Pennsylvania Human Services Agency Releases First Racial Equity Report
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) has released the department’s first Racial Equity Report, which details some long-standing disparities it calls unacceptable, including:
• A Black newborn in the state is almost 13 percent less likely to receive the recommended number of well-child visits within their first 15 months of life compared to a White newborn.
• Black women are three times more likely to die in childbirth than White women.
• The uninsured rate in 2018 was 7.1 percent for Black Pennsylvanians, compared to 5 percent for White Pennsylvanians.
As the public assistance agency for Pennsylvania, DHS administers Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), among other programs. DHS also oversees Pennsylvania’s child welfare system and licenses long-term care facilities, behavioral health and intellectual disability/autism service providers and residential care providers.
The report details DHS’ efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in order to be a partner in correcting systemic racism and inequities.
“After the last year, we’ve learned more than ever that it is not enough to speak in opposition to racism and make a commitment to equity. Black Lives Matter – but this is not just a value. This must be a call to action for all of us to use our privilege and our position to try to make the world a better place for everyone,” said DHS Secretary Teresa Miller, in a statement accompanying the report’s release. “DHS has an incredibly broad reach that gives us the opportunity to impact people and these social determinants of health across their lifespan, and we are committed to not letting this opportunity slip away.”
The report provides an overview of Pennsylvania’s work in this space and relevant data where it is available. It also identifies opportunities for growth and next steps to help bring this work to fruition. The report is meant to establish a starting point for DHS and its partners, including Medicaid managed care organizations and health systems, to guide efforts moving forward.
The report noted that DHS has been focused on health equity for some time, but many of these initiatives were led by one program office and looked at specific physical health issues. “We are now working under a coordinated, department-wide approach. We are moving forward with analysis of data specifically looking for gaps, opportunities and trends by race,” the report said. “This is happening across physical health, behavioral health, long-term services and supports, and programs serving people with intellectual disabilities and autism. As we prioritize and better centralize and coordinate efforts related to equity, DHS is looking to improve our data infrastructure for continuous monitoring of racial disparities. This infrastructure will facilitate better coordination and help us refine and hold to benchmark data, goals, and progress of initiatives as they are implemented.”
DHS is also working with a number of other commonwealth agencies to develop a statewide resource and referral tool, RISE PA, to connect people to services and supports that can help improve their health and well-being and address barriers in their lives.
“The Governor’s Advisory Commission on African American Affairs commends Secretary Miller and the Racial Equity Steering Committee at DHS for moving beyond rhetoric and acknowledgement to measurable and meaningful action,” said Jalila Parker, executive director of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on African American Affairs, in a statement. “Working to dismantle institutional racism and discriminatory practices is uncomfortable work that needs to become standard and comfortable in today’s diverse society,” “We are committed to supporting Secretary Miller and DHS in this work.”
“The DHS Racial Equity report takes a closer lens of the alarming systemic racism that face our communities and is an issue that can no longer be ignored. According to census data there are approximately 1 million Latinos residing in Pennsylvania, and this data is likely to grow with the 2020 Census,” said Luz Colon, executive director of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs, in a statement. “We are dedicated to join forces and identify the gaps of services and lead the fight for justice, equity and create opportunity for the Pennsylvania Latinos. Together we will stand strong to address systemic inequities to live a better tomorrow.”
