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Memorandum reiterated commitment to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) within the federal workforce.
On Thursday, November 30, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) held a signing ceremony for a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between HHS and Florida International University (FIU). The MOU solidifies the robust partnership between HHS and FIU, a leading Minority-Serving Institution (MSI). Through this partnership, HHS aims to leverage the strengths of academia and government to enhance and develop a diverse talent pool of federal workers to serve the American people. The MOU further signifies HHS’ commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) within the Department.
During the ceremony, HHS Assistant Secretary for Administration, Cheryl Campbell highlighted the important achievements to date of the Department and the Biden-Harris Administration to center DEIA within the federal workforce. The Assistant Secretary thanked FIU for its continued partnership with HHS. She also discussed the need to nurture this mutually beneficial partnership in the future to foster a culture of belonging and inclusivity to achieve shared goals.
Following Assistant Secretary Campbell, FIU Provost Dr. Elizabeth Béjar provided remarks in which she thanked HHS for its continued support of FIU’s mission to ensure graduates are able to transition effectively into the health and federal workforces. With HHS support, FIU is conducting leading participatory-based research to address social determinants of health and the role that chronic medical conditions, among other initiatives.
This MOU supports FIU and HHS’ respective missions and achieves the common aim of educational excellence in coordinating and implementing recruitment and outreach activities to a diverse student population for employment and educational opportunities in public service. The signing ceremony represents the culmination of months of work which began following a visit from Assistant Secretary Campbell hosted at FIU by University Trustee Chanel T. Rowe, Esq.
Furthermore, this action demonstrates a key step toward actualizing the DEIA goals outlined in the HHS DEIA Strategic Plan. The plan builds upon the President Biden’s March 2021 executive order which calls upon federal agencies to cultivate a workforce that draws from the full diversity of the nation.
Additionally, this year, HHS launched the HHS Health Workforce Initiative to support, strengthen, and grow the nation’s health workforce by leveraging programs across the Department, including through the $2.7 billion workforce investment proposed in the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget. HHS’ Initiative includes a coordinated Department-wide effort to identify opportunities to improve health workforce recruitment and retention, and career advancement, with equity at the center of this work.
The Biden Harris Administration is committed to strengthening the nation’s health and human services workforces with a DEIA focus.
The following representatives participated in the meeting:
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