As the Children’s Services Fund of Jackson County, we have a commitment: Improving the mental and behavioral health of children and youth in Jackson County, especially those who are most vulnerable and marginalized in our community. Our goal to embed equity into our work led us to create a new position, Director of Health Equity, and a few months ago we shared our delight that Russell Anderson joined us to take on this critical role.
With a background in public administration and extensive experience serving the youth of Kansas City, Anderson brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to this role. His career started in homeless services, focusing on bridging gaps for youth experiencing homelessness. He later transitioned to Truman Medical Center (now University Health), where he worked in behavioral health and workforce development, particularly around trauma-informed care and trauma-sensitive schools.
During his time at University Health, his work expanded to include health equity, addressing the disparate impacts on underserved populations. With Anderson joining the CSF team, we are now moving forward on a path we have long desired: embedding Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) into every aspect of our operations and equipping us (and our partners) to pursue health equity in Jackson County.
Health equity and its importance to a funding organization
But what is health equity, and why does it matter for a funding organization like the CSF? Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. It recognizes that there are social determinants of health, such as economic stability, education and housing, that affect how people access and experience health care and other services. “Health equity also means that we address the root causes of these disparities and barriers and that we work to eliminate them,” expands Anderson. “It is crucial for the CSF to fund the organizations that ensure children and families in Jackson County have access to the resources and support they need.”
Anderson emphasizes that DEIB work is about recognizing and sharing power, and as a funder, CSF has a responsibility to reflect these principles in our processes and partnerships. “As a funder, we need to be in that space because we wield significant influence when distributing funds to organizations. We must carefully handle the process and, once someone joins us as a partner, help them understand that organizations also have power in their communities. It’s essential for them to recognize and leverage this power, especially considering the various ways intersectionality interacts with our mission.”
By embedding DEIB principles into our practices, we aim to create a more inclusive and equitable system of care that addresses the diverse needs of our community. This involves not only providing funding but also offering guidance and support to our partner organizations to help them achieve their goals.
Vision for the work
Anderson’s vision for his role at the CSF is twofold: enhancing internal DEIB practices and doing all he can to come alongside partner organizations in pursuing health equity. Over the next 12 months, Anderson will be working closely with the staff and board members of the CSF to deepen their understanding of DEIB concepts and how to apply and integrate them into each of their specific roles. This work can take many shapes: facilitating training sessions, one-on-one coaching, and creating experiential learning opportunities within the community, to name a few.
Anderson is currently working with staff to review and update our policies and practices to reflect DEIB and health equity principles. He is also preparing for the next funding cycle, where he hopes to see more DEIB and health equity work being embedded in the LOI process and the partner meetings.
As we move forward, Anderson eagerly anticipates the results of the Children’s Services Assessment, which will provide valuable insights into the mental, emotional and behavioral health needs of Jackson County’s children. He expanded on how the Children’s Services Assessment data could inform health equity initiatives such as targeted universal policy, programs, and practices that help ensure that all children in Jackson County benefit from our efforts. “What comes out of that is an opportunity to set the bar around where the community says they want their children’s health to be, what they want their health outcomes to be. After that, the work becomes about helping partners understand and work through how to do that, how to transform programs to achieve those goals. It’s not something any of us can do alone.”
A call to action
Anderson invites all CSF partners to engage with him directly. “Ask questions, even the ‘scary’ ones. What do you need to discuss that you might not feel safe addressing in a larger group? As a coach and facilitator my role is to create space for those hard conversations on topics that might be unfamiliar or seem risky. I aim to bring that to CSF and our partners, providing a judgment-free space for questions that can help us all think differently about our day-to-day work. We’re learners too, here at the CSF. As an organization, we’re still learning and we’re committed to adapting based on new information. We want to help our partner organizations do the same.”
“My role is not to dictate or impose policy on our partners, but to support and resource them in their efforts to provide the best and most equitable health services for the children and youth of our county,” Anderson explains.
We are excited about the journey ahead and, with Anderson’s leadership, look forward to making a meaningful impact both within our organization, and for kids and families across the country. We invite you to take Anderson up on his invitation to engage with him and ask questions about DEIB and health equity. He is always open to learning and listening, and he wants to hear from you. You can reach him at [email protected].
