Changing Communities: An Organizational Guide to Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement

This guide includes a collection of materials selected by representatives of housing and social services agencies participating in the Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.’s Oregon Health and Housing Learning Collaborative, generously supported by Meyer Memorial Trust. The Resident Involvement and Culturally Specific Services Access Work Group conducted a review over a 12-month period and selected materials that were viewed as representing a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion and health equity. These materials were also considered up to date relative to the demographics and service needs of the community in 2015. The work group also identified materials designed to assist agencies in conducting organizational assessments and support workforce and board diversity. The selected tools are intended to support an organizational commitment to inclusion, diversity and the provision of services tailored to the needs of specific communities.

We invite anyone who finds this guide of benefit to use our tools and resources, including publicly subsidized housing agencies, health and social services programs, and nonprofits. This guide will be particularly useful for resident service coordination staff, property management staff and other affordable housing staff who work with residents of subsidized, multifamily affordable housing properties.

This document is meant to be used as a guide. The materials included were selected as the best examples of a large number of tools reviewed by the work group. The work group was aware that there are significant differences in the size, capacity and readiness of organizations to either initiate or expand diversity, inclusion and health equity efforts. A range of tools in each category was selected to provide options with the understanding that they might be used as is or adapted to the specific needs of the organization. The primary goal of the creation of this guide is to provide tools that will support organizations in strengthening their commitment to diversity, inclusion and health equity.

Download the Changing Communities guidebook

Using This Document
Guiding Principles
The Outcome
Organizational Assessment Tools
	Health Share Organizational Assessment for Cultural Competence and Health Equity Created by Health Share of Oregon’s Cultural Competence Workgroup
	Broward County Florida: Cultural Competency Planning Tool Created by The Coordinating Council of Broward County, Florida
	City of Portland Office of Equity and Human Rights: Racial Equity Roadmap User Manual Published by Portland Housing Bureau, adapted from Kenya Budd, Office of Equity and Human Rights and the Citywide Equity Committee, for the Portland Housing Bureau partners
Training Tools
	Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Terms and Definitions Source unknown
	LGBTQ Issues: Definitions and Vocabulary Created by The Sexual & Gender Minority Youth Resource Center’s (SMYRC) Bridge 13 Community Education Project
	Disability Inclusion Guidelines Adapted from Commit to Inclusion’s 9 Guidelines for Disability Inclusion
	Office of Equity and Inclusion’s Training Resources Created by Oregon Health Authority’s Office of Equity and Inclusion
Community Engagement Tools
	Resident Participant Bill of Rights Created by Housing with Services
	Resident Involvement Charter Created by Housing with Services
	Home Forward Community Compact Created by Home Forward
	Central City Concern: Tenant Equity and Inclusion Assessment Survey Created by Central City Concern
Recruitment and Hiring Practice Resources
	Staff Recruitment Guidelines Developed by Oregon Health Authority’s Office of Equity and Inclusion
	Hiring Interview Questions Developed by Oregon Health Authority’s Office of Equity and Inclusion
	Bias Assessment Tools
		Tool for Identifying Implicit Bias Adapted from Common Shortcuts Handout, University of Washington ADVANCE Center for Institutional Change, and from Joann Moody, Rising Above Cognitive Errors: Guidelines to Improve Faculty Searches, Evaluations and Decision-making (2010)
		Tips on Interviewing Applicants with Disabilities Adapted from National Center on Workforce and Disability (NCWD), Employer Tips on Interviewing Applicants with Disabilities
		Interview Questions to Avoid Original source unknown, adapted by Oregon Health Authority’s Office of Equity and Inclusion
		Recognizing Your Biases and Assumptions in an Interview Adapted from Gardenswartz, Lee, and Rowe, Anita. The Managing Diversity Survival Guide and The Diversity Tool Kit