High Sierra AHEC Collaborates with State Agencies for Diversity and Inclusion

High Sierra AHEC, through our Nevada Cultural Competency Program, has had the pleasure of collaborating with the Office of Minority Health and Equity (NOMHE), the Office of New Americans, the Commission on Minority Affairs, the Department of Human Resource Management, and other state entities to support the implementation of Senate Bill 222 (SB222). Signed into law during the 2021 Nevada Legislative Session, SB222 mandates that all state agencies interacting with or offering programs and services affecting minority groups designate a Diversity and Inclusion Liaison (DIL) within their agency.

In alignment with this initiative, the Minority Interagency Collaboration (MIC), consisting of the Nevada Governor’s Office for New Americans (ONA), NOMHE, and the Department of Business and Industry’s Commission on Minority Affairs (NCMA), is working together to implement SB222 across state government agencies. This includes providing training and orientation for DILs to understand the communities they serve and the importance of culturally responsive services.

As part of this effort, High Sierra AHEC is proud to contribute to the Nevada Diversity and Inclusion Liaison Initiative, providing culturally responsive training throughout October 2024. On October 9th, High Sierra AHEC's DEIA+ Engagement Specialist conducted a training on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Equity for the DIL cohort. This training equipped 34 of the 52 DILs in attendance with essential best practices for providing culturally responsive services to the LGBTQIA2S+ community. Topics covered included individual and institutional accountability and day-to-day practices, such as using personal pronouns and preferred names.

The DEIA+ Engagement Specialist will continue to support the initiative by offering another training on People with Disabilities on October 15th. This session will explore different types of disabilities, address ableism, and provide best practices for making spaces and services more equitable and accessible.

Stay tuned for more updates!