Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Officer and Clinician

Fair Haven Community Health Care 

FHCHC is a forward-thinking, dynamic, and exciting community health center that provides care for multiple generations at over 143,000 office visits in 21 locations. Overseen by a Board of Directors, the majority of whom are patients themselves, we are proud to offer a wide range of primary and specialty care services, as well as evidence-based patient programs to educate patients in healthy lifestyle choices. As we grow and are able to bring high-quality health care to more areas that need access, we continue to put our patients first in everything we do. The mission of FHCHC is “To improve the health and social well-being of the communities we serve through equitable, high quality, patient-centered care that is culturally responsive.”

For 53 years, we have been a health care leader in our community focused on providing excellent, affordable primary care to all patients, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Fair Haven is proud to have a diverse and motivated team of professionals who are constantly seeking ways to enhance and improve the health and well-being of all patients. We believe that everyone should have access to high-quality medical and dental care, regardless of ability to pay.

Job purpose

Fair Haven Community Health Care (FHCHC) is committed to equitably improving the health of the population with a clinical culture of high-reliability, inclusivity, systems-learning, and teaming. The DEI Officer and Clinician position represents an exciting opportunity for a clinical leader to work at the intersection of health care and workforce development through a DEI lens. This role is responsible for creating the vision of, implementing, and measuring the impact of a portfolio of initiatives aimed at promoting and maintaining a workplace that is culturally sensitive and inclusive across racial, gender, physical ability, and other social hierarchies. Recognizing that health equity and DEI are two separate but related priorities impacting the health and wellness of our community, FHCHC seeks a clinician (medical, behavioral health, or dental) for this role.

Duties and responsibilities

Reporting to the Chief Medical Officer, the DEI Officer and Clinician’s duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) (40% of the time):

• Designs and executes DEI strategies that promote an inclusive workplace culture;
• Organizes training sessions and workshops in collaboration with the director of training to enhance staff understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion principles across all levels of the organization;
• Conducts assessments of organizational practices to identify areas for improvement in DEI efforts, including analyzing current policies and suggesting enhancements to support diversity and inclusion goals;
• Collaborates with Human Resources and DEI committees to articulate DEI vision within the organization; develops and executes plans to improve DEI measures across clinical and non-clinical services, including the measurement of attributes related to hiring, promotions, and retention of staff, while leading multidisciplinary teams to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions over time;
• Provides direction for projects and activities related to DEI improvements, including initiatives from Human Resources and DEI committees;  
• Participates and/or chairs committees, task forces, and meetings related to team DEI initiatives;
• Stays informed on DEI trends, best practices, and regulatory changes to ensure the Health Center remains at the forefront of DEI efforts;
• Reports on DEI initiatives regularly to the Executive Management Team (EMT), the Board of Directors (BOD) and Business Management Group (BMG);
• Consults with HR about employee benefits and services to best represent the needs of all staff; and
• Revises and updates all communication on our website, social media pages, job descriptions and internal documents to ensure we use non-discriminatory language.

Direct Clinical Care (60% of the time)

• Delivers comprehensive clinical care, including assessments, diagnoses, and treatment plans;
• Ensures that care is culturally competent and tailored to meet the diverse needs of patients;
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to coordinate holistic patient care;
• Maintains accurate and timely medical records in compliance with legal and ethical standards; and
• Educates patients and families about health conditions, preventive care, and resources available in the organization.

Qualifications

Education:

• Terminal degree (MD, PhD, APRN, PA, DDS, DMD) or masters-level behavioral health therapy degree with clinical licensure in the State of Connecticut.

Experience:

• Minimum [two (2) years] experience in DEI initiatives, program development, or community engagement strongly preferred.

Skills:

• Strong understanding of health disparities and social determinants of health.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage effectively with diverse populations
• Proficient in data analysis and program evaluation focused on health equity and DEI, with advanced skills in Microsoft applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other web-based applications. Capable of producing complex documents, conducting thorough analysis, and maintaining databases.
• Ability to work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams.
• Commitment to fostering a culturally competent and inclusive environment.

Other Requirements:

• Active Connecticut medical license or relevant certification.
• Maintains current DEA registration, if applicable.
• Maintains current CPR certification.
• Flexibility to work evenings or weekends, as needed.
• Bilingual or multilingual skills are a plus.

Direct Reports

• None

American with Disabilities Requirements:

External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled, must be able to perform the essential job specific functions (listed within each job specific responsibility) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by the organization on a case by case basis.

Fair Haven Community Health Care is an Equal Opportunity Employer. FHCHC does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.