MDH Letterhead - Minnesota Department of Health



Implicit Bias Group DiscussionFacilitators GuidePurposeThis activity is encouraged as a follow up to the “Implicit Bias” session at the 2017 MN WIC Conference. It is designed to give staff a chance to further reflect on identifying, understanding and managing personal implicit bias. The aim is to foster self-reflection through an exercise that prompts an examination of one’s own, often unconscious, biases and how these biases can affect our work.Length of DiscussionThe time will vary widely depending on the size of the group and discussions that occur. Because this topic can elicit strong emotions, allow enough time for everyone to contribute and process the information. Group SizeThe training is designed for 3-10 participants. If the group is larger than 10, consider dividing into smaller groups, and assigning a facilitator to each group. After small group discussion, gather back together in the larger group to summarize the discussions.MaterialsImplicit Bias infographic handout, one copy for each personObjectivesAcknowledge that bias is inherent in one’s perspectives.Verbalize the impact personal implicit bias may have on how we interact with others.Recognize self-reflection as a method for understanding one’s own biases.List strategies to recognize and minimize the impact implicit bias has in one’s day to day interactions.Pre-Training ActivitiesPrior to the group discussion, each person will:Read the Implicit Bias infographic handout and reflect on the information Complete at least two Implicit Association Tests (IAT)More information & explanation about the IAT test is available on the website. Each IAT test takes less than 10 minutes.Group DiscussionNote to facilitator: This discussion does not focus on the IAT (or results), but on the self-reflection that taking the IATs may have triggered. The group may want to focus on the test itself, individual results, the mechanics of the test, or its validity. As such, provide room for discussion of these issues, but then guide the group to a broader discussion of bias and how it affects human interaction. Where possible, get attendees to tell their own stories and recount their own experiences.Open the discussion Facilitator: “This session is designed to help us begin to talk about and understand some of our own implicit biases, why they are universal, and how we can start to become aware of our biases to improve participant centered WIC services” Discuss the definition of Implicit Bias (from the handout)Facilitator: “What are your thoughts on the definition of Implicit Bias provided on the handout?Do you agree with the statement that we can have biases that we are not aware of, or don’t have control over? Why or why not?”Discuss your experience with taking an IAT What was it like to take the IAT? Share your stories.What was useful/provocative/interesting about taking the IAT?Did taking the IAT trigger you to reflect on (or provoke, remind you of) past experiences with bias?How do you think taking the IAT relates to any past experiences you have had?Were your results what you expected? Why or why not? Regardless of whether you expected them or not, how do you feel about your results?Discuss the process of self-discovery and role of perspective-taking What are other ways to uncover, or become aware of, the unconscious beliefs or impulses that govern your thoughts, actions, and feelings?” Some suggestions: Observe yourself and others; keep a “thoughts journal”; make a noteof first impressions, later contrast your first impression with what you identify after getting to know someone better.Relationship between IATs and interactionsCan you think about a time when someone made assumptions or held a bias about you based on any factor (e.g., gender, ethnicity, education, role in WIC)? How did you feel or react when this happened? Do you think the person was aware of their bias (explicit) or not aware (implicit)?Have you ever made an assumption about a person, and then discovered that you had made an error, based on a first impression or an implicit bias?How do you think your first impressions relate to your IAT result?Self-reflection/Next steps:What thoughts do you have about what you might do differently after completing the IATs? What if anything will you do with your results?Have you heard anything in the discussion today that challenged your thinking?Post-Training Activities (optional)Challenge yourself to pay attention to your first impressions and interactions, and those of your coworkers. Is implicit bias influencing what you do or say? If so, how might you do things differently next time so implicit bias does not influence your thoughts and actions as much?Check in with your coworkers 4-6 weeks after completing this training discussion. What, if anything, do you find yourself doing differently after becoming more aware of implicit biases? Attend a cultural event of another culture than your own, or a community event in a socioeconomic area that is different than yours. What did you notice? What did you learn? How was what you experienced different or the same as some of your beliefs or implicit biases? Training activity adapted for MN WIC from:AAMC MedEdPORTAL Creative Commons License.Protecting, Maintaining and Improving the Health of All Minnesotans ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download