Center for Adult and Continuing Studies

Course Description

This interactive training examines how implicit bias can influence social work practice, professional judgment, communication, and service delivery. Participants will explore the relationship between unconscious attitudes, stereotypes, culture, privilege, power, and disparities across systems while reflecting on their own identities and assumptions. Using social work cultural competence standards as a framework, the training emphasizes self-awareness, professional learning, culturally responsive communication, and leadership. Participants will leave with practical individual, organizational, and advocacy strategies for recognizing and reducing the impact of bias and strengthening equitable, culturally responsive social work practice.

Objectives:

1. Define implicit bias and explain how unconscious associations can influence social work practice, professional judgment, and service delivery.
2. Examine how personal identity, assumptions, privilege, power, and cultural experiences may influence interactions with clients and communities.
3. Describe the role of cultural humility, self-awareness, and ongoing professional learning in reducing the impact of bias.