Following the murder of George Floyd, our country has experienced an awakening on race and racial inequality in the 21st century, ushered in by a new generation of Black civil rights activists. Issues around disparities in wealth, health, personal safety, political power, and everyday treatment of people of color in the U.S. have been brought to the forefront after decades of lurking in the background. Like many other organizations, Community Health Centers have been called to re-examine racial justice in the workplace and in the practice of healthcare; and there is an appetite for change. The worry is that the spirit for change will fade as people fatigue or reactionary voices grow louder and that progress will stall.
For health centers, racial consciousness and racial justice is not a passing fad. One in seven people of color in the United States entrust their care to health centers, according to the Bureau of Primary Health Care. To serve all patients and reduce health inequities across race and ethnicity, health center professionals must have the ability to discuss race, racism, culture, and how these things affect their work. It was in fact the struggle for racial justice, both in healthcare and beyond, that inspired the founding of the health center movement, and it is no less relevant today.
NACHC developed Ground Work: Racial Justice and Cultural Humility Training to support the people of the health center movement as we reflect and level-set on the concepts of racial identity, privilege, bias, and structural and institutional racism. This training curriculum provides background information and context on race, which is key for any health center staff or board member to engage in health equity and anti-racism in their community.
The training approaches the content with a beginner’s mindset, takes the time to carefully explain core concepts (for example, “what is the definition of race?”) and unpack common reactions while connecting these critical topics to the health center context. The intent is that a rich, nuanced understanding of foundational concepts will instill a life-long commitment to learning and racial justice action applicable in a health center and community-based setting.
“A fantastic presentation! Well done! Examples and personal experiences of health center employees and community members were so helpful.”
Ground Work training participant
Our national history shows a pattern of progress in racial justice and then a slow roll-back of some of that progress. We cannot let health centers succumb to that pattern. We must continually keep equity and inclusion at the center of our work and advocate locally and at the state and federal level. This is what we owe our patients, our communities, and the health center movement. Learn more about NACHC’s Ground Work: Racial Justice and Cultural Humility Training.