Addressing Racial Bias Within Mental Health Care to Support Improved Outcom

Trainer: Dr. Marya Wright, DSW, LCSW

Date: April 23, 2025

Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Location: Virtual – Zoom

Agency: Fred Finch

Participants must complete registration via the Fred Finch website in order to gain full access to the training course.

COMPLETE REGISTRATION HERE: https://www.fredfinch.org/events-1/addressing-racial-bias-within-mental-health-care-to-support-improved-outcomes

Fred Finch provides this training in conjunction with Chabot-Las Positas Community College District and Alameda County through Title IV-E Funding.

You can attend this training at no cost if you or your agency provides services and/or support to youth who are involved in the Alameda County foster care or juvenile justice systems.

Those who do not meet these eligibility requirements will be put on a wait list (or notified of their ineligibility to attend) and only California registrants from Amador, Calaveras, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Solano, and Tuolumne County who support system involved youth will be admitted to the training if we have sufficient registration by those that are eligible and there is still space available.

Access more Fred Finch Trainings Here:

​​https://www.fredfinch.org/training

Time & Location

Apr 23, 2025, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM PDT

Online Event

About the Event

Marya Wright, DSW, MSW

Training Description

This training will focus on addressing racial bias in mental health care, with a particular emphasis on supporting foster youth and system-involved youth. Participants will explore the historical and current impacts of racial bias, learn strategies to identify and mitigate bias, and develop skills to provide culturally competent and equitable mental health care. Through a mix of educational content, practical exercises, and interactive discussions, this training aims to enhance the ability of those who support system-involved youth to serve and support diverse populations more effectively. 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 three types of racial bias (explicit, implicit, systemic) and provide examples of each.

·        Participants will acquire practice applying at least four bias interruption techniques through role-play exercises so to increase their ability to address and mitigate bias in real-time situations with system-involved youth and families.

·        Participants will organize and compare at least three inclusive policies for mental health care practices to build a foundation for more equitable and culturally competent care environments which support improved outcomes for system-involved youth.

Agenda

1:00 – 1:05pm Welcome and Training Purpose

1:05 – 1:15pm Objectives and Learning Goals

1:15 – 1:30pm Understanding Racial Bias

1:30 – 1:45pm Recognizing Racial Bias in Mental Health Care

1:45 – 2:00pm Reflection of experience with bias in mental health care

2:00 – 2:15pm The Impact of Racial Bias on Mental Health of System-Involved Youth (SIY)

2:15 – 2:30pm Strategies for Addressing Racial Bias

2:30 – 2:45pm BREAK (CE hours will not be offered for this time)

2:45 – 3:00pm Building an Inclusive Mental Health Practice

3:00 – 3:15pm Including the support network in the process

3:15 – 3:30pm Action Planning and Commitment within efforts to support SIY

3:30 – 3:45pm Reflection on inclusivity

3:45 – 4:00pm Closing & Wrap-up

Meet Our Trainer

Marya Wright, DSW MSW BSW, is a nationally distinguished Black social worker, consultant, published author, educator, and facilitator with extensive experience in organizational leadership, child welfare services, and curriculum development. As the Founder and CEO of Wright Community Services LLC, Dr. Wright is dedicated to empowering system-involved families through awareness, services, and education. She also provides consultation, training, and facilitation to agencies serving these communities.

Dr. Wright earned her master’s in social work from Cal State East Bay, specializing in 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. She holds a Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, focusing on achieving equal opportunity and justice in the child welfare system.

As a community leader, Dr. Wright prioritizes building relationships, networking, and collaborating with stakeholders to address social and economic issues faced by clients, aiming for justice and peace. She serves as a qualified expert witness and forensic social worker. Additionally, Dr. Wright sits on the Board of Directors for the National Phi Alpha Honor Society and is actively involved with the National Association of Social Workers and California Chapter.

Dr. Wright’s research interests include child sexual exploitation, foster care, and algorithmic decision-making in child welfare. She has published articles and lectured extensively on these topics. Dr. Wright’s teaching experience includes courses in sociology and social work at Cal State East Bay, focusing on sexualities, child welfare policy, family sociology, and sexual violence. Currently, she serves as a professor in the graduate program teaching generalist practice, human behavior and social environment, and advance practice children youth and families.

This course meets the qualifications for (2.75) 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.