Equity Assessment - English Version

Greetings ACH Partners,

As you know Equity is a central pillar of CACHI, and we are happy to reach this important milestone in the ACH development, the launch of the Equity technical assistance. The Equity Assessment is a step forward in the Equity work, and we look forward to working with you and supporting you on this journey.

You are invited to complete this survey because you have been identified by your ACH as a member of the leadership team.

The following 18 questions are about how and how well is your ACH practicing equity. The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete.

The survey deadline has been extended. We encourage you to take the survey as soon as you receive it. The quicker you and your team take the assessment, the sooner you can start your equity work as a group.

The following questions below are about your ACH and ACH leadership team's current work on equity. These questions are not about individual organizations or persons within your ACH. If you do not know or unsure about the question as it relates to your ACH, please mark "0" or Not started/Unsure.

New terms and concepts. We realize some of the terms used in the survey may be unfamiliar to some people. To help familiarize you with new terms and concepts, we have developed a short glossary. Please review the terms before you start taking the survey and refer to the list of terms as necessary.

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* Name

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* Email Address

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* Name of ACH

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* 1. Choose the number below that best describes your ACH leadership team's approach to address root causes of inequities:

0- Not Started/Unsure.

1- We are starting to discuss what we can do to address root causes of inequities.

2- Our leadership team has some knowledge and continues to learn about historical and structural barriers that are the root causes of inequities in our community. Sometimes they talk about these root causes when we are discussing ways to address inequities.

3- Somewhere in between 2 and 4.

4- We are implementing 1 or 2 strategies that address root causes of inequities, such as counteracting redlining in our neighborhoods or disinvestment in food distribution channels, or improving transportation access.

5- Somewhere in between 4 and 6.

6- We are implementing many strategies that address root causes of inequities, such as counteracting redlining in our neighborhoods or disinvestment in food distribution channels, or improving transportation access.

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* 2. Choose the number below that best describes your ACH leadership team's understanding of structural barriers as the root causes of inequities:

0- Not Started/Unsure.

1- We are starting to discuss what we can do to address root causes of inequities.

3- Somewhere in between 2 and 4.

5- Somewhere in between 4 and 6.

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* 3. Choose the number below that best describes your ACH Leadership Team's equity work:

0- Not Started/UInsure.

1- We are aware that we can work together to center equity in ACH's work. But we don't have a plan for what steps to take next.

2- We are just beginning to discuss what equity means to our ACH leadership and collaborative.

3- Somewhere in between 2 and 4.

4- We are currently developing an equity plan that is ready for implementation.

5- Somewhere in between 4 and 6.

6- We have an equity plan and an implementation strategy that we are regularly using.

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* 4. Choose the number below that best describes how well your ACH assesses your leadership team's progress in understanding of structural barriers:

0- Not Started/Unsure.

1- We are starting to plan how to evaluate the leadership team's ability to identify structural barriers, like racism, sexism, and homophobia, etc.

2- The leadership team was evaluated once how well they can identify and discuss structural barriers such as racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. But this is not an established practice.

3- Somewhere in between 2 and 4.

4- We sometimes evaluate the leadership team on how well they can identify and discuss about structural barriers such as racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. We are developing an assessment strategy and tools.

5- Somewhere in between 4 and 6.

6- We regularly evaluate the leadership team on how well they can identify and discuss structural barriers such as racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. We have an evaluation plan in place.

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* 5. Choose the number below that best describes your ACH’s partners, those who hold structural power (such as government agencies, elected officials, school districts, businesses, and other key anchor institutions) dismantle barriers to equity:

0- Not Started/Unsure

1- We have partners who have started to discuss their role in equity-based policies. These partners are in positions to make or change policies that address structural barriers.

2- We have partners who can help us make or change policies that will address structural barriers. Some of our partners understand how unjust policies can have negative impacts on the community, but we need more partners who are willing to work issues to join us.

3- Somewhere in between 2 and 4.

4- We have partners who can help us change laws and policies that create structural barriers. Some of our partners are working to make up for past mistakes or harmful effects on the community. They are trying to build trust between them- selves and their community.

5- Somewhere in between 4 and 6.

6- We have partners who can help us change policies and laws that address structural barriers. Almost all of these partners are already taking steps to eliminate structural barriers.

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* 6. Choose the number below that best describes your ACH leadership's processes that intentionally address equity:

0- Not Started/Unsure.

1- Our ACH leadership team is starting to discuss having an equity action plan and we are exploring how to use data to identify our community's equity needs.

2- Our ACH leadership team is using local/regional data to develop a plan that address the equity needs of our community.

3- Somewhere in between 2 and 4.

4- Our ACH leadership is developing a plan of our collective vision and shared language of equity. This plan will have written equity practices and policies. We will follow this plan and adapt it as needed.

5- Somewhere in between 4 and 6.

6- We have a plan that helps us achieve equity. This plan has our shared vision and language of equity, practices and policies that we all need to follow. The ACH leadership team ensures this plan is followed. The plan is changed often to meet our needs.

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* 7. Choose the number below that best describes your ACH’s inclusion of community residents and/or people most harmed by inequities, in leadership roles:

0- Not Started/Unsure.

1- We are beginning to plan how to include more community residents and/or people who are most harmed by inequities into our collaborative.

2- We are made up of about 25% of community residents and/or people who are most harmed by inequities.

3- Somewhere in between 2 and 4.

4- We are made up of about 50% of community residents and/or people who are most harmed by inequities.

5- Somewhere in between 4 and 6.

6- We are made up of about 75% of community residents and/or people who are most harmed by inequities.

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* 8. Choose the number below that best describes how your ACH Leadership team reflects the community you are serving:

0- Not Started/Unsure.

1- We are starting to discuss how to increase our ACH leadership team's diversity so that it better represents our community and people who are most harmed by inequities.

2- We have been able to recruit ACH leadership members who reflect the make-up of our community and those who are most harmed by inequities. How-ever, we need to create development and retention strategies so they continue to work with us.

3- Somewhere in between 2 and 4.

4- We have diverse ACH leadership members that better reflects the make-up of our community and those who are most harmed by inequities. We are starting to implement plans to ensure their sense of belonging, continued development, and retention.

5- Somewhere in between 4 and 6.

6- We use a number of strategies to attract, develop, promote, and retain diverse members on our ACH leadership team. Our members reflect the community we live in and the people who are most harmed by inequities.

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* 9. Choose the number below that best describes your ACH’s access to power and decision-making transparency:

0- Not Started/Unsure.

1- We are starting to discuss expanding who makes decisions and how we make decisions so we can share power in our community's systems, institutions, and among residents and people who are most harmed by inequities. We want everyone in our ACH to have a say in what happens.

2- We have made a few changes to our decision-making roles and processes. These changes mean that more people get a say in how things are done, including the community's systems, institutions, residents, and people who are most harmed by inequities (e.g. Black people, Indigenous people, and People of color (BIPOC), older adults, young people, members of LGBTQ+ community, and others).

3- Somewhere in between 2 and 4.

4- About half of our decisions involve sharing power equally among everyone in our community, including systems, institutions, residents, and people who are most harmed by inequities (e.g. Black people, Indigenous people, and People of color (BIPOC), older adults, young people, members of LGBTQ+ community, and others ).

5- Somewhere in between 4 and 6.

6- All our decisions involve sharing power with everyone across our community's systems, institutions, residents, and people who are most harmed by inequities (e.g. Black people, Indigenous people, and People of color (BIPOC), older adults, young people, members of LGBTQ+ community, and others ).

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* 10. Choose the number below that best describes your ACH’s comfort level to have conversations about equity and structural barriers that uphold systemic oppression:

0- Not Started/Unsure.

1- We are aware that it is hard for our ACH leadership team to name and talk about equity (e.g. racial equity, economic justice, white supremacy culture, misogyny, ageism, or homophobia, or other systemic oppressions). It is unlikely that we would talk about equity without external support and guidance.

2- We are just starting to learn the language for naming and talking about equity (e.g. racial equity, economic justice, white supremacy culture, misogyny, ageism, or homophobia, or other systemic oppressions), among our ACH leadership team. We can use support to advance our equity conversations.

3- Somewhere in between 2 and 4.

4- We are somewhat comfortable naming and talking about equity (e.g. racial equity, economic justice, white supremacy culture, misogyny, ageism, or homophobia, or other systemic oppressions), among our ACH leadership team. We have resources and guidance to advance our equity conversation.

5- Somewhere in between 4 and 6.

6- We are very comfortable and regularly name and talk about equity (e.g. racial equity, economic justice, white supremacy culture, misogyny, ageism, or homophobia, or other systemic oppressions), among our ACH leadership team. We understand the terms to use and don't rely on just a few people to address systemic oppression. We listen deeply to what people who are most harmed by inequities say about equity.

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* 11. Choose the number below that best describes your ACH’s conversations about power (For example, who do you think holds power, whose power to leverage, who does not have power, who feels comfortable in the collaborative space and who doesn’t ):

0- Not Started/Unsure.

1- Our ACH leadership team is just starting to plan how we can address and hold discussions about power.

2- On 1 or 2 occasions our ACH leadership team has held discussions about power.

3- Somewhere in between 2 and 4.

4- Our ACH leadership team sometimes has discussions about power.

5- Somewhere in between 4 and 6.

6- Our ACH leadership team regularly holds discussions about power.

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* 12. Choose the number below that best describes how your ACH leadership team holds key conversations about equity:

0- Not Started/Unsure.

1- We are just starting to plan where we will have key discussions about equity.

2- Key conversations about equity usually happen in informal settings such as one-on-one meetings or social gathering.

3- Somewhere in between 2 and 4.

4- Key conversations about equity usually happen during our ACH leadership team meetings, but we're not always told when they are happening, how to prepare, or with enough time to invite an inclusive group.

5- Somewhere in between 4 and 6.

6- Key conversations about equity usually take place in formal meetings. We publish an agenda ahead of time so that as many people as possible can contribute to the agenda and contribute to the discussion.

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* 13. Choose the number below that best describes your ACH’s inclusive decision-making process:

0- Not Started/Unsure.

1- We are starting to clarify and improve our decision-making processes, so they are more transparent and inclusive.

2- We have some guidelines for transparent and inclusive decision making, but they are used only occasionally.

3- Somewhere in between 2 and 4.

4- Important decisions (such as how to spend our budget or share resources) go through a decision-making process that prioritizes efficiency over inclusiveness. This means not everyone is included or has a say.

5- Somewhere in between 4 and 6.

6- Making important decisions (such as budget and how to share resources) is a process that makes sure everyone is involved, has a say, and power is shared fairly across our ACH leadership. This way, everyone affected by the decision can have a voice. This process also makes sure decisions are made transparently, so everyone knows what is happening.

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* 14. Choose the number below that best describes your ACH’s strategies to address root causes of inequities:

0- Not Started/Unsure.

1- We are aware that working on equity (e.g. racial justice, food security, or economic equity) must include addressing root causes, but we haven’t started yet.

2- We are starting to talk about addressing root causes of systemic inequities. This includes deciding which are most important to our community for us to address, such as immigration, poverty, policing, intimate partner violence, health care, or education, etc.

3- Somewhere in between 2 and 4.

4- We are using some strategies to address the root causes of inequities in one specific area that is most important for our communities , such as immigration, poverty, policing, intimate partner violence, health care, or education, etc.

5- Somewhere in between 4 and 6.

6- We are using multiple strategies to erase inequities in many areas that are most important for our communities, such as immigration, poverty, policing, intimate partner violence, health care, or education, etc.

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* 15. Choose the number below that best describes your ACH leadership team's processes to resolve conflict and build consensus internally:

0- Not Started/Unsure.

1- We recognize the need for creating processes to resolve conflict and build consensus is foundational for our ACH development. We don't have a developed process and we welcome guidance on this topic.

2- We are actively talking and looking at best practices about conflict resolution and consensus building for our ACH leadership team.

3- Somewhere in between 2 and 4.

4- We are in the process of developing a conflict resolution and consensus building plan for our ACH leadership team.

5- Somewhere in between 4 and 6.

6- We have a conflict resolution and consensus plan that our ACH leadership uses and adapts as needed. This plan is used across the collaborative and with our partner organizations.

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* 16. Choose the number below that best describes the makeup of your ACH’s leadership:

0- Not Started/Unsure.

1- We are starting to talk about how to bring on more people who are most harmed by inequities into leadership roles.

2- People who represent those who are most harmed by inequities fill one or two leadership roles. This includes people on the board, the core team/backbone or collaborative staff, or workgroup leadership.

3- Somewhere in between 2 and 4.

4- People who represent those who are most harmed by inequities fill some leadership roles. This includes people on the board, the core team/backbone or collaborative staff, or workgroup leadership.

5- Somewhere in between 4 and 6.

6- People who represent those who are most harmed by inequities fill many leadership roles. This includes people on the board, the core team/backbone or collaborative staff, or workgroup leadership.

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* 17. Choose the number below that best describes how your ACH’s partner organizations lift up grassroots or community voices:

0- Not Started/Unsure.

1- We are starting to talk about how important it is for partner organizations to include the voice and input of residents and/or people who are most harmed by inequities.

2- One or two partner organizations are gathering the voice and input of residents and/or people who are most harmed by inequities.

3- Somewhere in between 2 and 4.

4- About half of our partner organizations gather the voice and input of residents and/or people who are most harmed by inequities and bring that input back to the whole collaborative to shape our goals and decisions.

5- Somewhere in between 4 and 6.

6- Most of our partner organizations routinely use ways to gather the voice and input of residents and/or people who are most harmed by inequities and bring that input back to the whole collaborative to shape our goals and decisions.

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* 18. Choose the number below that best describes how your ACH ensures belonging of community residents or people most harmed by inequities in leadership roles:

0- Not Started/Unsure.

1- We are aware that belonging is imperative to meaningful engagement of residents and/or people who are most harmed by inequities.

2- We are actively discussing engagement and belonging strategies of of residents and/or people who are most harmed by inequities for leadership roles.

3--Somewhere in between 2 and 4.

4- We are learning about engagement and belonging and exploring practices that ensure a sense of belonging of residents and/or people who are most harmed by inequities.

5- Somewhere in between 4 and 6.

6- We have established engaging and belonging strategy and accountability measures for our residents and/or people who are most harmed by inequities.

Thank you for completing the survey. Please click "DONE" to submit your response.