Racial equity resources for Behavioral Health Services (BHS) staff

Resources include affinity groups, Racial Equity Action Council (REAC), the Racial Equity Champions program, and training.

Behavioral Health Services (BHS) offers the following racial equity resources to staff including San Francisco City and County Employees. We are in the pre-planning phase of expanding to contractors.

Racial, ethnic, and cultural affinity groups

BHS has launched separate Affinity Groups for Black/African American, Latinx, White, and Asian staff to help build their capacity on racial equity concepts and practices. This will be expanded in future phases to include additional groups such as ones for Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander, Native/Indigenous, and LGBTQIA+ staff.

Racial Equity Action Council (REAC)

The BHS Racial Equity Action Council (REAC) is a monthly meeting for internal staff to learn and get involved in larger equity initiatives happening throughout BHS and SFPDH as well as a space for staff to get support on their individual and team’s equity projects and challenges. It has representation from various BHS teams including representation from all Systems of Care.

Racial Equity Champions

The Racial Equity Champion program is managed by the Office of Health Equity (OHE) and staff must apply in order to participate. It is up to each staff person and section to assist DPH in realizing our mission to protect and promote the health of all San Franciscans. To achieve our goal, we must do more to advance racial equity within our department and in the communities we serve. Advancing racial equity in DPH will require staff to be active participants in their learning and by turning their learnings into actions that will create more equitable environments in which to work and serve. 

Relias online learning platform

Relias is a learning and training portal that provides professional development for our workforce through clinical trainings, professional skill-building, racial equity learning, and more.

Last updated April 30, 2024