Strategic Goal #1: Recruit and retain a dedicated and skilled workforce

To have dedicated and skilled employees who believe in the value of every person, believe every person must be treated equitably with dignity and respect, believe in giving people resources and opportunities to make informed and healthy choices, believe people deserve honesty and trustworthiness in all we do, and believe every person will experience our services in a safe, caring, trauma-informed and confidential manner.

How we plan to achieve:

1. Develop targeted recruitment initiatives tailored to attract diverse talent pools, including underrepresented groups, by leveraging partnerships with educational institutions, professional organizations and community networks.
2. Implement competitive compensation and benefits packages, including salary adjustments, professional development opportunities and employee wellness programs, to attract and retain top talent in a competitive job market.
3. Strengthen onboarding processes to provide comprehensive orientation, training and mentorship programs that support new hires in acclimating to their roles, understanding organizational culture and fostering a sense of belonging.
4. Conduct regular assessments of employee satisfaction, morale and retention drivers through surveys, focus groups and exit interviews to identify areas for improvement and inform targeted interventions.
5. Develop career advancement pathways, leadership development programs and succession planning strategies to provide growth opportunities and ensure a pipeline of internal talent for key roles within the agency.
6. Enhance the agency’s employer branding and marketing efforts to demonstrate its mission, values and commitment to employee growth, diversity, equity and inclusion, both internally and externally.
7. Formalize partnerships with academic institutions, in effort to foster innovation skills, practices or processes as well as serve as a pipeline for qualified new hires.

Strategic Goal #2: To reduce health disparities and achieve health goals by integrating a health equity framework into our workforce.

To reduce health disparities and achieve health goals by integrating a health equity framework into our workforce.

How we plan to achieve:

1. Identify Tulsa County communities that experience the greatest health disparities through the Community Health Needs Assessment and the Tulsa County Health Profile.
2. Align work plans of offices that participate in the health equity planning to develop a framework where the plan is connected throughout the organization.
3. Develop and integrate health equity training programs and resources into the onboarding process and ongoing professional development opportunities for THD staff, emphasizing the importance of understanding and addressing health disparities within their work.
4. Establish mechanisms for collecting and analyzing workforce demographic data, including race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status and other relevant factors, to identify disparities within the organization and inform targeted strategies for recruitment, retention and advancement.
5. Evaluate the impact of the Health Equity Framework on workforce satisfaction, retention rates, employee engagement and organizational outcomes through regular assessments, surveys and performance metrics. Adjust strategies as needed to achieve continuous improvement.
6. Foster a workplace culture that values diversity, inclusivity and cultural competency, promoting respectful communication, collaboration and empathy among staff members from diverse backgrounds and communities.
7. Guide and support public-facing staff in the development of strategies/practices that engage community members in decision-making processes. Dedicate staff to long-term community engagement efforts.
8. Foster partnerships with community partners who serve marginalized populations to establish a THD presence and commitment to reduce health disparities.
9. Develop relationships internally and externally to mobilize communities and government to address health inequities.
10. Implement policies and practices to address structural barriers and systemic inequalities within THD, such as equitable hiring practices, pay equity measures and opportunities for career advancement and leadership development for under-represented groups.
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Strategic Goal #3: To increase the life expectancy and reduce chronic disease and disability in communities and neighborhoods experiencing the greatest disparities.

To increase life expectancy by reducing chronic disease and disability.

How we plan to achieve:

1. Conduct research and data analyses to better understand the local burden of chronic disease and disability, identify emerging trends and prioritize shared community health goals.
2. Enhance screening and early detection programs for chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cancer, with a focus on reaching populations at higher risk.
3. Increase access to healthcare services and preventive services, particularly in under-served communities.
4. Improve access to care, education and support services for women and their infants, aiming to reduce disparities in health outcomes.
5. Increase the use of effective school-delivered interventions – such as increasing activity among students to promote overall health and well-being and reducing the risk of teen pregnancy through improved self-worth and decision-making skills.
6. Increase the use of effective community-delivered interventions such as chronic disease self-management programs, smoking cessation services and substance abuse prevention.
7. Reduce health-related issues linked to environmental hazards, substandard housing and unsafe food practices in the community.
8. Promote healthy lifestyles through community outreach, including initiatives targeting the social drivers of health.
9. Strengthen partnerships between healthcare providers, community organizations, government agencies and other stakeholders to coordinate efforts and maximize resources for chronic disease prevention and management.

Strategic Goal #4: To foster healing and resiliency by acknowledging historical, generational and individual trauma, and identifying and connecting people to trauma-informed and culturally competent services.

To foster healing and resiliency by acknowledging historical, generational, and individual trauma, and identifying and connecting people to trauma-informed and culturally competent services.

How we plan to achieve:

1. Address the intersections of trauma with culture, history, race, gender, location and language. Acknowledge the compounding impact of structural inequity and are responsive to the unique needs of diverse communities.
2. Conduct an organizational trauma-informed assessment.
3. Collaborate with community leaders, mental health professionals and cultural experts to develop culturally sensitive and inclusive healing practices that respect the diverse experiences and backgrounds of individuals affected by trauma.
4. Establish trauma-informed care training programs for community members, organizations and service providers to increase awareness and understanding of trauma's impact and appropriate response strategies.
5. Administer a resiliency evaluation to enhance programs that support communities, staff and organizations in effectively recovering from public health emergencies and disasters.
6. Monitor and evaluate the impact of the trauma-informed community programs through data collection, feedback mechanisms and ongoing assessment to ensure effectiveness, sustainability and responsiveness to community needs.
7. Strengthen community partnerships and networks to leverage resources, expertise and support for trauma survivors and promote community-wide resilience and empowerment.

Strategic Goal #5: To reduce the negative impact of health-related misinformation and disinformation on vulnerable and underserved communities and neighborhoods and amplify voices in those communities and neighborhoods.

To reduce the negative impact of health-related misinformation and disinformation on vulnerable and underserved communities and neighborhoods and amplify voices in those communities and neighborhoods.

How we plan to achieve:

1. Ensure all THD employees understand the role they play in reducing health misinformation harm and helping individuals, families and communities access credible, trusted sources.
2. Guide and support public-facing staff in the development of strategies/practices that engage community members on how to differentiate and evaluate information from disinformation, misinformation and propaganda.
3. Establish community forums and dialogue sessions to provide safe spaces for individuals from vulnerable and underserved communities to voice their concerns, share experiences and build solidarity in response to political rhetoric.
4. Mobilize community leaders, advocacy groups and grassroots organizations to build capacity for community partners and residents to access, interpret and use public health data in effective ways.

THD Strategic Plan: 2016-2020