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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 12/08/2020 - EQUITY INDICATORS UPDATEDATE: STAFF: December 8, 2020 Janet Freeman, Equity and Inclusion Coordinator WORK SESSION ITEM City Council SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION Equity Indicators Update EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to update Council on the Equity Indicators project and receive feedback on which indicators the City should track. GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED 1. Overview of results to date on the equity indicator project 2. Council input on indicators to track on the dashboard BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION Strategic Alignment The City’s strategic plan has three equity and inclusion objectives: • Neighborhood Livability & Social Health 1.4: Advance equity for all, leading with race, so that a person’s identity or identities is not a predictor of outcomes. • Neighborhood Livability & Social Health 1.3: Improve accessibility of City and community programs to low and moderate-income residents and increase participation in services to eligible, income- qualified residents. • High Performing Government 7.3: Improve effectiveness of community engagement with enhanced inclusion of all identities, languages and needs. City Council Action City Council adopted Equity and Inclusion as one of its priorities, specifically the following actions: • Implement the usage of an equity lens (including staff and Council training) • Develop indicators and metrics • Consider a resolution regarding anti-discrimination • Develop principles of community Equity Indicator Project: Background, Objectives, Methodology and Sample Findings Consultant Background For our equity indicator work, we selected the CUNY Institute on State and Local Governance as our consultant, or ISLG, a non-partisan research institute that works to improve government systems. ISLG utilizes data -driven approaches that influence policy and operations that support work in diverse communities. December 8, 2020 Page 2 Project Objectives & Alignment The objectives of the equity indicators project are to track disparities in outcomes faced by community members most likely to experience inequality; support data-informed policy-making; and increase transparency and accountability so impacted communities can co-create/lead solutions and equity work can be better prioritized at both an institutional and systemic level. Utilizing a data-informed approach is part of the Government Alliance on Race and Equity’s (GARE) theory of change model, a framework to which we are aligned. Having accurate and comprehensive data sets available will help us more effectively and proactively mitigate barriers to inclusion and equity. Defining Equity Indicators Equity Indicators are ways to assess and measure disparities in achieving goals on difficult -to-define concepts. As ISLG shared with us in the example below, equity indicators go a step beyond a more broadly focused indicator and allow staff to ascertain what aspects of lived experience the City and our institutional partners are trying to positively impact: Disparity Landscape Analysis The disparity landscape analysis currently contains initial community data, disaggregated by race -and other identities as much as possible-that demonstrates inequities community members are either experiencing or have a perception they are experiencing both within the community and in some areas of the City’s service delivery. In some cases, an inequity surfaced in quantitative data can likewise result in a negative perception of experience, and we will have more of those perception-based data sets available in the final project deliverable. The data represents the impact of inequity on people’s lives and will help staff prioritize the City’s work as a government institution, as well as a collaborator in the community, working to co-create solutions for mitigating disparities at the systemic level. To date, ISLG has compiled a preliminary analysis, which they will be building on, including the community and other stakeholder input. The analysis informing current and future conclusions (some of which are evident in this presentation as preliminary findings) will continue to be vetted by City staff. Our plan is to ultimately use this data to help inform root cause analyses on existing disparities, which is critica l information currently missing in our efforts. Methodology - High Level Overview For the project, ISLG is collecting data and analyzing them for disparities, disaggregating outcomes by race, ethnicity, and other marginalized identities. This began with extensive background research and a data diagnostic to establish what work had been done in the area, and the availability and reliability of different sources of data. ISLG used this to conduct a preliminary set of analysis, which they also used as the b asis for a survey to enable community members to rank the measures they believe to be most important for the City to track; identify gaps and suggest new measures to fill them; and provide information on potential data sets that could be used to shed light on disparities impacting different communities. ISLG also conducted nine focus groups where more information was needed to better understand gaps in equity and experience. ISLG held focus groups for community members with the following identities represe nted: December 8, 2020 Page 3 • Asian American/Pacific Islander • Black/African American • Current or Former Undocumented Status (Mixed Status Families) • Latinx/Hispanic • LGBTQIA+ • Living with Disabilities • Native American • Religious Minorities In total, ISLG conducted 14.5 hours of listening with community members during these sessions. Work is ongoing to build on the preliminary disparity landscape analysis by incorporating suggestions from community and City/County stakeholder input where possible based on data availabi lity. ISLG is also analyzing the rankings provided through this input to identify potential equity indicators, which will then be selected if the data available are sufficient to enable tracking disparities over time (i.e., data are collected and updated o n a regular basis and disaggregated by one or more identity). The final equity indicators will be tracked over time by the City, so they can be used to drive decision -making about policy and practice, including the allocation of resources. In the cities where ISLG has conducted this work to date, the equity indicators identified and tracked though the work have been used to support policy development, drive budgeting decisions, and highlight areas where new policies and initiatives may be needed. They have also helped to increase transparency and accountability within local government and have been used as a tool by local communities to identify ways the City can better support and partner with them to create change. Preliminary Disparity Landscape Analys is Findings ISLG examined disparities across a wide range of outcomes in nine key areas of life: City Services; Criminal Justice and Public Safety; Economic Opportunity; Education; Environmental Justice; Housing; Public Health; Social Inclusion and Civic Engagement; and Transportation. Considering the City’s goal to advance equity for all, leading with race, ISLG focused on race and ethnicity in these analyses, but will incorporate additional identities in their final report, where data is available. To date, initial data uncovered by ISLG found that people of color are experiencing disparate outcomes and/or are reporting perceptions of facing disparities across all these areas, and suggest a number of key areas that the City can target in its efforts to in crease equity. The City recognizes that both outcome and perception data are vital to enhancing our ability to proactively address barriers to equity in the community and our service delivery, and that both tell the fuller story of lived experience and wis dom of our residents. Figure 1 below shows how each racial or ethnic group fared across all 78 measures. Positive numbers in blue represent the number of outcomes for which a group had more positive outcomes than outcomes overall; negative numbers in red represent the number of outcomes for which a group had more negative outcomes. For example, Hispanics/Latinx had a more positive outcome on 1 measure and more negative outcomes on 25. December 8, 2020 Page 4 Figure 1. The number of measures on which each racial/ethnic group had more positive outcomes (blue) or more negative outcomes (red) compared to overall outcomes across all nine areas The nature and magnitude of these disparities differed across areas. For example, in Economic Opportunity, disparities were found on five of the seven measures looking at race and ethnicity; within Housing, disparities were found on nine of the 10 measures looking at race and ethnicity; and within Criminal Justice and Public Safety, disparities were found on all eight measures looking at race and ethnicity. Specific examples of these measures can be seen in Table 1. It is important to note, however, that because statistical testing has not yet been conducted, caution should be used in drawing conclusions about the differences between groups. St atistical testing will occur in December where possible given the data available. Table 1. Findings for sample measures within three of the nine areas examined December 8, 2020 Page 5 Dashboard After finalizing the report and indicator selection, City staff will begin in Q1 of 2021 inputting findings into an external facing dashboard, allowing for full transparency and accountability so community members, and City staff, can track progress (Attachment 1) for a list of indicators included in the preliminary landscape disparit y analysis to date; Attachment 2 contains links to final reports other cities have undertaken. Data will be updated annually and used to inform and guide our equity efforts to continue to make our workplace and the community more equitable and inclusive. In addition, other community organizations and institutions can use the data to help advance their respective equity efforts as well. Examples of promising equity dashboards from other jurisdictions are attached and can be found at: • Tacoma, Washington • Asheville, NC Problem We Are Trying to Solve While we have had notable gains in our equity work to date, we have likewise been hindered by the absence of a comprehensive baseline analysis of equality gaps in the Fort Collins community and our own service delivery. Our partnering with ISLG is in support of how critical data is when working to advance equitable outcomes for all people in Fort Collins. The City will effectively identify root cause analyses of both systemic and institutional disparities once we have this baseline data available. Upon validation of the data, staff can begin this process, with the goal of making changes to our internal programs and services as needed to strengthen the equitability of our service delivery. In addition, prior to this undertaking, we had yet to establish a community-informed set of indicators that speak to these disparities. This effort will include data disaggregated by race and other marginalized identities, which has also been difficult to ascertain. How will we measure success? Establishing an analysis of disparities will enable us to more effectively align resources and efforts to apply interventions to mitigate inequities surfaced during the data collection effort as well as work with partner institutions for a systemic approach to mitigating dispara te outcomes in the community. Success in our efforts will be measured by selection of community -informed equity indicators and the ongoing tracking efforts that will subsequently occur in a public facing dashboard to increase accountability and transparency and more effectively prioritize our work and respond to this data with community members who are most impacted to improve race-based outcomes currently being experienced across a variety of topics. Next Steps 1. Equity indicators report will be finalized in mid-January 2. Findings presented to Ad-Hoc Committee January 25, 2021 3. Staff input data into dashboard Q1 of 2021 4. A new work order with CUNY ISLG to establish benchmarks and target setting will begin in Q1 of 2021 ATTACHMENTS 1. List of Disparity Measures for Fort Collins (PDF) 2. Links to Equity Indicator Reports (PDF) 3. PowerPoint Presentation (PDF) Attachment 1: List of Disparity Measures for Fort Collins This list represents where ISLG has been able to collect data on disparities across a wide range of outcomes in nine key areas of life: City Services; Criminal Justice and Public Safety; Economic Opportunity; Education; Environmental Justice; Housing; Public Health; Social Inclusion and Civic Engagement; and Transportation. ISLG will be building on these findings with additional comparison groups and outcomes recommended by the community and by City and County stakeholders where possible based on the data available. They will then be presenting these, along with the measures selected as Equity Indicators, in a final report. City Services • Internet Access • Sewer Service Quality • Recycling Programs • Disaster Response • Street Maintenance • Library Service Quality • Park Quality • Youth Recreation Program Quality Criminal Justice and Public Safety • Criminal Arrest or Citation • Traffic Citation • Use of Force • Representation among Police Officers • Police Service Quality • Jail Incarceration • Probation Economic Opportunity • Poverty • Household Income • Personal Earnings • SNAP Recipiency • Labor Force Nonparticipation • Unemployment • Representation among Business Owners • Difficulty Finding Childcare • Availability of Affordable Childcare Education • Third Grade Reading • On-Time High School Graduation • Teacher Representation • Principal Representation • Student-to-Adult Connections • Student-to-Student Connections • High School Dropout Rates • School Discipline • School Mobility • Educational Attainment • High School Completion ATTACHMENT 1 • Bachelor’s Degree Environmental Justice • Unclean Indoor Air • Pollution from Industry • Unsafe or Unclean Drinking Water Housing • Housing Cost Burden • Concern About Paying Housing Costs • Needing and Using Housing Assistance • Needing But Not Using Housing Assistance • Homeownership • Home Loan Denials • Sheltered Homelessness • Unsheltered Homelessness • Access to Basic Needs • Neighborhood Safety Public Health • Lack of Health Insurance • Lack of Access to Health Care • Use of Emergency Services for Care • Concerns about Medical Care Costs • Delaying Healthcare Due to Costs • Delaying Mental Health Care Due to Costs • Foregoing Prescription Medication Due to Costs • Poor Physical Health • Asthma • High Cholesterol • Cardiovascular Disease • Diabetes • High Stress • Current Mental Health Concern • Suicidality Social Inclusion and Civic Engagement • Community Openness and Acceptance • Attending Neighborhood Events • Interacting with Neighbors • Helping Neighbors • City Fosters Belonging • City Respects All • Attending government events • Volunteering • Opportunities to Volunteer Transportation • Commute Time • Lack of Personal Vehicle Access • Transit Access • Driving Access • Bicycle Access Examples of Equity Indicator Work Accomplished by CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance Note: the work being done for the City of Fort Collins will not look exactly like this. https://www.stlouis- mo.gov/government/departments/mayor/initiatives/resilience/equity/documents/equity-indicators- baseline-report.cfm https://cao-94612.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/2018-Equity-Indicators-Full-Report.pdf https://pittsburghpa.gov/equityindicators/documents/PGH_Equity_Indicators_2018.pdf ATTACHMENT 2 1Jacqueline Kozak-Thiel and Janet Freeman, Sustainability ServicesVictoria Lawson, CUNY ISLGEquity Indicators Project UpdateATTACHMENT 3 Council Direction2• Do Councilmembers have input on which equity indicators the City should track? Presentation Flow3Strategic AlignmentProject Objectives and FrameworkCUNY Institute for State and Local GovernanceProject Engagement & Meta ThemesKey DomainsLandscape Analysis: Data SourcesCriminal Justice, Economic Opportunity, and HousingFindings Across AreasEquity Indicators: FrameworkNext Steps and Questions Strategic AlignmentSTRATEGICALIGNMENTCity PlanNeighborhood Livability & Social Health 1.4Neighborhood Livability & Social Health 1.3 High Performing Government 7.3SSD Strategic Plan Council PrioritiesBUDGETFTE: Coordination, Compliance, Engagement75+ staff volunteersRevision Offer: $60,000Donated Funds: $30,0004JF2 Project Objectives5TrackDisparities in outcomes faced by community members most likely to experience inequalitySupportData‐informed policy‐makingIncreaseTransparency and accountability so impacted communities can co‐create/lead solutions and equity work can be better prioritized at both an institutional and systemic level CUNY Institute for State & LocalGovernance6NONPARTISAN RESEARCH AND POLICY INSTITUTEWORK TO IMPROVE GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS DATA‐DRIVEN APPROACHES THAT INFLUENCE POLICY AND OPERATIONS THAT SUPPORT WORK IN DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AgendaCUNY ISLG Scope of WorkBackground ResearchData DiagnosticCity and County Staff DiscussionsPreliminary Landscape AnalysisCommunity InputFinal Landscape Analysis and Equity IndicatorsPartnership with Internal City Equity TeamWe are here •Seeking input from marginalized and typically underrepresented communities•Community outreach: email, social media, flyer distribution, OurCity page•5‐minute and 20‐minute surveys•9 focus groups: approximately 14 hours of listening AgendaCommunity Engagement African‐Americans Individuals living with disabilities LGBTQIA+  Latinx AmericansReligious minorities Native Americans/IndigenousAsian Americans & Pacific Islanders Mixed‐status  •Disparities across areas are deeply intersectional•A lack of social inclusion and understanding of different cultures deeply impacts many Fort Collins communities •Policies as drivers of inequity need to be understood head on•Assessing the state of equity in Fort Collins and progress should involve not just looking at the outcomes for different groups but at the funding and resources allocated to tackling these problemsAgendaCommunity Engagement: Meta-Themes AgendaKey DomainsCity ServicesEssential services, parks and recreation, Criminal Justice & Public SafetyLaw enforcement, incarceration, community supervisionEconomic OpportunityPoverty, income, employment, business ownership, childcareEducationAchievement, representation, connections, barriers, attainmentEnvironmental JusticeAir quality, water quality, pollutionHousingAffordable housing, homelessness, neighborhood characteristics Public HealthAffordability, physical health, mental health, access to careSocial Inclusion & Civic EngagementCommunity, respect and acceptance, participationTransportationCommuting, transit access, biking, walking, driving AgendaData Sources for Preliminary Landscape AnalysisExisting reports• Ex: 2020 Sustainability Gaps Analysis, Feasibility Study for Inclusionary HousingPublicly available data or dashboards from local sources• Ex: Colorado Department of Education, Fort Collins Police Services Transparency DataPublicly available local data from national sources• Ex: American Community Survey 5‐year estimate, Bureau of Justice Statistics Annual Survey of JailsData provided by City/County departments• Ex: Fort Collins Community Survey, Larimer County Community Health Survey (Health District) AgendaFindings Across Areas317122110‐25‐5‐17‐18‐13‐11‐10‐30‐25‐20‐15‐10‐50510White Hispanic/LatinxAsian or PacificIslanderBlack NativeAmericanOther Non‐white,non‐HispanicHispanicand/or otherrace AgendaEconomic OpportunityPoverty: 17 in 100 in Fort Collins • 16 in 100 whites • 21 in 100 Hispanics/Latinx• 20 in 100 Asians• 22 in 100 Blacks• 25 in 100 Native AmericansMedian household income:$1 average household• White = $1.04 • Hispanic/Latinx = 80¢ • Asian = 94¢ • Black = 81¢ • Native American = 83¢Out of 7 measures looking at race and ethnicity, disparities found on 5For example: AgendaHousingHomeownership: 53 in 100 in Fort Collins • 55 in 100 white households • 42 in 100 Hispanic/Latinx households• 52 in 100 Asian households• 20 in 100 Black households• 47 in 100 Native American householdsHomelessness:2 in 1,000 in Fort Collins• 2 in 1,000 whites• 2 in 1,000 Hispanics/Latinx• 6 in 1,000 Asians• 8 in 1,000 Blacks• 7 in 1,000 Native AmericansOut of 10 measures looking at race and ethnicity, disparities found on 9For example: AgendaCriminal JusticeCriminal arrests/citations:4 in 100 in Fort Collins• 4 in 100 whites • 1 in 100 Asians• 17 in 100 Blacks• 4 in 100 Native AmericansJail incarceration:2 in 1,000 in Larimer County• 1 in 1,000 whites• 4 in 1,000 Hispanics/Latinx• 1 in 1,000 Asians• 9 in 1,000 Blacks• 1 in 1,000 Native AmericansOut of 8 measures looking at race and ethnicity, disparities found on 8For example: Indicators are ways to assess and measure difficult‐to‐define concepts •Allow us to measure progress in achieving goals related to these conceptsEquity Indicators are ways to assess and measure disparities on those conceptsFor example:AgendaEstablishing Equity IndicatorsConcept Indicators Equity IndicatorsCriminal JusticeIncarceration rates Disparities in incarceration rates for different racial and ethnic groupsEconomic OpportunityIncomeDisparities in income for differentgenders Importance for measuring and understanding disparitiesData availability and quality•Is the data collected regularly?•Is the data broken down by group or geographic area to allow for comparison?Ability to interpret results•Is it clear what an increase or decrease in the measure would mean?•Does the measure really get at what we want to assess?AgendaConsiderations When Choosing Indicators Next StepsBuilding on landscape analysis and selecting equity indicators in DecemberEquity indicators report finalized in mid‐JanuaryFindings presented to Ad‐Hoc Committee 1/25Staff input data into dashboard beginning Q1 of 2021Benchmarks and target setting will begin in Q1 of 202118 Council Direction23• Do Councilmembers have input on which equity indicators the City should track?