Consulting

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Consulting

The Office of Equity provides consultation to help state agencies to advance a Washington for All.  Our consultants work alongside agencies to transform good intentions into real, measurable results. We help you develop community-driven, data-informed strategies and build internal capacity, so your team change the way government operates and achieve positive outcomes for everyone in Washington. We also track and evaluate performance to ensure agencies stay on the right track to achieve the expected results. Our collaboration style is relational, collaborative, supportive, and corrective. We are a team and together we will advance a Washington for All. We believe in relational partnership—working collaboratively with agencies. 

What We Do

  • Technical Assistance:
  • Support agency implementation of the Washington Impact Playbook (coming soon)
  • Show you how to embed equity practices into daily operations like hiring, budgeting, policy development, and service delivery
  • Training and Capacity Building:
  • Provide training on equity frameworks, relational partnership principles, and shared power practices
  • Workshops on facilitation, data analysis, community engagement, and equity assessment
  • Support for agency leaders in modeling equity and building organizational culture
  • Training for your team members to become internal equity champions
  • Strategic Planning:
  • Support development of your Strategic Impact Plan with clear goals, timelines, and accountability measures.
  • Help translate equity goals into concrete actions across the 11 Impact Service Areas to improve outcomes in the 15 Statewide Impact Areas
  • Thought Partnership
  • Assessments and Evaluation:
  • Walk you through conducting Impact Assessments to understand your agency's current state and identify gaps
  • Community Engagement:
  • Provide guidance on authentic community partnership, including compensation frameworks and co-creation practices 

How We Partner with You 

Initial Consultation 

Every partnership begins with understanding where your agency is now and where you want to go. We'll help you: 

  • Assess your agency's equity readiness
  • Identify priority areas for focus
  • Develop a realistic implementation timeline
  • Connect with relevant community partners 

 

Ongoing Partnership (Customer Success) 

Our consultation isn't one-and-done. We provide: 

  • Regular Check-ins: Scheduled meetings to track progress and troubleshoot challenges
  • On-Demand Support: Access to consultants when questions arise or new situations emerge
  • Resource Sharing: Connection to tools, templates, and examples from other agencies
  • Cross-Agency Learning: Facilitation of peer learning opportunities with other agencies 

 

Resource Hub 

Stay tuned for our Impact Hub where you'll find: 

  • Impact Assessment templates
  • Strategic Impact Plan guidance
  • Community engagement toolkits
  • Training materials
  • Performance tracking worksheets 

 

Accountability Phase 

  • Performance Tracking: Help establish meaningful metrics that show real-world impact, not just activities
  • Periodic Reviews: Facilitate regular check-ins to assess progress, address barriers, adjust strategies, and provide course correction when needed.
  • Report Development: Support preparation of annual performance reports and responses to Office of Equity feedback
  • Continuous Improvement: Guide ongoing refinement of your equity strategies based on data and community input 

Consultation Services 

Our team works side-by-side with agencies to make equity real in every decision. We provide practical help so your agency can remove barriers, improve systems, and deliver better results for the people of Washington. 

 

Why Work With Us? 

  • We help you implement EO 22-04, EO 24-04, EO 24-05, and other equity-related mandates.
  • We make it easier. We help you take complex requirements and turn them into clear steps your staff can use.
  • We focus on impact. Our goal is not just compliance; it’s better outcomes for the people you serve.
  • We build capacity. Your staff will leave with tools and skills to keep equity work moving forward.
  • We work with you. We listen first, then co-create solutions that fit your agency.
  • Technical Assistance
  • Training
  • Consultation
  • Resources and Guidance 

 

What We Offer 

Our services cover the 11 Impact Service Lines, the key areas where equity shows up in daily agency work. 

  • Leadership, Operations, & Services: We help leaders and teams build habits that support fairness, accountability, and better decisions. When leaders make equity a daily practice, agencies run more effectively, trust grows, and communities experience more transparent, accountable government.
  • Plans, Policies & Budgets: We make sure your plans and budgets reflect community needs and reduce barriers. When equity is built into policies and budgets, resources reach the people who need them most, closing gaps in housing, child development, health, and income security.
  • State Workforce: We can help you strengthen hiring, training, and advancement so every employee has a fair chance to succeed. A fair and inclusive state workforce means more Washingtonians can build stable careers and contribute to thriving communities.
  • Tribal Government Relationships & Engagement: Honor Tribal sovereignty and build strong, respectful partnerships. Respecting Tribal sovereignty ensures decisions honor Indigenous rights, protect lands and waters, and improve community well-being.
  • Public Communications & Education: We help create clear, accessible, and culturally relevant communications. Clear, accessible communication ensures people know their rights, opportunities, and services. This strengthens trust, digital access, and community engagement.
  • Facilities & Systems Improvements: We can help identify and upgrade spaces, technology, and processes so everyone can access services with dignity. Accessible buildings, fair systems, and modern technology mean everyone can connect to services, move safely, and live in healthy environments.
  • Policy Agenda: Support you in shaping policies and laws that advance equity statewide. Centering equity in policy agendas ensures state laws and rules directly improve people’s daily lives, from housing to health to education.
  • Building a Washington for All: Align your agency’s work with statewide impact areas to improve quality of life for all Washingtonians. When agencies are aligned with the full vision of equity, we can create a Washington where every person is able to thrive.
  • Capacity Building: We can help you train, coach, and support staff so equity becomes part of how your agency does business. Training and tools for staff build long-term capacity to deliver better programs, stronger services, and improved community outcomes.
  • Data Strategy & Reporting: Collect, use, and share data responsibly to show progress and identify gaps. Disaggregated data reveals gaps and helps agencies track progress in housing, health, education, environment, and beyond.
  • Engagement & Community Partnerships: We can help you work directly with communities most affected by inequities to design better solutions. Listening to and working with communities ensures solutions reflect real needs and lead to healthier, safer, more vibrant neighborhoods. 

When agencies strengthen any service line, they create real-world change across one or more Statewide Impact Areas. 
This ensures Washingtonians see the difference in their daily lives: 

  • Homes that are affordable.
  • Good jobs with fair pay.
  • Safe neighborhoods and schools.
  • Access to doctors, services, and digital tools.
  • Healthy lands, waters, and communities. 

 

How We Work With You 

  • Listen and Learn: We meet with you to understand your challenges, priorities, and what success looks like.
  • Co-Design Solutions: We build an action plan with you, tailored to your agency’s needs.
  • Support and Train: We provide consultation, tools, and hands-on help so staff can put changes into practice.
  • Track Results: We help set up scorecards and dashboards so you can show progress and stay accountable. 

 

What Changes You’ll See 

  • Clearer plans, policies, and budgets that align with equity goals.
  • A stronger, more inclusive workforce.
  • Better relationships with Tribal Nations and communities.
  • Improved access to services and programs.
  • Data and evidence that show how your work is making a difference. 

 

Ready to Start? 

We’re here to support your agency every step of the way. 

Let’s work together to create a Washington where all people have what they need to thrive. Contact us at impact@equity.wa.gov