Developing your Why: An Assessment of WAFWA Member States’ DEI Journey
Strategic Priority
Expanding Relevancy and Engagement - Implementing and/or Expanding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts
Project Documents
Project Description
This project aims to gather baseline information about the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts of natural resource agencies and other public organizations in the western region of the United States and Canada through a survey. Researchers understand the importance of biological diversity: healthy ecosystems flourish with diverse organisms that are adaptable and resilient to disturbances and change. Similarly, diversity in our organizations can lead to increased resiliency, innovation, and relevancy to the constituents they serve. Due to changing demographics in the population (e.g., more people of color or with multiple ethnic backgrounds) and a shift in wildlife value orientations (i.e., fewer traditionalists and an increase in mutualists), DEI efforts have never been needed greater in natural resource agencies.
Project Facts
- Organization Name: Western Association of Fish And Wildlife Agencies
- Organization Status: NGO classified as 501(c)(3)
- State: Idaho
- Obligation: $74,586
- Start Date: 01-01-2022
- End Date: 12-31-2023
Results
Method:
- November 2022
- A letter with a link to the DEISAQ survey was sent to all WAFWA member State Directors.
- Three reminder emails (December 3, 6 and 9) to State Directors
- All survey responses were sent directly to OCCAT for analysis.
- Dr. Mason and the team received responses from SurveyMonkey.
- We used SPSS version 29 to run the quantitative results.
- States with 50 or more responses receive an infographic with subscale scores.