Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The New York State Department of Health is committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Center for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is responsible for implementing the Office of Health Equity and Human Rights' overarching vision and framework of workforce engagement, workforce competency and capacity building, and workplace organizational culture at the leadership, programmatic, and administrative levels throughout the New York State Department of Health.

You can read about how diversity, equity and inclusion relates to the New York State Department of Health's commitment to health equity in its Health Equity Plan, an action plan and guide for all staff of the Department.

New York Executive Order 187

Signed in 2018, New York Executive Order 187 was enacted to promote diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity in New York State.

Executive Order 187 ensures that New York State is committed to a culture of respect that values and promotes diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity, free of unlawful discrimination on the basis of protected class status, including, age, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, military or veteran status, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital or family status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record or criminal conviction history, or any other impermissible basis, in all functions performed, and services offered, by New York State employees.

Key Definitions

At the New York State Department of Health, diversity means representation of different identities (identity categories might include: race, ethnicity, gender, ability, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, etc.). Diversity looks at representation in terms of quantity. In other words, how many people are represented from different identity-based groups?

Equity refers to policies and practices that lead to equitable outcomes, meaning everyone gets what they need to be successful. Equity ensures that identity is not predictive of opportunities or outcomes. In the case of health equity, this means everyone having a fair opportunity to achieve optimal health. Another way of thinking about achieving "optimal health" is that everyone has equitable access to the conditions in life to achieve optimal health.

Inclusion is a mindset and happens when people of all ability levels are appreciated and welcomed as valued members of a community and can participate fully and meaningfully. This can look like meaningful participation of a diverse range of identity groups (across ability, religion, race, ethnicity, gender identity, etc.) in multiple levels of the agency, and especially on leadership teams that have influence over decision-making. Inclusion is about the quality of the diversity represented in the organization. In other words, to what extent are members of different identity-based groups included meaningfully in the leadership, decision-making, and staff culture of the organization?

These definitions and other key terms are outlined in the New York State Department of Health's Health Equity Plan.

About the Center for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Within the New York State Department of Health, the work of the Center for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is centered around three areas of focus.

Compliance, Policy and Strategic Planning

Workforce Training and Supportive Services

  • Provide recommendations to programs across the New York State Department pertaining to diversity, equity and inclusion
  • Develop workforce development trainings and resources
  • Create workforce supportive services activities

Special Projects, Operations and Administration

Support the appointments process for advisory boards and councils assigned to the New York State Department of Health

Resources