Why DEI Matters

A Message from Maria Coutant Skinner, LCSW, President & CEO

January 31, 2025

Dear friends;

I will admit that I’m sending this message with some trepidation, unsure of the future implications, but with faith that standing solidly in our mission that centers diversity, equity, and inclusion is urgently necessary.

McCall Behavioral Health Network is exceptional – I say this as an objective statement without reservation or qualifiers. Licensed and accredited, we have oversight from state, local, federal, private, and individual entities that evaluate organizations on clinical outcomes, safety, staff satisfaction, client experience, and public health impacts. Because we receive a mix of funding; both public and private, we are required to demonstrate that we are good stewards of those dollars. By every measure, this organization is among the very best.

Our clinical charts are being used as the training model across the state, our staff present on best practices throughout the nation and our funders connect other agencies with us to help stand up new programs. This month’s message isn’t intended as a promotional piece for McCall but to reiterate a core value of this organization. This agency has, at our foundation, a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Many of you may relate to feeling as though you don’t belong. Perhaps you can relate to others believing that you have a job or achievement that you haven’t truly earned. Or, that you don’t bring value to a situation. Or even that your presence is a detriment or that you pose a threat and are somehow a danger. This ‘othering’ of one another is a detriment to our very survival. The idea that a person who belongs to a traditionally marginalized population is somehow inherently less qualified is beyond absurd – it is also dangerous. I don’t just mean that from a moral or humanistic perspective. When we surround ourselves with only others who look, sound and think like we do, we are in echo chambers where no growth or evolution takes place. We languish in our stuck places and quality diminishes.

DEI practices aren’t charitable, they are a path to excellence. The rich discussions had amongst our staff from varied backgrounds lead to innovative solutions and allow us to lead the way in caring for others. We have created a community in our workplace and with those we serve that communicates acceptance, values diversity, and celebrates belonging. We are all better for it.

Fostering a sense of belonging in community is essential and it’s built on love. Former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy writes in his Parting Prescription for America, “We are at our best not when we fear but when we love, not when we turn away but when we turn toward one another. This must be our compass as we set out to build community. Leading with love means seeing love as a virtue to cultivate in ourselves, to encourage in our families, to infuse in our workplaces, schools, and halls of government, to insist on in our leaders, and to shape our public conversation. A community grounded in love is a community that will stand.”

I will share some incredible news from my life; Greg and I became grandparents on December 29th when our daughter Abigail and her husband Elijah welcomed their son Solomon J’Adore into the world!

My friends, my heart is bursting with love for this precious new life! I’m noticing that Solly’s arrival has also amplified my feelings about how we are called to show up for one another and is where I’m drawing inspiration to share this message. The world needs us to courageously eschew fear and embrace love.

Yours in loving community,

Maria Coutant Skinner, LCSW

President and CEO

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