Mission

Rock County values equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as core strength components among its workforce and clientele. The County's equity priorities aim to improve our policies to align with our commitment to provide culturally competent and responsive services to our community. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working environment. Every member of our team enriches our diversity by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand the world, identify challenges, and discover, design, and deliver solutions. 

Diversity Action Statement

Rock County recognizes that diversity and inclusion are prominent factors that can maximize the success of our workplace. County employees reflect the different cultures, background, beliefs and abilities inherent in the larger population of Rock County.

The foundation of our diversity philosophy is to articulate clearly to employees and the general public our intention to create a culture that enhances our ability to hire, retain, develop, manage and promote a diverse workforce. We will ensure that our employees and consumers are treated fairly, free from intolerance and discrimination.

Our Focus

Rock County strives to achieve a Culture for Equity. A Culture for Equity exists when organizational policies, practices, mindsets, resource allocations, decision-making processes, and capacities are aligned with the goal of ensuring everyone has a fair and just opportunity for health and wellbeing. In organizations with a strong Culture for Equity, there is an explicit focus on removing barriers that create inequity

Priorities

• Organizational goals, outcomes, and strategic focus demonstrate commitment to equity.
• Equitable treatment with individuals from different groups.
• Individuals from different groups have equitable influence over decisions impacting their lives or communities.
• Services, supports, resources, and opportunities are equitably distributed and accessible across the community.
• Equity in the quality of services, supports, or opportunities across different groups and places.

Progress

• On June 25, 2020, the Rock County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution declaring racism as a public health crisis and resolving to advocate for policies that improve health in communities of color, eliminate health and opportunity gaps along racial lines and increase the success of all groups by distributing resources justly across all communities.

• EDIB Work group: We recognize that equity work is community work. Using guidance and best practices,  a team of Equity Ambassadors across County Departments help to embed equity into the daily work of County employees.

• Additional Equity Initiatives

• Cultural Intelligence/Competency Training for all employees
• Rock County website digital accessibility initiative