WIDE 3.0 launches this summer with the hiring of Dr. Andrea Hendricks, a consultant who will take our welcoming, inclusive, diverse, and equitable planning toward fully embedded implementation.

Dr. Hendricks began her work last month, meeting key leadership, attending the Leadership Summit, and reviewing material of Cornerstones of Care’s WIDE work, including the collaboration with Lexicon Strategies, the social impact agency that led planning beginning in 2023. Working on the WIDE 3.0 process connects Dr. Hendricks’ professional expertise in HR/DEI, working with organizations that leveraged her educational background in human development, and counseling psychology-educational leadership. In addition, she did an extensive internship in college with the child welfare system.

“Being able to match a commitment to DEI with the organization’s mission in serving children and families is like being able to go back home,” she said.

In July, Dr. Hendricks will begin a listening tour that will include individual meetings with about 20 team members in leadership positions. In addition, she will also offer drop-in opportunities for team members to meet with her and ask questions.

“My starting point is to listen and learn,” Dr. Hendricks said. “I call it my ‘road show’ to get to know more about the leadership, committees, and teams within the organization.”

The next level of WIDE work is to ensure it is part of the culture and shared throughout the organization, the same way Sanctuary commitments impact Cornerstones of Care. Having a commitment to WIDE isn’t just the right thing to do, but an important business imperative. Having an organizational understanding of inclusiveness helps prevent challenges faced in the workplace and within communities.

Like educators and health care professionals, Cornerstones of Care team members are mandated to serve a population of children and families that is diverse in virtually all aspects of society. At Cornerstones of Care, we are charged with including and providing equal care to all children and families, which is at the core of our WIDE commitment.

“Our work isn’t in diversity,” Dr. Hendricks said. “Our work is in meeting the needs of diverse audiences.”

During her July meetings, Dr Hendricks will share an engagement model that will support the next level of WIDE implementation. The model will help enhance knowledge and understanding at the individual, team, and organizational level to influence behavior but also offer a consistent WIDE awareness across Cornerstones of Care’s 800 team members that will create positive action.

Dr. Hendricks is impressed with the WIDE work Cornerstones of Care has undertaken so far, noting the engagement with leadership, board members, and team members. The organization has generated momentum for its WIDE commitment by promoting it internally and externally for nearly five years.

Dr. Hendricks’ model assesses programs on four key levels as they mature to become transformational and seamlessly embed their commitment within the organizational structure. A maturity model is a framework that outlines an organization’s progress in a specific area that defines levels of growth for greater outcomes. Organizations that want to move from a transactional approach to a transformational one often use maturity models to guide their progress.

Based on what she has seen so far, Cornerstones of Care is ready to fully embed the program within our culture. Our work to date is both pioneering, in team members’ willingness to try new things, and progressive, in a desire to promote and embrace change. The focus of pioneering and progressive stages align with Sanctuary commitments, including growth and change.

“It’s rare to see a pioneering and progressive approach,” said Dr. Hendricks. “Cornerstones of Care engaged at every level, which is impressive. The next big step will be implementation.”

Even robust programs can erode over time if leadership doesn’t monitor its progress and ensure it is staying true to its mission and goals. Taking responsibility and having accountability is crucial.

“If you don’t have someone who stays up at night thinking about key strategies, then you are likely to struggle,” Dr. Hendricks said. “Not having that person in place can cause important elements to fall away.”

Dr. Hendricks acknowledges that the current climate opposes DEI concepts, but she says Cornerstones of Care’s WIDE commitment won’t violate national mandates and will ensure the children and families we serve will receive equal treatment.

“The climate we are seeing isn’t new,” she said. “This is the same blueprint presented over 60 years ago during the civil rights and women’s rights era. The work has evolved over time and will continue to evolve. This is a journey, not a sprint. It will be important to maintain outcomes that focus on greater inclusivity and belonging.”