LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion authored by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis and Supervisor Sheila Kuehl to implement a Gender Impact Assessment (GIA) for County departments.

“Achieving gender equity is a multi-year effort, requiring us to question assumptions that our services affect everyone in the same way and apply an intersectional gender lens to improve our services. This includes better data tracking to identify gender imbalances and robust goals across each County department to improve our responsibility as an employer and service provider when it comes to women, girls, and residents of all genders,” said Supervisor Solis.

The County GIA requires that departments apply an intersectional gender lens when analyzing their policies, services, programs, and leadership. To do so, departments must capture gender data and use a focused process to challenge assumptions as to why gender imbalances exist. By using this methodology and assessing gender data, departments can finely pinpoint gender imbalances within their organization and the services they offer County residents. Once imbalances are uncovered, departments will be able to develop goals and strategies to address gender disparities and increase equity.

“One of my ongoing goals as a County Supervisor has been to bring greater focus to the challenges facing LA County’s women and girls, so it’s very gratifying that at my last public meeting as Supervisor, I am co-authoring this motion which will establish a gender equity standard to be applied in all County departments. Moving forward, LA County will have a concrete and measurable way of tracking gender equity. That’s tremendous progress,” said Supervisor Kuehl.

The motion approved today requests that the County’s Chief Executive Office (CEO) develop a Management Appraisal and Performance Plan (MAPP) gender equity goal for all County departments for fiscal years 2022-23 and 2023-24, directing all departments to complete the GIA with a focus on identifying and tracking gender equity-related goals and advancing gender data maturity within each department’s programs, services, policies, practices, and partnerships.

To read today’s full motion click here.

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