Eliminating Racial Bias in Child Welfare: Tools and Strategies for Promoting Equity and Social Justice

Marya Wright

Training Description

This training aims to provide child welfare professionals with an understanding of racial bias within child welfare, and to equip them with the tools and strategies necessary to eliminate biases in their efforts to support system-involved youth. Participants will learn about the impact of racial bias on children and families, as well as best practices for promoting cultural competence and addressing personal biases. The training will also cover strategies for addressing racial bias in child welfare reporting. The material will be delivered by PowerPoint presentation, short video clips, group discussion, breakout (small group) discussions and participant workbook (handout).

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

· Identify at least 2 impacts of racial bias on children and families in the child welfare system.

· Acquire at least 2 tools and/or strategies for promoting cultural competence and addressing personal biases within efforts to support system involved youth.

· Identify at least 2 best practices for addressing racial bias in child welfare reporting.

Agenda

11:00 – 11:10am  Welcome and purpose of the training

11:10 – 11:35am  Objectives and Learning Goals

11:35 – 11:45am  Understanding Racial Bias

11:45am – 12pm  Definition of racial bias

12:00 – 1:00pm  Lunch

1:00 – 1:15pm  Types of Racial Bias

1:15 – 1:25pm  Impact of Racial Bias in Child Welfare

1:25 – 1:30pm  Examples of racial bias in child welfare

1:30 – 1:45pm  Disproportionality and disparity in child welfare

1:45 – 2:00pm  Consequence of racial bias on children and families

2:00 – 2:20pm  Importance of cultural competence in child welfare

2:20 – 2:45pm  Addressing Racial Bias in Child Welfare

2:45 – 3:00pm  Strategies for addressing racial bias

3:00 – 3:20pm  Cultural responsiveness and humility

3:20 – 3:45pm  Best practices for eliminating racial bias

3:45 – 3:50pm  Self-Reflection and Personal Responsibility

3:50 – 4:00pm  Personal biases and their impact

4:00 – 4:15pm  Tools for self-reflection

4:15 – 4:40pm  Steps for taking personal responsibility

4:40 – 4:50pm  Call to Action and Resources

4:50 – 5:00pm  Questions/Answers/Wrap-up & Closing

Meet Our Trainer

Marya Wright, MSW, is a nationally distinguished social worker, consultant, educator, international trainer, and facilitator with experience in organizational leadership, child welfare services, and curriculum development. She is the President and CEO of Wright Community Services LLC, a company that strives to empower system-involved families through awareness, services, and education while also providing consultation, training, and system specific facilitation to the agencies that services these communities. She is a registered Associate Clinical Social Worker (#81167) with the Board of Behavioral Sciences working to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).

Marya holds a Master’sDegree in Social Work from California State University, East Bay with a focus on Child Welfare Policy and Research and a Bachelor’s in Social Work with a focus on Child Welfare Services and Motivational Interviewing from San Diego State University.

Marya is a qualified expert witness and private dependency investigator for children, youth, and family services as it relates to family law court, juvenile and dependency court. She is an elected Board of Director for the California Society of Clinical Social Work (CSCSW).

Marya has conducted considerable research on Child Sexual Exploitation, Foster Care, and published an article on the use of algorithmic decision-making in child welfare. In addition to her clinical social work, Marya is a seasoned lecturer. She has taught in the Sociology Department at Cal State East Bay since Spring 2020. Her course load includes Sociology of Sexualities, Child Welfare Policy, Sociology of Family, and Sexual Violence.

This course meets the qualifications for (5.0) BBS CE hours for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.