Increasingly, the public expects organizations to engage and respond to the world around them - especially when injustices occur. Often, deciding when to make a statement, what the statement should say, and where to send the statement falls on the shoulders of a few people within an organization. There is no “objective” way to decide what should be addressed. There will always be a level of intuitive and “moral” judgment involved. The Communications Guidance for Social and Current Events toolkit outlines key considerations for crafting such statements.

This toolkit is for those who...

• Are seeking considerations and guidance for issuing statements on current events that uncover injustices.
• Seeking internal and external communications samples and templates.
• Searching for ways to stay accountable to organizational commitments.

Equity is a comprehensive and inclusive approach that considers both needs-based and outcome-based factors when evaluating and addressing disparities among individuals or groups. It recognizes that people have diverse needs and experiences, and these needs can be influenced by their social identities, such as race, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and more. As leaders, it is crucial to approach decision-making with a conscious focus on equity to ensure fairness and inclusion within your organization. The Equitable Decision Assessment Tool is designed to be used over and over to build the practice of making decisions through a lens of equity.

This toolkit is for those who...

• Need a step-by-step framework for evaluating decisions through a lens of equity.
• Are committed to fostering equity within your organization to better address disparities and create a more inclusive environment. 

Inclusive language acknowledges diversity and supports inclusion while conveying respect to everyone. Finding a common language is an important part of the journey and helps create a sense of belonging in the workplace. The Inclusive Language Guide toolkit is a tailored resource specifically created for the REIB Statewide Initiative, designed to build the muscle of inclusive language within your organization.

This toolkit is for those who...

• Need a resource to define inclusive language for yourself, your team, and your organization.
   
• Aim to create inclusive language that can be used consistently across communications, materials, and staff.

Each chapter of the 60+ page playbook addresses a specific stage of the employee lifecycle. The chapters include best practices, templates for your organization to use, and reflection questions to help your leaders identify where to begin.

This toolkit is for those who...

• Want to codify equitable policies and practices and understand how it applies to your county.
• Want to build inclusive hiring practices.
• Aim for a clear interview and performance rubric with an inclusive lens.
• Are looking for tools to reduce attrition and retain your best staff members.

After having gone through the toolkit resources, if your county would like to explore specific applications of a toolkit, please submit an County Interest Form to sign up for a consultation. 

The 90 minute, virtual consultation sessions are designed as small group dialogues to allow leaders to collaborate with strategic advisors, apply best practices, and tailor the toolkits for their teams. This structure allows participants to thoroughly explore the specific applications of each tool for their county. The goal is for your county to leave with actionable next steps for implementing these strategic concepts for your team and staff. 

Group consultations are limited to 5-10 people per county. 

Counties can submit multiple dates to go through all four toolkits.