Division 21-117.2 of the CDSS’s Civil Rights regulation requires the provision of cultural awareness training programs for all public contact employees. The training shall pertain to specific cultural characteristics of the cultural groups served in the county. By presenting materials related to specific cultural characteristics, all efforts should be made to avoid group stereotyping (21-17.21).
This course will help participants recognize the power and/or impact of unconscious bias in a diverse work environment. This course is about being an effective ally and going beyond the apology stage to being an individual that can have those difficult conversations without blame or judgement, in order educate and create meaningful and honest worker/colleagues and provider/client working relationships.
After attending this training, participants will be able to:
- Gain a greater understanding of their conscious and unconscious prejudices and biases.
- Discern how their unconscious (and stereotypic) biases during their interactive provision of services with others are not only hurtful but create barriers to open and honest communication.
- Recognize how systematic inequality perpetuates harmful stereotypes.
- Acquire mitigation steps beyond the “apology”.
- Communication tools to address situations related to “micro aggressive” behavior.
- Manage difficult conversations and challenge inequitable, unjust and stereotypical assumptions in a positive and neutral way.