ODL 220: Ethics, Implicit Bias, Cultural Humility and Healthcare Disparities – A Day of Learning Using Video, Case Scenarios, and Ethical Frameworks

Created on 09/09/2023 Revised on 9/20/2024

Attention New Jersey Social Workers: 

This course is approved for all social workers, including New Jersey. The Board Adopted Amendments: N.J.A.C. 13:44G-6.3, 6.4, and 6.7 Content Areas for Continuing Education Credit on April 15, 2024. This updates the Board’s regulation. This amendment states that  attendance at programs or courses offered by providers approved by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) are now acceptable sources of CE credit. 

At the June 12, 2024 public meeting, the Board voted to allow “any applications submitted, or audits which take place, on or after September 1, 2022” to be able “to submit CE from the sources updated in the new amendment adopted on April 15, 2024.”

For more information please refer to https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/sw/Pages/Additional-Information.aspx#CE

Target Audience:

This course is targeted for social workers, case managers, nurses, and counselors.

Overview:

Implicit bias is an “implicit stereotype, an unconscious attribution of particular qualities to a member of a certain social group.”  In addition, according to the APA, “Most racial and ethnic minority groups overall have similar or in some cases, fewer mental disorders than whites. However, the consequences of mental illness in minorities may be long lasting.” As helping professionals, we have an ethical obligation to explore evidence-based research around the causes of these disparities in minority communities and work on actively closing these gaps in care.  The diversity of our patient population necessitates a team of professionals equipped with the informational tools needed to provide excellence in care.  The presentation will address the definition of implicit bias, including appropriate strategies for practice. In addition, the presenter will discuss the component of ethical standards and disparities in the clinical setting throughout our day of learning to enhance the knowledge of participating healthcare professionals. From there, we will look closely at mental health disparities in minority communities. Using video and case scenarios, we will explore different views that minority groups may hold regarding mental health. We will also explore potential barriers to care in these communities and ways to overcome them. Finally, we will use the term cultural humility instead of cultural competency and how cultural humility can be used as best practices to understand the cultures and beliefs of others. Using multiple forms of learning and an interactive format– this training will keep you engaged and learning from start to finish!  

Course Objectives:

By the end of the session – the participant will be able to:

• Explain the definition of implicit bias.
• Examine the influence and ethical considerations of implicit bias in patient care.  
• Identify evidence-based strategies used to reduce implicit bias.
• Describe the role of ethical standards in our discussions around implicit bias and healthcare disparities.  
• Identify three potential contributing factors to health/mental health disparities in minority communities and state ways to overcome these disparities.  
• Summarize the difference between cultural humility and cultural competency and how cultural humility can be a powerful tool regarding de-escalation practices.  

Presenter:

Kendra O’Berry, LCSW

Kendra O’Berry, LCSW, is a graduate of Valdosta State University with her Bachelor’s in English and Master’s degree in Social Work. She is an LCSW and has been working in the medical and mental health fields for most of her career. She is a wife, mother, and travel enthusiast. It is her hope to be able to educate not only her peers but as many in the community as possible of their rights, and how to live their best lives.

5 CREDIT HOURS APPROVED FOR:

Social Workers
ASWB ACE – 5 Ethics CE Credits
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work – 5 Contact Hours
Case Managers
CCMC – 5 Ethics Hours
Nurses
California Board of Registered Nursing – 5 Contact Hours
Counselors
5 Ethics Hours or 5 Contact Hours*
NBCC ACEP – 5 Contact Hours
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners – 5 Contact Hours

* Some states do not require/accept ethics hours for counselors, for those cases contact hours will be awarded.

Please make sure to check with your own state board to ensure the transferability of CE credit for an asynchronous course. Some state boards may place restrictions regarding the modality of training required for ethics credits to be awarded. If this training indicates ethics credits are available, please verify that your state allows them to be earned through an on-demand course format.