Action from the Veritas Collaborative EDI Council
A few weeks ago, our CEO Mike Browder made a commitment to the Veritas family to serve as an agent of positive change within our community and beyond. Since then, our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Council (EDI) has taken first steps toward this effort. The below message was shared with all Veritas Collaborative employees on behalf of the EDI to highlight actions taken by Veritas to promote diversity.
Good afternoon Collaborators,
One month ago, the senseless killing of George Floyd ignited national protests and a renewed national conversation about racism and unequal treatment in our society. It’s unfortunate that it took yet another tragedy for this topic to get the attention it deserves, but we are hopeful that this moment of reckoning can create true and lasting change in our country and around the world.
While our nation confronts these issues, the members of the Veritas Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Council (EDI) have taken action – and will continue taking action – to make our organization and the communities we serve more inclusive. We want to update you on our work to date, work for the future, and let you know how you can get involved.
EDI Action Taken
Diversity Training. A team member who serves on our EDI council and as an HRBP in Atlanta is receiving training to become a Certified Diversity Professional (CDP). She initially began training earlier this year that was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She has completed the course training and will sit for the exam in the coming months. Having an in-house CDP will help our organization continue to push forward important diversity training initiatives and give us the ability to offer new resources to our employees.
Having difficult conversations. Our Charlotte Executive Director led a discussion for our medical and psychiatric providers on The Impact of Racism on Child and Adolescent Health from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Confronting difficult issues directly is a vital part of overcoming racism and doing our part as caregivers to recognize and respond to the unique health needs of minority populations.
Sharing diverse perspectives. The theme for our 2020 Virtual Symposium will be Together We Are Stronger: Treatment Considerations for Diverse Eating Disorder Populations. This theme, which has been planned since late 2019, builds on the conversations we are having internally and will offer attendees the chance to receive professional training, so we are better equipped to treat all patients. We will offer sessions on topics such as treating eating disorders in Black women, in the male population, and in gender diverse youth. We are pleased to offer up to 26 continuing education credits at no cost to Veritas employees!
Offering direct assistance. We recognize that many of our colleagues are hurting and grieving. Our organization’s free Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a mental health resource for all employees. We encourage all colleagues to take advantage of this resource. You can talk to your manager to learn more about the program.
Supporting change-driven causes. Veritas Collaborative has made a commitment to make a donation to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. EDI members chose this organization and we are grateful to have the financial commitment from our organization. You can learn more about the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, by visiting their website, here.
Continued Commitment
The EDI council has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from our colleagues with offers to become involved in the council’s work. Because of the tremendous interest, we will be adding new members to the council so that we can include more perspectives and so that we can do even more to make change happen. To streamline the process, we will send out instructions on how to apply to become a member, along with a membership guide which will more clearly define our member selection process, member responsibilities, and our code of conduct.
Change cannot come quickly enough, and the EDI council is committed to continuing the work we started when the council was founded in 2018 of promoting an inclusive work environment. We know our colleague-driven approach is the best way to create the real and lasting change that is needed.
We hope that you are energized by the actions already taken and encouraged about the work ahead.
In Solidarity,
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council
Veritas Collaborative