Learning path · I'm planning something new

New program or service concept

You have a program idea and want a clear way to consider equity and access before the design is settled.

By the end, you will have a completed equity and access checklist for your program, with clear responsibilities and a review date. You can usually complete routine planning without a consultation, use the same approach for future work, and seek another perspective when added judgment would help.

Policies, programs, budgets, forms, and services

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Your path

Six steps to work through in order

Explore the first questionsUse Ask to consider the equity and access questions that matter before the design is settled. The response will include its sources and any limits.Ask a question
Consider community contextIf relevantIf the work names Minnesota communities or partners, read the relevant brief. Focus on what to ask, access needs, who to involve, and what not to assume.Explore Minnesota Communities
Choose practical resourcesUse the launch checklist, the journey and burden questions, and the partner map to work through your idea.Launch equity and access checklist · Journey and burden questions · Partner map
Draft your equity and access checklistComplete the checklist for your program. Use the downloaded checklist to write your answers in a tool you normally use. This page does not save them.
Review your workConfirm who is responsible, the access needs you considered, who was involved, what you chose not to assume, the review date, and any questions that remain.
Find the right person when neededIf another perspective would help, use Find the right person to identify the responsible role or office. Staff consultation request forms are closed.Find the right person or office

Make the work meaningful

What a useful result looks like

Still needs work:

A quick answer with no next step
A completed checklist without clear responsibilities or a review date
An equity section added without considering access or burden

Ready to use:

The checklist is connected to your program
Access, involvement, and assumptions are addressed
Questions that remain are clearly noted and taken to the right people

Privacy: Do not include client names or case IDs, and describe populations only in general terms. This page does not save your answers or progress. Notes saved through an earlier version may still be in this browser's site data; this page does not show or delete them.

Published checklist

Equity and access planning checklist

Browse and download only. This published checklist is not a form. Staff notes are not saved here.

Browse and download only. This checklist is published from the knowledge base. Staff notes are not filled in or saved on this page.

Program or service nameIn the published checklist
Use the program or service name, not a client's name.
Who this is for, and who carries the burden if it does not workIn the published checklist
Use general terms and consider which communities may be missing from the design process.
Access needs and assumptionsIn the published checklist
Consider broadband, a printer, English, transportation, daytime availability, a person people can reach instead, and accessible documents.
Languages and vital documentsIn the published checklist
Note the languages people may need, which documents need translation and review by a qualified translator, and how an interpreter will be available at first contact.
Steps or barriers you can remove
Consider the number of steps, documents, and trips, along with requirements that may be easy to miss.
Who is involved before the design is settled, and what role they haveIn the published checklist
Consider the Equity Director, accessibility and language access leads, community partners, and Tribal consultation when applicable.
What you chose not to assumeIn the published checklist
Note the assumptions you avoided about the people affected.
Who is responsible for each follow-upIn the published checklist
Add one line for each follow-up, including the action and the person responsible.
Next review dateIn the published checklist
Choose a date when you will return to this work.
Questions that remain
Note what you still need to learn and who can help.

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Participation and course completion in this program do not count toward DHS-required training credits unless management, a director, or DHS leadership expressly approves an exception.

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New program or service concept

You have a program idea and want a clear way to consider equity and access before the design is settled.

Six steps to work through in order

Explore the first questionsUse Ask to consider the equity and access questions that matter before the design is settled. The response will include its sources and any limits.Ask a question

Consider community contextIf relevantIf the work names Minnesota communities or partners, read the relevant brief. Focus on what to ask, access needs, who to involve, and what not to assume.Explore Minnesota Communities

Choose practical resourcesUse the launch checklist, the journey and burden questions, and the partner map to work through your idea.Launch equity and access checklist · Journey and burden questions · Partner map

Draft your equity and access checklistComplete the checklist for your program. Use the downloaded checklist to write your answers in a tool you normally use. This page does not save them.

Review your workConfirm who is responsible, the access needs you considered, who was involved, what you chose not to assume, the review date, and any questions that remain.

Find the right person when neededIf another perspective would help, use Find the right person to identify the responsible role or office. Staff consultation request forms are closed.Find the right person or office

What a useful result looks like

Still needs work:

A quick answer with no next step

A completed checklist without clear responsibilities or a review date

An equity section added without considering access or burden