Washington State Receives National Recognition for Equal Opportunity Initiative

For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON – This week at the National Association of State Workforce Agencies’ (NASWA) 2020 Winter Policy Forum in Washington, D.C., the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) received the prestigious William J. Harris Equal Opportunity Award, presented by the NASWA Equal Opportunity Committee. This award recognizes a state demonstrating excellence and innovation in the area of equal opportunity.

The Washington State ESD Equal Opportunity (EO) Officer Team was created two years ago, beginning with the first-ever EO Officer Team Conference. The team comprises 12 local EO officers and the state EO office staff, who collaborate to better identify and eliminate barriers to equal opportunity. Their focus is to share promising practices and to train the team on the new nondiscrimination provisions of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. This collaborative approach is unique and ensures EO programs across the state see improved compliance and better programming results.

"It is important to recognize Washington State's implementation and successful practice of collaborative statewide implementation of an Equal Opportunity Officer Team," said Scott B. Sanders, Executive Director of NASWA. "This innovative initiative is important for workers across the state and promotes a sense of well-being in the workplace."

"The Employment Security Department is making Washington proud with its consistent focus on diversity and inclusion," said Commissioner Suzi LeVine. "All thanks go to my amazing staff always working to improve the lives of Washingtonians."

For more information about NASWA’s Winter Policy Forum, visit https://www.naswa.org/conferences/2020-winter-policy-forum, and for more information about NASWA’s Equal Opportunity Committee, visit www.naswa.org/about-policy-committees.