Module 2: Recap

• Implicit bias can turn even our best intentions into unwanted outcomes.
• The racial disparities and disproportionalities that exist today are a result of not only racist attitudes and policies in the past—such as slavery, attempted genocide and violent assimilation of Native American people, or the War on Drugs—but also because of the ways racism persists and is perpetuated in the present. Implicit bias, which can be mitigated, also contributes to these disparities and disproportionalities.
• Implicit bias plays out in our actions and behaviors, which is important for child protection workers to be aware of since they are making life-long decisions regarding the lives of children and families.
• If child protection workers aren’t aware of their biases it can impact the delivery of services and the implementation of policies and practices. Some of the decision-making points that can be impacted by bias include:
  • Referrals to hotline
  • If a case is referred, screened-in, investigated, or substantiated.
  • If a case is open and a child is removed
  • If kinship care is explored and approved as foster care placement.
     

Module 2 Check-in

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