Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
For nearly 50 years, Four Oaks Family and Children’s Services and its affiliate organizations Jane Boyd Community House and The Affordable Housing Network (AHNI) have worked diligently to serve and meet the needs of Iowa’s children, families and communities. Since our inception, our founders identified systemic inequities in our community and relentlessly pursued solutions to ensure success. Our focus to ensure inclusive services to all individuals is ingrained in every fiber of our organization’s fabric.
Guided by our TotalChild® service model, a holistic approach that addresses the whole child and family, we are committed to serving all children and families regardless of their age, race, creed, color, national origin, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, generational trauma, mental health status, and more. We recognize that in order for our children and families to thrive, our community needs to be an inclusive and equitable place where we can all Expect Success.
Systemically unjust and inequitable access to resources and opportunities present significant barriers to personal and community wellness. The burden of these inequities falls heavily on those individuals who have been historically marginalized. Those most negatively impacted by these inequities have historically been excluded, under-represented, and dismissed in rooms where systemic decisions are made. We as an organization are committed to changing these facts.
We recognize these barriers have a direct impact on individual financial success, employment, physical health, mental health, and numerous other vulnerabilities, resulting in a negative impact on our communities. It is our organizational responsibility to listen, respond, and react to address inequities in our community. We must be united and diligent in our response to ensure we are an inclusive community that fosters equity and a sense of belonging. Four Oaks is committed to confronting these truths and acting as a change agent for our communities.
With this awareness, we affirm our commitment to creating and sustaining an inclusive environment where all staff, children, and families served by Four Oaks, Jane Boyd Community House, and AHNI are heard and supported to ensure success. Please join us in our commitment to making our communities a better place for all to live.
Mary Beth O’Neill
Four Oaks Enterprise President & CEO