OMHE - Programs
New Employee Orientation Program (NEOP)
DMHAS is one of the largest state agencies in Connecticut with about 3500 employees. As of February 1, 2000 and in accordance with C.G.S. Section 4a-2c, all state agencies are required by statute, to provide a 3.5-hour diversity training program for all new state employees. DMHAS’ NEOP program is a two-day program led by Human Resources. OMHE oversees the 3.5-hour diversity training requirement, which covers federal, and state statutory provisions concerning discrimination and hate crimes directed at protected classes and introduces strategies for working with diverse staff and serving diverse populations.
Champions for Diversity and Health Equity Program
About Champions:
Formerly known as the “Multicultural Cohort Training”, this program began in 1998 and ran for 18 years; it was well received and celebrated by many including other state agencies. Approximately 600 people have participated in the program over the years until it ended in 2016. In 2023, OMHE relaunched the program under the new name, “Champions for Diversity & Health Equity” and piloted it internally within DMHAS the first year. Now, we have expanded it to not only DMHAS staff and non-profit funded providers, but to any state employee. An analysis of previous cohorts found that participating in the program significantly increased participant's knowledge of cultural topics.
Post-program and six-month follow-up survey findings from this past cohort indicate:
- 62% have educated clients about culturally responsive services
- 85% have held formal or informal discussions around multicultural and/or DEI topics
- Participants have engaged their leadership in presenting their health equity plans
- 100% of participants were satisfied with the program, facilitator’s knowledge, and the diverse learning methods conducted
Former Champions participants have stated:
“The Champions program has helped me grow as a person, and I have taken things learned and started important discussions with co-workers, friends, and family.”
“The Champions program has been a transformative experience in my personal and professional journey.”
Meet the Cohorts:
Cohort 3 (2025-2026)
Cohort 1 (2023-2024)
Achieving the Intended: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program
In 2019, DMHAS launched its mandatory full-day DEI training for all staff that is in addition to the statutory mandate for a 3.5 DEI training for new state employees. This training was developed by The Kaleidoscope Group (based out of Chicago) in collaboration with DMHAS leadership and union delegates to ensure that all staff have foundational knowledge about DEI-related topics such as inclusion and belonging in the workplace. OMHE conducts a train-the-facilitator training every two years to build internal capacity. This training continues to be offered weekly to all staff by trained facilitators who have volunteered their time to assist OMHE with implementation. We have conducted over 250 trainings to date totaling nearly 4000 employees since offering this program.
OMHE in collaboration with Yale PRCH is conducting ongoing program evaluation research to measure the impact of the program on engaging in organizational equity to promote inclusion and belonging. Preliminary findings from six-month follow-up data show that 95% of the 940 employees surveyed indicated feasibility and acceptability. Qualitative analysis of the Coat of Arms revealed patterns of inclusivity centered around employees promoting mutuality, respect, validation, and recognition. In addition, employees indicated attitudinal and behavioral changes they would make, such as refraining from gossiping, being reactive, or complaining. Ways to counteract these behaviors include using micro-affirmations (e.g., positive messages), inclusive language, and being more aware of their biases and micro-inequities/micro-aggressions.
Key Learning Modules:
- The Power of Inclusion
- Consciously Inclusive Leaders
- From Unconscious Bias to Conscious Inclusion: The Bias Continuum
- Understand (Definitions, Levels of Bias, How Bias Happens)
- Identify (Types of Biases, Biases & Actions, Impact)
- Manage (Managing Bias Mindset, Managing Bias Strategies)
- An Exercise in Inclusion (Coat of Arms)