RAISE the BAR Project Updates: Advancing Anti-Racism in Social and Healthcare Services
Through RAISE the BAR, FiNAN reaffirms its commitment to inclusion, equity, and anti-racism, contributing to safer and more respectful healthcare services across the Nordic region.
The Raising Awareness for Inclusion and Supporting Equity – Bilingual Anti-Racism (RAISE the BAR) campaign continues to make meaningful progress in addressing and preventing racism within social and healthcare settings. Implemented by the Filipino Nurses Association in the Nordic Region (FiNAN) with funding from the Finnish government, the project focuses on producing accessible, practical, and culturally responsive resources that support patients, colleagues, and staff members alike.
A key milestone of the project was the completion of a two-week survey aimed at identifying effective strategies to prevent racism in social and healthcare environments. The survey received responses from 98 healthcare professionals, demonstrating strong engagement from the sector. Of these, 86 participants consented to answer the full questionnaire, while 12 opted not to continue. Among the 86 respondents, 63 were frontline healthcare workers and 12 were individuals in managerial or supervisory roles, ensuring that both practical and leadership perspectives were represented.
The collected responses were carefully reviewed and validated by the project coordinator. Through this review process, common themes and consensual answers were identified, forming a foundation for the development of practical anti-racism guidelines. These insights reflect real-world experiences and emphasize actionable approaches to fostering inclusive, respectful, and equitable care environments.
The next phase of the project involves a critical peer-review process. The draft guidelines will be evaluated by a selected panel of Filipino nurses, whose professional and lived experiences provide valuable perspectives on culturally responsive and equitable healthcare practices. Once approved, the content will move into the production stage, where it will be transformed into graphical materials, flyers, and short educational videos. These materials are designed to be easy to read, visually engaging, and practical for daily use.
As a pilot initiative, the finalized materials will first be distributed within private social and healthcare sectors, followed by broader dissemination to county-level and wellbeing services. This phased approach allows for initial feedback and refinement, strengthening the effectiveness and relevance of the resources before wider implementation.
Despite limited funding, FiNAN has successfully delivered on the core goals of the RAISE the BAR project. The organization has demonstrated that targeted, well-coordinated efforts can produce high-impact outputs, particularly when grounded in community expertise and collaborative practice. The resulting materials are intended to function as clear guidelines that support the prevention and reduction of racism in everyday social and healthcare interactions.
Further updates are expected during the summer, when preliminary materials will be shared and discussed. Upon completion, the final resources will be permanently published on the FiNAN website, ensuring open access and long-term impact. Through RAISE the BAR, FiNAN reaffirms its commitment to inclusion, equity, and anti-racism, contributing to safer and more respectful healthcare services across the Nordic region.
