Direction Home Akron Canton aims to connect individuals to the supports they need to become or remain safe and independent in the places they choose to call home-- regardless of social background and physical appearance. We believe that home is a place that welcomes both cultural similarities and cultural differences by uplifting, educating, empathizing with, and advocating for outspoken individuals.
 

How do we do it?

 

IDEA Committee

The IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Awareness) Committee was created to promote an inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplace environment where employees are safe from racism, discrimination, and judgement. Our IDEA committee members meet monthly to discuss the status of inclusion efforts within the Agency, as well as community engagement opportunities in our service area. Committee members organize and attend cultural continuing education courses, attend DEI conferences, staff vendor tables at Pride and cultural festivals, coordinate with local leaders to better reach marginalized groups with services, review and revise policies, analyze employee recruitment efforts, publish internal educational monthly newsletters, participate in simulations, and organize Agency trainings and activities. 

The IDEA Committee can be contacted at IDEACommittee@dhad.org.

Members of the IDEA Committee are passionate about DEI efforts both at DHAD and outside of the agency. Many Committee members have attended trainings, events, and CEUs. Some of these include:

Community Events

  • Stark Pride
  • Akron Pride
  • ASIA Inc. International Festival
  • Kwanzaa Celebration
  • MLK Breakfast with the Akron Urban League
  • Poverty Simulation
  • Diwali and Hmong New Year
  • ASIA Inc. Community Festival

Trainings

  • Fall Conference
  • O4A Conference

CEUs

  • The Anatomy of Prejudice
  • A Spectrum of Color and Culture
  • Cultural Humility through a Trauma Informed Lens
  • We're Here, Queer, and Getting Older: LGBTQ+ Seniors Aging with Dignity, Not Discrimination
  • Sexual and Gender Minority Health
  • We're All in This Together: Creating a Self and Socially Aware Workplace
  • Positive Aging and Combatting Ageism

 

Equal Opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, DHAD complies with all applicable federal and state non-discrimination laws and will not tolerate discrimination based on race, color, military status, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, national origin, language, ancestry, religion, sex, or age. 

 

DEI Statement

December 19, 2024- Direction Home Akron Canton Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Awareness. 

“Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly” 
–Martin Luther King Jr. 

Direction Home’s core function lies within a person-centered approach and addressing unique needs, but it is the unique contributions of our members and staff that drives us as a community organization. We are committed to bettering health outcomes and understand that we cannot effectively do so without devotion to equitable access. We have a responsibility to our staff, community members, partners and providers, and board members to meet people where they are regardless of circumstance, recognizing that some may need more to thrive.   

The past decade has brought great progress for our organization, community, and nation, while simultaneously molding a landscape that demands awareness of adversity for marginalized individuals including our minority older adults, and/or those identifying with vulnerable populations. We have seen a drastic increase in feelings of isolation, skepticism of community resources, and health-related social needs as a direct effect of social determinants. Direction Home is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and awareness by incorporating care, compassion, and competency through our work. We are also dedicated to reaching beyond compassionate and competent care to impact environments with purposeful action, cultural humility, and a universal responsibility to improving DEI outcomes.  

 We will 

  • Take action-oriented steps when working with community partners to address the health disparity issues for the betterment of older adult minorities  

  • Approach staff, partners, and members with a person-centered mindset 

  • Work together to ensure that employees feel respected, valued, and supported, which will help continue to improve the overall culture that defines our Agency 

  • Include DEIA policies in employee manuals and DEIA statements on our Agency website 

  • Examine DEIA values, goals, and committee work annually 

  • Ensure cultural humility and racism is addressed in our CEU programming, providing professional education on these topics 

  • Facilitate Agency conversations about diversity, inclusion and awareness 

  • Embrace diversity and inclusion as a value and always commit to incorporating that value into the work that we do 

  • Collaborate with community leaders for suggestions and potential solutions for areas of concern 

  • Continually aim for the composition of our staff to be reflective of the community we serve