St. Mary's Takes Action to Advance Equity in Public Safety, Education, and Health

St. Mary’s Health Officer, Sheriff, and Superintendent of Schools have joined forces to issue a resolution and establish a task force to advance equity in their agencies and in the county.

The announcement recognizes the connections between public health, public safety, and public education; the commitment the agencies have for achieving equity and racial justice, and the importance of addressing disparities relating to socioeconomic status, geographical area, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender or racial/ethnic group.

The joint resolution was signed by St. Mary’s County Sheriff Tim Cameron, Health Officer Dr. Meena Brewster, and Superintendent of Public Schools Dr. Scott Smith. It reads in part:

Now, therefore, be it resolved that St. Mary’s County Sheriffs Office, St. Mary’s County Public Schools, and St. Mary’s County Health Department will:

Co-lead a multi-sector Equity Task Force to examine the issues of opportunity, access, equity in St. Mary’s County;

Apply an equity lens to perform a comprehensive review of their respective institutions’ policies and practices;

Investigate and implement organizational changes that can be made in each agency to address inequitable outcomes in health, education, and public safety.

A county news release provides more information about the Equity Task Force:

The Equity Task Force agencies will collaborate in implementing organizational changes and community initiatives that promote equitable outcomes in health, education and public safety. Task Force partners will also conduct a comprehensive review of their respective institutions’ policies and practices from the lens of Equity.

A video of the event announcing the new measures may be viewed below: