equitable and inclusive organizational policies and culture

Our diversity, equity and inclusion work begins with people.

Fueled by an inclusive mindset, we believe our staff should be reflective of our community and the patients we serve.  Patients are more likely to follow clinical advice and treatments when they can identify with their health care provider.

Dayton Children’s is working to create a workforce from a variety of backgrounds with varied expertise to provide culturally effective health care. In this work we are examining how our processes and policies can facilitate a culture focused on equity for patients and for Dayton Children’s employees, so we all can thrive.

We also support pipeline programs that support and encourage young people to pursue a career in health care.  We are creating an environment where diverse staff can flourish by launching training programs emphasizing the importance of cultural humility and building our employee resource groups. 

Having a diverse workforce expands our ability to serve our patients, families, and community. It also enriches our hospital culture and expands our knowledge of the health issues children face while expanding our ability to improve the care we deliver.

Ultimately, a diverse workforce means better outcomes for our patients and a rich and fulfilling work environment.

featured programs and initiatives

• Career Development - Dayton Children's Employee Experience department partners with local colleges and leaders at Dayton Children’s to remove barriers for employees to advance their careers.  
• The Rise Career Advancement Program (or Rise Program) was initially created focusing on nursing and is expanding to include other healthcare professions. The goal of the program is to increase the number of racially underrepresented employees at Dayton Children’s to reflect the patient population served. The Rise program removes barriers by offering financial assistance, employee benefits, mentoring and career development opportunities to racially underrepresented employees pursuing various accredited healthcare educational degrees or certifications. 
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) at Dayton Children’s are voluntary, employee-led groups with an aim to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with Dayton Children’s mission, vision and values by planning events/cultural observances and advocating for policy changes within the hospital that support the inclusion of their community. All ERGs are open to members who identify as part of the community and allies. 
• Collaborations with community recruitment - We strive to recruit, grow, and retain top diverse talent that contributes to the positive and inclusive culture at Dayton Children’s. We have created meaningful relationships with community organizations, businesses, and education systems to gain guidance on best practice to recruit diverse talent.  We leverage our in-house resources (i.e. tuition/certification reimbursement, education/training, internships, apprenticeships, mentoring) to promote and provide valuable career growth opportunities for all employees, placing additional focus on employees occupying entry-level jobs.  
• Ongoing training and education - Dayton Children’s is committed to providing continuous education and training focusing on equity and cultural humility to our team members, including Providers.  By doing so, we strive to eliminate explicit and unconscious biases, discrimination, and inequities that prevents our patients, families, community, and team members from reaching their full potential.