In 2015, Title V joined a nascent movement within MDPH to eliminate institutional and structural racism in our programs, policies, practices, and workplace. The Racial Equity Movement (REM) has been working to establish a foundational understanding of racism in public health, foster a healthy and equitable work environment at MDPH, and develop workforce capacity to identify and address institutional racism within core elements of our work, such as program planning, community engagement, procurement, and data collection and analysis.

Following four years of racial equity practice, a Racial Equity Coordinator was hired in March 2019 using Title V funds. This was a new position at MDPH, representing a significant accomplishment for the REM. The role of the Coordinator is to support increased staff knowledge of and capacity to promote racial equity; foster a more equitable work environment; improve engagement and communication within and across bureaus; and encourage racial equity in public health practice across MDPH and our providers in partnership with the communities and people we serve.

This accomplishment reflects the flexibility of Title V funding to be used in a way that best meets the needs of the state, the priority Massachusetts places on investing Title V funding in public health services and systems, and highlights Title V’s role as a convener and collaborator on issues of importance to MCH.