DISPARITY IMPACT STATEMENT ROADMAP

The Disparity Impact Statement (DIS) is a data-driven, quality 

improvement approach to advance equity using grant programs. The 

DIS helps grantees identify underserved populations at risk of 

experiencing behavioral health disparities. The aim is to increase 

inclusion of underserved populations in SAMHSA-funded grants, 

achieve behavioral health equity for disparity-vulnerable populations, 

and help systems better meet the needs of these population.

This Roadmap guides SAMHSA grantees through the process of creating a 

DIS. It is a companion document to the DIS Worksheet. 

(For definition of underserved populations, see Executive Order 13985.)

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidentialactions/2023/02/16/executive-order-on-further-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-forunderservedcommunities-through-the-federal-government/

Go here to find out more 

https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grantsmanagement/disparity-impact-statement
Step 1: Use data to identify the 

disparity/problem/gap you are

seeking to address. 01

!

?

Decide: Who?

• Who experiences disparities in access, use or health

outcomes in your area of focus?

• What groups of people within the populations your

program aims to serve/reach/train might have a harder

time accessing or using the services or trainings offered

by the grant?

• What data leads you to believe this disparity exists?

• Consider demographic characteristics that

might contribute to the disparity (e.g. race,

ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation)

02 Use Caution!

The disparity population 

is not everyone your 

program serves/trains.

03

Complete DIS Section 1

 Describe the scope of the problem (Worksheet box

1a) and the disparity-vulnerable(Worksheet box 1b).

 Create a table that breaks out the subpopulations

you aim to serve/reach/train based on the

demographic characteristics that are relevant to the

identified disparity.
Step 2: Decide how you will address the 

disparity/problem/gap so that everyone 

you aim to serve/reach/train is able to 

access and use services/trainings achieve 

better outcomes.

04

Decide: How?

• How can the disparity be addressed?

• What social determinants of health can be 

addressed to improved in the environment in which 

the disparity-vulnerable was born, lives, learns, 

works, plays, and worships that could help to reduce 

the disparity?

• Can services/trainings be improved so that they are 

more culturally and linguistically appropriate for the 

disparity-vulnerable to help address the problem? 

Which CLAS Standard does this reflect?

?

05

Use Caution!

Don’t forget to explain how your proposed 

activities will reduce disparities for the 

population of focus.

!

06

Complete DIS Section 2

 Explain how you will address 

the identified SDOH domain 

(Worksheet box 2a) and CLAS 

Standard (Worksheet box 2b).
Step 3: Provide details on the activities you will 

implement to reduce disparities for the 

disparity-vulnerable population.

07

Decide: What?

• What activities will you implement? 

• Who will be involved in the activities? 

• What will be your timeline for implementing activities?

• What will result from your activities? 

• How will you know if you are making progress 

towards outcomes? 

• What data will you use to measure this?

• How will you keep the work going? 

• Who will be involved? 

• What processes will need to be in place?

?

08

Use Caution!

Make sure activities are SMART: 

Specific, Measurable, Achievable, 

Relevant, and Timebound. !

09

Complete DIS Section 3

 List the activities (using SMART) (Worksheet 

box 3a).

 Describe your intended outcomes (Worksheet 

box 3b). 

 Describe how you will engage 

client/peer/partners (Worksheet box 3c).

 Provide a timeline for the activities (Worksheet 

box 3d).

 Describe how you will evaluate your progress 

(Worksheet box 3e).

 Describe a plan for sustaining the activities 

(Worksheet box 3f).
Submit your 

completed DIS!

Go here to find out more

https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grantsmanagement/disparity-impact-statement

Illustration Credit: https://storyset.com/people