Increasing Equity in Pain Management, Substance Use Disorder Treatment, and Linkages to CARE

PROMOTING A CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE ENVIRONMENT Assess current policies and protocols to determine if existing workflows allow care teams the time and space to do the equity work

Do a visual scan of the health center’s physical and online environment to see if the images, and signage are inclusive of the full range of races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, and ages of your patients and people in the local community Reflect on whether the organization has equity strategies implemented in all relevant programs and systems

Review all health center forms, policies, and protocols for language inclusive of the full range of races, ethnicities, sexual orientation, gender identities, and ages of your patients and people in the local community

TIPS FOR SUPPORTING THE WELLNESS OF THE CARE TEAM

✓ Provide access to free and low-cost self-care resources ✓ Host regular listening and hearing sessions with leadership ✓ Conduct annual trauma-informed supervision leadership training ✓ Build wellness supports and check-ins into supervision ✓ Offer staff support services (e.g., social support groups, SUD treatment)

✓ Host team-building retreats and exercises ✓ Create space to share ideas and feedback

✓ Offer inclusive paid time off (e.g., for mental wellness, SUD recovery, caretaking of family members of origin and choice, and other forms of family and medical leave) ✓ Allow time and space to debrief after traumatic events ✓ Create a culture where it is okay to ask, “Are you okay?” ✓ Offer peer support services ✓ Foster coaching and mentorship opportunities ✓ Routinely assess staff on what types of leadership support is needed AND implement practices based on this feedback

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