutely diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We foster sincere belonging for every member of our team and every client of the practice. Three Oaks is radically committed to this charge.

Within our organization, DEIB is not a program. It is a way of being, a way of interacting, guiding, and informing every micro and macro interaction. DEIB guides our questions, reflections, feedback solicitation, and how and why we move and grow in certain ways (and not others!). It is embedded, wrapped around, and within everything we do. DEIB is an internal and external commitment to continuous growth and learning. 

DEIB at Three Oaks is centered around cultural humility. This means that we approach this work knowing and radically accepting that we don’t know everything and likely never will, despite efforts for cultural competency. Cultural humility acknowledges that no one can be fully competent in all cultures and encourages a mindset of continuous learning and respect for others’ perspectives. Cultural humility is a lifelong process of self-reflection and self-critique. It requires a willingness and earnestness to learn from others and acknowledge our biases and limitations. A primary goal of cultural humility is to approach cultural interactions with an open mind, a willingness to listen, and a commitment to ongoing learning and improvement. The focus is on recognizing and challenging power imbalances, fostering genuine relationships, and valuing the lived experiences of others.

Though the existential elements of DEIB can feel larger than any words that can fit on a page, there are clear and actionable ways to witness it. At Three Oaks, DEIB is reflected concretely in recruitment, interviewing, and hiring practices, equal opportunities for growth, promotion, and development, open communication, non-punitive growth evaluations and ongoing support for all staff,  zero-tolerance policies for discrimination and harassment, employee resource groups, and diversity initiatives. Three Oaks team members are trained to ask “Where could bias be appearing in the way I show up as a friend, colleague, manager, and leader? What could I do differently?” Leadership and operations constantly ask, “Who is missing from this decision table, and how can we ensure that they are represented?” (p.247-248, Inclusion on Purpose, By: Ruchika Tulshyan)

BRIDGE Framework [Inclusion on Purpose, Ruchika Tulshyan]

B- Be alright with being uncomfortable, as this work is not easy.

R- Reflect on what you don’t know

I-  Invite feedback

D- Defensiveness doesn’t help

G- Growing from mistakes, and know that you, like everyone, will likely make errors when working toward greater inclusion and equity.

E- Expect that change takes time

*Learn More*

Books:

‘Inclusion on Purpose’ An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Culture of Belonging at Work. Ruchika Tulshyan

Articles/Presentations:

Safe Spaces v. Brave Spaces: https://www.arl.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/OntheEdge-From-Safe-to-Brave-Nov2019.pdf

Building Organizational Capacity for Social Justice: Framework, Approach, Tools:

https://aapip.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/building_org_social_justice_capacity_ngec_aapip.pdf

The false promise of DEIB:

https://medium.com/@daliafox/the-false-promise-of-deib-b609de05d610.

Social Work & Palestine Resources:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/14R0Bk_Myr2y73_iCSWufIQPJ1_0COIGenAFBLKWhNJs/edit?usp=sharing