WHEREAS the Health Commission passed a number of policies in 1988 to govern the contracts of the Department of Public Health; and,

WHEREAS the Health Commission periodically reviews and updates individual policies; and,

WHEREAS a discrimination-free environment is critical to the provision of effective services to San Francisco's diverse populations; and,

WHEREAS Federal, State and local laws prohibit the Department of Public Health from contracting with agencies that engage in discrimination; and,

WHEREAS cultural competence is an essential requirement for health care providers to provide effective services to a diverse population; and,

WHEREAS the Department of Public Health is committed to developing and maintaining health services that are culturally competent, consumer-guided and community-based; and,

WHEREAS the Department of Public Health's Policy #24, Ethnicity and Gender of Staff and Board of Directors, has been affected by changes in Federal, State and local laws; and,

WHEREAS the staff of the Department of Public Health, in consultation with the City Attorney's Office, has drafted an amendment of Policy #24 to include qualitative and quantitative measures for cultural competency and to ensure compliance with non-discrimination laws; now, therefore, be it,

RESOLVED that the Health Commission adopts the proposed amendment to Policy #24, renaming it Contractors' Compliance With Antidiscrimination Protections and Cultural Competency; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Public Health is directed to monitor compliance with the policy on Contractors' Compliance With Antidiscrimination Protections and Cultural Competency; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department report back to the Health Commission on progress in implementing the revised policy, the impact of the new policy, and any other proposed revisions that may be needed to assure culturally competent services and compliance with the non-discrimination laws.

I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the Health Commission at its meeting of Tuesday, March 16, 1999.

Sandy Ouye Mori, Executive Secretary to the Health Commission