Unger, Wendy A.
(2021)
Building cultural awareness and responsiveness:
Implicit bias training for contracted trainers at the Child Welfare Resource Center.
Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
Recognizing the disproportionality and disparities in the child welfare system, the Child Welfare Resource Center (CWRC) embarked on systemic change to become an antiracist organization. This short-term dissertation inquiry paralleled the broader efforts and focused on building cultural awareness and responsiveness through an implicit bias intervention with CWRC trainers. Recognizing and addressing racial biases in child welfare was essential to rectify systemic policies and practices that harm Black and Brown children and families. As the mandated provider of certification training for public child welfare caseworkers and supervisors in Pennsylvania, the CWRC had the influence and responsibility to build an antiracist workforce and trainers were essential in this change effort.
The leading outcomes for the intervention were to identify the demographic characteristics of the trainers and to implement online educational modules to increase the implicit bias knowledge of the participants. A pre-post analytical model confirmed that the Implicit Racial Bias 101: Exploring Implicit Bias in Child Protection course from the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP) and The Ohio State University’s Kirwan Institute increased implicit bias knowledge. Furthermore, trainers indicated high satisfaction, and motivation to intervene as an active bystander, to avoid acting on harmful biases, and to use the information in trainings. Multiple trainers added that the course should be mandatory for all trainers and child welfare professionals.
Implicit association tests completed during the intervention identified the preference for white people rampant in a predominately white child welfare system and in society. As indicated in the literature, preferences or biases for white people lead to policies, practices, and decisions that support white supremacy and racism. Thus, identifying biases and taking actions to avoid acting on harmful ones, was a foundational step and additional individual, organizational, and systemic actions are critical. Future inquiry should study the transformation in trainings and in the interactions and decision that impact children and families. Many child welfare professionals are searching for resources and often look to CWRC as a trusted source. CWRC’s dedication to an antiracist child welfare system can positively impact Black and Brown children and families.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
7 July 2021 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
30 April 2021 |
| Approval Date: |
7 July 2021 |
| Submission Date: |
14 June 2021 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
172 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Education > Administrative and Policy Studies |
| Degree: |
EdD - Doctor of Education |
| Thesis Type: |
Doctoral Dissertation |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Implicit Bias, systemic racism, cultural humility, child welfare, trainers, training |
| Date Deposited: |
07 Jul 2021 12:58 |
| Last Modified: |
07 Jul 2021 12:58 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/41289 |
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