Closeup of laptop with diverse stickers on it while female student types on keyboard.

Why Assess the Climate and Conditions for DEIB?

Assessing gaps, needs, and assets helps inform the group or unit’s planning and action to promote DEIB.

 

Key Questions to Consider

  • What is the current climate and context for Diversity? For Equity? Inclusion? Belonging?
  • Who is affected by these conditions, how, and to what extent?
  • What patterns (increases, decreases) can be seen in key indicators of DEIB?
  • What factors and social determinants produce inequities for particular groups (e.g., differential exposures and opportunities, differential vulnerabilities and capabilities, differential access and discrimination)?
  • What information will be used to set priority DEIB goals, including marked differences in conditions and outcomes for particular groups (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender)?
  • What resources and assets can help address priority DEIB goal(s)?

 

Some Recommended Actions

  1. Gather information to help choose priority goals for advancing DEIB. Including:
    • Listen to and engage people from historically underrepresented  groups to better understand how multiple policies and practices interact to produce disadvantage
    • Existing data sources on DEIB indicators; look for where there are marked differences in outcomes for particular groups (e.g., related to race, ethnicity, gender)
    • Additional quantitative data (e.g., surveys, observation)
    • Qualitative data (e.g., interviews, listening sessions, focus groups)
  1. State evidence justifying the choice of the DEIB priority goal(s), including:
    • DEIB indicators showing the size of the problem (e.g., xx)
    • How frequently the problem (or related behavior) occurs (e.g., number of reported/confirmed incidents in the past year)
    • The marked differences in outcomes for particular groups (e.g., related to race, ethnicity, gender)
  1. Identify factors and social determinants that produce marked differences in outcomes (inequities) for particular groups including:
    • Differential exposures and opportunities (e.g., to stress, support networks)
    • Differential vulnerabilities and capabilities (e.g., education)
    • Differential access and consequences (e.g., access to quality services, discrimination)
  2. Describe what relevant resources and assets are available, and how the group can use those resources to address the priority goal(s).
  3. Increase public awareness about the DEIB issues that matter to communities, including the consequences for people from marginalized groups.

 

Assessment Tools from the Community Tool Box