This statement is RAMS’ unequivocal commitment to Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA)-based policies and practices in workforce, training, and service delivery. This policy shall serve to guide the direction of service provision, trainings and professional development, workforce development, and staffing/recruitment practices.
OUR COMMITMENT TO SERVE ALL
RAMS envisions creating wellness for all people. We are committed to healing, nurturing, and empowering our community through mental health and wellness services anchored on the principles of Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility.
OUR HISTORY
In 1974, RAMS was founded as a grassroots response to the inequities in the U.S. mental/behavioral healthcare system. Initially supporting the needs of the mono/bilingual Asian-speaking population of the Richmond District through counseling, we have evolved over the decades to meet the changing needs and challenges of communities in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Today we continue to support those who have the least resources and opportunities to achieve their highest potential, with a steadfast commitment to serving the underserved communities of cultural minorities, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, asexual (LGBTQIA+) communities, the disability communities, and the intersections within.
OUR I.D.E.A. IN ACTION
- We create and foster INCLUSIVE practices across RAMS to actively champion anti-racist, anti-ableist, anti-homophobic, and anti-transphobic policies and practices, to ensure an environment where everyone can thrive, be seen and heard, and feel a sense of belonging.
- We reflect our communities’ rich DIVERSITY in every aspect of our staffing, training, and service delivery, including honoring the dignity, visibility, and self-determination of transgender and gender diverse people (including gender-nonconforming, gender-nonbinary, gender-transitioning, and all gender identities and gender expressions) by providing resources, support, and gender-affirming care, and we continue to evolve as our community changes.
- We ensure EQUITABLE and fair practices across our organization and support capacity building to ensure staff are able to serve our communities with care that is culturally humble, anti-racist, gender-affirming, and anti-ableist, through continuous professional development and clinical training where all Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), Disabled, and LGBTQIA+ students and staff are included, empowered, valued, and uplifted.
- We promote ACCESSIBLE policies, practices, and learning experiences to break down barriers as we seek to continually improve how we can meet our staff and our clients where they are, so that no one will be left behind.
- We recognize, uplift, and celebrate the contributions of BIPOC, Disability, and LGBTQIA+ communities whose voices have historically been marginalized and excluded, and believe that culturally humble, anti-racist, gender-affirming, and anti-ableist health care is a right for all people.
