Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

At the Yale Child Study Center (YCSC), we value every community member—both within our department and in the broader community of children and families who we serve. We are committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive culture, conducive to sustaining and attracting diversity in all forms. We strive to understand bias and the impacts of racism and other exclusionary practices.

YCSC works to support diverse perspectives in research, clinical practice, and professional training. Such practices allow us to best participate and contribute to society and enhance both the center and the community we serve.

Tara Davila, LCSW became the inaugural YCSC chief diversity officer (CDO) in October 2020 with an enthusiastic vision to foster a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive culture at the center. Davila has spent nearly two decades serving socioeconomically disadvantaged communities through direct clinical practice, supervision, and clinic administration.

In her role as YCSC vice chair for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, Davila works to establish and nurture relationships that are conducive to collaboration and support the center’s development as a more just organization. She actively works to engage all YCSC community members in related efforts and activities, including inviting all to a protected “Friday Focus” space for monthly reflection and learning to help combat biases and deepen efforts to create a more inclusive community.

Under Davila’s leadership and through close collaboration among members of a volunteer action group she convenes regularly, a great deal of related work has been accomplished at the YCSC. Many of these efforts are on-going, including through annual review of outcomes. This is in line with the departments’ commitment to evaluating and aligning goals that are responsive to needs within and across the community

• Clarified organizational structure for department governance & clinical mission
• Clarified job responsibilities for those in leadership roles
• Instituted an ongoing series of leadership workshops and learning groups
• Introduced concept of service leadership and restorative leadership practices
• Launched the annual Viola W. Bernard Prize, with a focus on pilot testing an innovative mental health care delivery model in a community setting
• Engaged consultant to review clinical services around culture/climate, workflow, and the integration of research and practice
• Developed and regularly convened a volunteer diversity action group (DAG) to inform departmental strategic planning and support sustainable projects related to organizational culture and climate
• Developed and implemented a new hiring process aligned with Yale School of Medicine (YSM) best practices to ensure fair assessment of skills and experience
• Established a committee focused on developing a consistent approach to onboarding to ensure all new YCSC community members feel welcome and included
• Participated in a committee developing a tool and training materials to expand a clinical formulation interview to address the potential impacts of discrimination on mental health
• Collaborated with Yale’s Office of Academic and Professional Development (OAPD) and other department leads focused on expanding mentorship workshops
• Piloted and established the provision of Continuing Education Credits through the National Association of Social Workers, expanding department-supported training credits for licensure
• Continued Friday Focus series for the department and monthly staff meetings in outpatient clinical services that continue to expand knowledge and practices to support inclusion
• Launched the Viola W. Bernard Fellowship, focused on improving access to mental health care and decreasing health disparities for children and families
• Established annual professional progression celebration to honor the contributions and progression of YCSC faculty and staff
• Provided ongoing opportunities for expanded learning across the department
• Developed a curriculum for clinical faculty and fellows to support the delivery of clinical care tailored to the unique cultures and needs of the diverse populations they serve
• Created a strategic framework within YCSC clinical services to ensure that all children and families who participate in center programs and studies experience the same respectful and responsive care