Community Assisted Restoration Services (CARES) is committed to a diverse, inclusive, and
equitable environment where all board members, staff, volunteers, and participants feel respected
and valued regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation or
identity, disability, education, or any other bias.
We’re committed to being nondiscriminatory and providing equal opportunities for employment,
volunteering, and advancement in all areas of our work.
We respect the value that diverse life experiences bring to our organization and we strive to
listen to the views of our stakeholders and give them value.
We’re committed to modeling diversity, inclusion, and equity and maintaining fair and equal
treatment for all.
Our board’s philosophy on our goals to provide informed leadership for diversity, inclusion, and
equity include:
 We will strive to see diversity, inclusion, and equity in connection with our vision and
mission for the benefit of those we serve.
 We aim to recognize and address inequities in our policies, programs, and services.
 We will update and document progress on our diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.
 We promise to investigate underlying assumptions that interfere with our diversity policy.
 We commit to advocating for systemic inequities that impact our work at every level and
address it according to this policy and in accordance with our mission.
 We commit to challenging commonly accepted notions about what constitutes strong
leadership within our organization.
 We commit to being transparent about diversity in all our interactions.
 We will dedicate our time and resources to expanding greater diversity within our board,
leadership, and direct service positions.
 We commit to leading with respect and tolerance and we encourage all employees and
volunteers to express this in their work within our organization.
Community Assisted Restoration Services (CARES) agrees to abide by the following action
items to promote diversity, inclusion, and equity in our work:
1. We will create new learning opportunities and formal, transparent policies as we strive
for cultural competency throughout our organization.
2. We will strive to conduct or identify research related to equity so that we can make
progress in the area of diversity, inclusion, and equity and we’ll share our findings
publicly on our website.
3. We will take action to improve diversity, inclusion, and equity in our board, leadership
positions and service provision.
4. We will identify resources for our underrepresented constituents by networking with
other organizations that are also committed to efforts for diversity, inclusion, and equity.
5. We will develop internal resources that demonstrate our commitment to diversity,
inclusion, and equity and present them to our members and members of our community.

CARES DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION POLICY

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6. We will develop a system to create awareness and address biases during our recruiting,
hiring, evaluating and intake processes.
7. We will train our personnel to be responsible for orienting, onboarding, and training our
staff and volunteers on equitable practices.
8. We will advocate for public and private policies in the public sector that promote
diversity, inclusion, and equity and we will challenge systems and policies that describe
inequity, disparity, and oppression.