Reflections on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda

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Reflections from Hadley Morrow, Director of Equity & Engagement

This month, our Board meeting fell on April 7, the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda. In Rwanda, April 7 is Genocide against the Tutsi Memorial Day. Each year millions of people gather to mourn an unimaginable loss, to try to find a place for an unthinkable event in their history, to remember incredible darkness.

On April 7, 1994, Rwanda slipped into darkness, and over the next 100 days, nearly a million people were killed, raped, or crippled at the hands of an extremist-led government because of their ethnicity. For 100 days, the world was shocked by the atrocities in Rwanda, but no nations intervened.

In 2011, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Rwanda. My thesis was on genocide memorials and explored these questions: How can a nation memorialize such a significant trauma? Why explore such darkness every year? What are the impacts?

 Since 1994, Rwanda has focused on cultural unity – "We are all Rwandan" – and moving away from ethnic classifications. A common phrase on flags at the memorials reads, "If you knew me, and really knew yourself, you could not kill me." 

There is fundamentally no difference between Hutu and Tutsi people. These identities became institutionalized as a result of white Belgian colonizers. Rwandans were forced to have identity cards, and Tutsis were given more government power than Hutu. It is a common tactic of colonialization to divide the people when aiming to conquer. Although the Belgians left in 1962, the legacy of the division remained and festered. 

We may find comfort in believing this was a fluke event. We go through such lengths to hide from humanity's dark history, but darkness grows in all of the corner's light doesn't reach. 

After the holocaust, we promised "Never Again," yet the world stood motionless 27 years ago, and as you read, genocide is happening in Myanmar. Our nation's history grew from this same dangerous sense of racial/ethnic superiority; one used to justify genocide against indigenous people in America, the enslavement of African people, and many other groups' oppression.

What I saw and learned while in Rwanda changed me, and I committed to sharing Rwanda's story every April 7. I ask people in my community to take time to research and reflect. I share that challenge with you today. The story of the human capacity for committing or ignoring horrors is not just a story for Rwandans to remember. It's the story of our human history.

Learning Resources

COVID-19 Vaccine Trusted Messengers

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Creating Vaccine Equity

Better Health Together (BHT) recognizes that vaccination information and resources are not accessible to all communities equitably. We're collaborating with local community partners to provide resources and funding for removing the barriers many in our community face.

COVID-19 poses undue risks to communities of color and vulnerable populations. In Spokane County, our Pacific Islander, Latinx, and Black community members are experiencing significantly higher rates of cases, deaths, and hospitalizations associated with COVID.

BHT is committed to doing all we can to support these communities in our region and ensure an equitable COVID vaccine distribution process. We admire our community partners' work sharing information, providing resources to their communities, and encouraging them to get vaccinated. We are excited to help in these efforts.

Trusted Messenger COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign

On April 16, the vaccine became available to anyone over 16 years of age. Our priority is to help get as many folks in our region vaccinated as quickly as possible in an equitable way.

Our Trusted Messenger COVID-19 Vaccine campaign supports partners working with communities disproportionately impacted by COVID to overcome vaccine hesitancy. We are working with partners to normalize vaccination, create a supportive environment for those likely to vaccinate, and share information about the vaccines through local trusted messengers.

BHT has committed to providing $450,000* in funding to support partners in their vaccination efforts. These grants fund community-driven health communications activities and can be outside our partners' usual operations. Community partners who are interested in funding can fill out our COVID-19 Trusted Messenger Outreach survey. *The funding allocated to each partner will depend on the needs of each organization.

Support for Partners

BHT met with community partners to understand the greatest needs and learn what additional support we can provide. We're working with DH, a Spokane-based communications and marketing agency that can offer our partners culturally appropriate communications support.

We've collaborated with partners to support COVID vaccination communications, develop outreach strategies, and create a variety of media resources for Partners to share. It's exciting working with our partners to expand their vaccination efforts further, and we look forward to supporting additional partners in our community.

We've already worked with the following partners:

SPOTLIGHT: Vaccine Hesitancy FAQ

A concern that has emerged during our conversations with partners is vaccination hesitancy among community members. There are many reasons individuals experience vaccine hesitancy, but we find it is often due to misinformation and a lack of trust.

To combat this, we worked with DH to develop a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) resource to provide accurate information about different COVID-19 vaccines available and debunk the common myths and misconceptions. Our partners have found this FAQ valuable, and we have had it translated into 20 languages for local partners.

Spokane Collaborative Member Showcase

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Spokane Collaborative - Policy Advocacy Funding Opportunity

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Background

In October 2019, the BHT Board allocated $500,000 for equity projects to be decided upon and organized by the members of the Spokane Collaborative. The Collaborative divided its efforts into three focus areas: Reducing Family Violence & Trauma, Improving Access to Affordable Housing, and Improving Access to Behavioral Health Services.

A workgroup was developed for each area and was allocated a portion of the funding based on the size of the group, and the breadth of their proposed activities. These funding allocations were first proposed by the full Collaborative and finalized by the Collaborative’s leadership team known as the Collaborative Connections Team (CCT). Following are the total amounts allocated to each group:

  • Reducing Family Violence & Trauma - $104,000

  • Improving Access to Affordable Housing - $116,000

  • Improving Access to Behavioral Health Services - $136,000

The remaining $144,000 was allocated to a “holdback fund“ by the CCT, in the event that a workgroup needed to cover an additional cost or a new equity gap activity opportunity emerged. For example, an Oral Health Equity focus area & workgroup was added in 2021 in partnership with Smile Spokane. This group was allocated $15,000 from the holdback bucket, in addition to some funding from Arcora.

After a year of working on these equity gap projects, the CCT recognized a need for policy work to impact inequities in our community. The CCT allocated $65,000 from the holdback fund to invest in this new work.

Funding Purpose

To provide a flexible pool of funding for policy-related equity efforts, with a clear process for Collaborative member organizations to request funds. We recognize that policy issues often move faster than the speed of the deliberative work of a big collaborative. We hope this process will be nimble enough to support local policy work related to the Collaborative’s equity priorities.

Who’s eligible?

  • Open to Spokane Collaborative member organizations with an MOU for the current calendar year.

  • This eligibility includes community organizations who are not current Collaborative members but who agree to participate in the Collaborative going forward. See 2021 MOU.

How much is available?

$65,000 in total

  • Individual cap at $15,000 per organization

    • Joint applications can request more

  • Applications may be fully funded, partially funded, or denied at the discretion of the Collaborative Connections Team. See rubric below.

What do we mean by policy work?

  • Policy work may include voter or policymaker education, community activation, advocacy, and more. Note that these funds may not be used for lobbying.

  • Funding will prioritize policy work at the local or state level meant to serve communities in Spokane County.

  • Applications for other work in the identified equity areas will be considered, but note that policy-related applications will be prioritized. See rubric below.

Timeline

  • This is an open application process i.e. no deadline. The process will remain open until the funds are spent.

  • The Collaborative Connections Team will review any applications at their monthly meeting, held the second Thursday of the month. Applications received by the first Friday of the month will be reviewed at that month’s meeting.

  • Applicants will be notified of the decision or request for further clarification/discussion following that meeting.

How to apply

  • Click apply here to be directed to the online application.

Rubric

The Collaborative Connection Team will make funding decisions based on the following criteria. Each area will be scored on a 4-point scale (where applicable).

  • Is the applying organization a member of the Collaborative?

  • Is the project service area within Spokane County?

  • Does this proposal serve a disparately impacted population?

  • Does this proposal have demonstrated support from community members? Have they talked to people impacted by the issue the work seeks to address?

  • Is the proposal supported by other organizations (in or out of the Collaborative)?

  • Does this have a policy or nonpartisan orientation (versus a heavy partisan/political lean or no policy content)?

  • Does this demonstrate ability to achieve the outcomes in the proposal? (organization capacity, staff, funding)

  • Does it complement existing project or efforts (within the Collaborative or in the community)?

  • Is the proposal supported by additional funding sources?

 

Request for Proposals: Telehealth Access

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Request for Proposals: Telehealth Access

We've released a Request for Proposals (RFP) inviting applications from contracted partners connected to or providing behavioral health services for projects that will help reduce barriers for patients accessing telehealth behavioral health services during COVID-19. Individual awards of up to $20,000 per partner are available until the $300,000 available is expended. Learn more and apply by April 16th priority funding deadline!

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Spokane Collaborative Meeting Materials - March 18, 2021

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Collaborative Leads meeting notes & materials

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Recruitment Open for BHT Board Positions

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BHT is recruiting to fill open seats for our Rural Public Health and Managed Care representatives. BHT will prioritize BIPOC representation, gender diversity, people with lived experience, and age diversity for service on the Board. These two appointments will be a modified term running until the formal end of the Medicaid Waiver.

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BHT Serving as Regional Hub for Care Connect Washington

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BHT Serving as Regional Hub for Care Connect Washington

BHT facilitates support for Adams, Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, and Stevens counties through the pandemic by providing community-based care coordination for individuals who need to quarantine in our COVID-19 Care Coordination role with Washington (DOH). The Care Connect program, which launched today, will help individuals and households overcome barriers and circumstances that make it difficult for them to complete isolation and quarantine successfully.

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Spokane Collaborative Meeting Materials - Feb 18, 2021

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  • CVC 2021 Recruitment

  • Partner shares

    • Community Mental Health forum - flyer registration

    • Providence CHW positions - job posting

    • Vaccine outreach - reach out to Kim Kreber SRHD, kkreber@srhd.org

    • Just One – looking for volunteers with to spend time with kids, talents to share, reach out to Natalia Gutierrez, ifjustone@gmail.com

    • Spokane County Food Security Coalition

      • New Link to "Our Daily Bread": https://youtu.be/2VsdU1VpaU8

      • We are a coordinated effort of churches, community partners, and individuals seeking to end food insecurity across Spokane through equitable, culturally appropriate, non-stigmatizing strategies.

        Natalie Tauzin, SRHD, ntauzin@srhd.org 509-324-1659

      • We meet every second Thursday from 1:00-2:30pm

        Project partner contact-Holly Jean Chilinski, HollyC@specialmobility.org

    • ZONE Project efforts

    • Mardi Bras - the partnership with Hope House and the Women's Hearth will be accepting donations Saturday from 10-2 at the Grocery Outlet on 3rd.  Needs include bras, underwear, bus passes, tampons and deodorant.  Thanks.

    • April Child Abuse Prevention Month yard signs - contact Jen Hansen jhansen@srhd.org

    • The Plan to Prevent Evictions and Homelessness in Washington webinar on the suite of legislation that state lawmakers are ushering forward to ensure that, as our eviction moratorium is lifted, renters in Washington do not face eviction, but instead have access to rental assistance, the right to an attorney, and protections that close loopholes in our landlord-tenant laws. We will share updates on the key bills (HB 1236, HB 1277, SB 5160, HB 1441), how they interact with each other, and provide an explanation of the eviction process if passed. 

      When: Wednesday, Feb. 24, 5:00-6:30 PST
      Where: Via Zoom -- registration link

    • Strengthening Families Locally - background & onboarding document Spokane Project Overview

Black History Month Resources

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P4P meeting materials - February 10, 2021

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Agenda

Slides

Recording

Notes

Medium Contract Addendum 5.01

Excel 1 - P4P update w trends + state + priority measures_Jan2021

Excel 2 - Achievement Value (AV) translation corrected updated Nov2020

Excel 3 - 2019 P4P results

BHT P4P Measurement Dashboard: https://public.tableau.com/profile/providence.core#!/vizhome/BHT_1/P4P

Quick tips for using the dashboard:

  • Use the two drop-down menus in the upper part of the screen to select the measure you are interested in, and the target year for performance.

  • Hover your mouse over charts and graphs for additional information (e.g. hover over a specific county on the map to see details for that county)

  • Use the documentation link on the right under “About this report” to see measure specifications

  • Let me know if you have any questions!

Measure specifications, including references to sets of codes that count:

Value sets (CPT/HCPC code)