Implicit Bias Training/Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice (Meets new MD Board of Social Work requirements)

Presenter Ed Geraty, LCSW-C (MD), LICSW (WV), LCSW (VA), LICSW (DC) 

CEUs: Category 1 | 3.0 (this training meets the Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice content requirement and will be noted on the CEU certificate)

The purpose of this Implicit Bias Training, also referred to as Unconscious Bias Training, is to raise awareness about individuals' implicit biases and provide them with tools and strategies for impartial decision-making, thereby reducing the influence of these biases. Implicit bias affects the way we make choices, engage with others, and conduct ourselves.

Research has consistently shown that implicit bias is linked to several adverse consequences, including lower-quality healthcare provision (e.g., treatment recommendations and empathy), unequal disciplinary actions in schools (e.g., suspensions and expulsions), discriminatory workplace practices (e.g., hiring, promotions, and retention), and racial disparities in criminal justice responses (e.g., arrests, law enforcement-involved shootings, and legal sentencing).

Hence, it is essential to recognize and actively work towards mitigating implicit bias to ensure that our decisions, interactions, and conduct are equitable and devoid of discrimination. Furthermore, this training supports clinicians in their professional practice by enabling them to implement culturally informed approaches that mitigate the impact of implicit bias.

Workshop Objectives:

Upon finishing this training, participants will be able to:

1. Articulate the concept of implicit bias and its underlying origins.
2. Recognize the ramifications of implicit bias in both workplace and clinical settings.
3. Engage in conversations about methods for self-exploration and for tracking and managing their individual implicit biases.
4. Explain the process of implementing culturally sensitive frameworks and utilizing evidence-based strategies to address implicit bias within organizations and clinical practice.

Agenda:

• Intros
• Pivotal Implications of unconscious biases
• how to Address Blindspots and Racial Bias in a Session
• Break
• How To Reduce Implicit Bias
• Promoting Inclusivity.
• Different types of bias
• Closing

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