Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives - Silver
RWJBarnabas Health: Ending Racism Together
RWJBarnabas Health
Systemic racism affects the health, social, and economic outcomes of patients, employees, and the communities served by RWJBarnabas Health. In 2020, RWJBarnabas Health expanded our commitment to address systemic racism and advance racial equity through the launch of Ending Racism Together. A system-wide culture shift that spans all policies and behaviors, Ending Racism Together focuses on creating sustained racial, ethnic, and cultural equity within RWJBarnabas Health and the communities we serve. By critically examining the health system’s day-to-day operations, Ending Racism Together aims to identify and eradicate explicit and unconscious racism, bias, and discriminatory practices, ultimately supporting better health outcomes for historically disenfranchised communities who have been harmed by the generational effects of racism. During the past year, we worked to identify how and where racism appeared within the health system and create viable and sustainable solutions. Through the Ending Racism Together framework, RWJBarnabas Health achieved significant milestones that included policy changes; dedicated efforts to increase minority recruitment and representation within senior leadership roles; educational opportunities for staff; interactive health equity challenges; and an increased commitment to buy, hire, and invest locally, which stimulates our economies and contributes to sustainable health outcomes our communities.
What was the most impactful part of your award-winning entry?
The commitment to advance anti-racism and promote health equity means dedicating time, financial, and human resources to identifying and eradicating systemic racism from all policies, practices, and protocols, as well as developing strategies to hold ourselves, and one another, accountable.
What is one thing you learned from this experience?
Anti-racism work must begin from a place of understanding and engaging, informed by data. Therefore, it was crucial for RWJBarnabas Health to engage in a period of planning and discovery to identify how and where racism appeared within the system.
Contact: Stacie Newton