Learning path · I'm making a routine decision and want a quick equity check

Equity Pause for a routine decision

You are about to make a routine decision and want a short, honest check of who it affects and what you might change before it goes out.

By the end, you will have a short record of the decision: who is affected differently, who can change it, the access needs you checked, what you know and do not know yet, one alternative you considered, and your next step with a review date. You can complete routine decisions on your own and recognize when a fuller analysis applies.

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Your path

Six steps to work through in order

Ask the first questionDescribe the decision in a sentence and ask what to check. The response includes its sources and says when a fuller review applies.Browse common questions
Consider community contextIf relevantIf the decision reaches particular Minnesota communities, read the relevant brief for access needs and what not to assume.Explore Minnesota Communities
Choose practical resourcesUse the plain-language and language access checklists for anything people will read. If the decision turns out to have real reach, the toolkit companion shows what a scan or full analysis asks.Plain language and accessible documents · Language access checklist · Equity Analysis Toolkit companion · Record this pause in the open register (optional)
Write your pauseAnswer the questions for this decision. Use the downloaded checklist to write your answers in a tool you normally use. This page does not save them.
Review your pauseConfirm the decision is specific, you checked access, you know who can change it, you noted what you did not assume, and you have a next step with a date. If the reach or the stakes are larger than you first thought, move to the Equity Analysis Toolkit.Equity analysis for a decision
Talk it through (optional)Most routine decisions do not need a conversation. If a question remains, or the decision affects people more than you expected, a consultation or the right office can help.Find the right person

Make the work meaningful

What a useful result looks like

Still needs work:

A pause completed after the decision already went out
"No one is affected" with no one asked
A check that never names a next step

Ready to use:

A specific decision, the people it affects differently, and one thing you changed or kept with a reason
A clear sense of whether a fuller analysis applies

Privacy: Describe the decision and the people it affects in general terms. Do not include names or case details. 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 Pause

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.

The decision, in one sentenceIn the published checklist
Name the meeting, notice, change, or choice. Not a person.
Who this affects, and who it affects differentlyIn the published checklist
Think about language, disability, schedule, location, technology, trust, and who might miss it entirely.
Who can change this decision, and who you checked withIn the published checklist
The role that decides, and anyone you asked before settling it.
Access needs you checkedIn the published checklist
Plain language, an accessible format, interpretation or translation, timing, and a way to take part or respond that does not require one channel.
What you know, and what you do not know yetIn the published checklist
Evidence you have, and the question you would ask if you had five more minutes.
One alternative that would reduce a barrierIn the published checklist
A different time, format, channel, wording, or usual choice. Note whether you chose it, and why.
What you chose not to assumeIn the published checklist
About the people affected and how they will receive this.
Your next step, and who is responsibleIn the published checklist
One line for each step, including who does it.
When you will look at this againIn the published checklist
Choose a date after the decision has had an effect.

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Equity Pause for a routine decision

You are about to make a routine decision and want a short, honest check of who it affects and what you might change before it goes out.

Six steps to work through in order

Ask the first questionDescribe the decision in a sentence and ask what to check. The response includes its sources and says when a fuller review applies.Browse common questions

Consider community contextIf relevantIf the decision reaches particular Minnesota communities, read the relevant brief for access needs and what not to assume.Explore Minnesota Communities

Choose practical resourcesUse the plain-language and language access checklists for anything people will read. If the decision turns out to have real reach, the toolkit companion shows what a scan or full analysis asks.Plain language and accessible documents · Language access checklist · Equity Analysis Toolkit companion · Record this pause in the open register (optional)

Write your pauseAnswer the questions for this decision. Use the downloaded checklist to write your answers in a tool you normally use. This page does not save them.

Review your pauseConfirm the decision is specific, you checked access, you know who can change it, you noted what you did not assume, and you have a next step with a date. If the reach or the stakes are larger than you first thought, move to the Equity Analysis Toolkit.Equity analysis for a decision

Talk it through (optional)Most routine decisions do not need a conversation. If a question remains, or the decision affects people more than you expected, a consultation or the right office can help.Find the right person

What a useful result looks like

Still needs work:

A pause completed after the decision already went out

"No one is affected" with no one asked

A check that never names a next step