HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra talking on the Lincoln Memorial.
A Message from the Secretary
My dad and mom, Maria Teresa and Manuel, by no means acquired an opportunity to open the door to a school classroom, however they despatched all their children to school and the army. What that they had, they earned. their onerous work opened doorways for my three sisters and me. Like so many generations of Individuals with an analogous story, my dad and mom constructed this nation and strengthened our democracy. They did their finest, they usually did it whereas battling discrimination.
There have been actually indicators in storefronts the place they lived that learn “No canines or Mexicans allowed.” The indicators could also be gone, however the obstacles stay: entry, availability, affordability.
Because the son of immigrants and the primary Latino to carry the workplace of Secretary within the historical past of the USA, I perceive what it means to see illustration in management and throughout our workforce. If the core mission of HHS is to reinforce the well being and well-being of all Individuals, then we should be capable to attain and join with Individuals from each stroll of life. There’s a mountain of proof to point out that unequal therapy and unequal entry to alternative are unhealthy — for us as people and for the nation.
HHS has a protracted historical past of valuing range, fairness, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) throughout our divisions and applications. And there may be extra that we will do to mirror and signify the total range of the folks we function we search to advertise higher well being for all.
To mitigate well being inequities throughout our nation, we should mitigate disparities throughout our workforce and prioritize illustration in any respect ranges. To unlock the total potential of our staff, everybody should really feel welcomed, valued, included, seen, heard, and revered. All of us deserve, and profit from, the sensation that we belong.
President Biden on his first day in workplace delivered a strong and unprecedented mandate for all federal businesses to launch a whole-of-government method to DEIA. At HHS, we’ve embraced the President’s name to motion and made this considered one of our Division’s highest strategic priorities. At its coronary heart, our imaginative and prescient for DEIA integration is about making a office for everybody to constantly take part pretty and absolutely. We created the HHS DEIA Strategic Plan and guiding Plan Ideas as a roadmap to a future the place no alternative is out of attain, and nobody is left behind.
We’re making good progress. We’re participating with stakeholders and studying about new views. We’re welcoming the traditionally marginalized to be a part of our decision-making. We’re incorporating all experiences and contributions into our DEIA learnings and functions. We’re using data-driven approaches to research the state of the Division and implement options to obstacles. We’re bettering applications to include evidence-based practices and lift our collective DEIA consciousness. And we’re assembly folks the place they’re by means of steady teaching and conversations.
In fact, there may be far more work to do. Now we have recognized areas of alternative throughout three key pillars: Management Accountability, Organizational Tradition, and Attracting and Retaining Expertise. To achieve success, we depend on our leaders to articulate the obstacles we should eradicate and alternatives we should decide to act upon. We glance to HHS leaders to mannequin the behaviors we need to see embodied throughout our workforce. And we are going to proceed to carry our leaders accountable for our DEIA progress and priorities.
All staff throughout HHS share some accountability for this work being profitable as effectively. Every of us ought to perceive our important position in reaching our imaginative and prescient of tradition transformation and a office of belonging. With intentionality, we should establish, appeal to, and rent expertise that displays the nation we serve. We should make use of these skills broadly and pretty within the improvement of our applications and companies and promote and ship help in an equitable method. We’re all accountable for weaving DEIA deeper into the material of HHS for our workforce in the present day and sooner or later.
“To unlock the total potential of our staff, everybody should really feel welcomed, valued, included, seen, heard, and revered. All of us deserve, and profit from, the sensation that we belong.”
Thanks for becoming a member of the staff on this journey. Let’s hold working collectively to make sure everyone seems to be welcomed and has a chance for development in our workforce. Let’s proceed to problem ourselves and one another, to domesticate a profound sense of belonging throughout our Division. Collectively, we are going to create a various, equitable, inclusive, and accessible office the place everyone seems to be supported to point out up as their most genuine self in service to our nation.
After we succeed, we could have constructed a long-lasting tradition of inclusion and shared excellence and confirmed HHS as a frontrunner in DEIA throughout authorities and trade. We could have constructed, like my dad and mom, a stronger nation ready to simply accept the following era of Individuals.
Xavier Becerra
Secretary, U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies
Persevering with our DEIA journey
The DEIA journey is a steady technique of studying and enchancment. Committing to DEIA is not only the precise factor to do—it’s the good factor to do. It makes HHS a stronger federal company, a more practical chief and companion in advancing the well being of the nation, and a horny dwelling for the nation’s finest and brightest expertise.
Management change tales will evolve as we collaborate throughout HHS and make shared progress. We’ll transfer ahead with a give attention to steady enchancment and addressing present and rising management wants.
For questions, assets, or extra info, please electronic mail DEIAStrategicPlan@hhs.gov.
