RACE: The Power of an Illusion (Council Bluffs)
Friday, April 29, 2022, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM CDT
Category: Training
The purpose of RPI is to build capacity to reduce disproportionality and disparity in the Iowa child welfare system by providing participants with a safe environment in which to explore and challenge their own beliefs and attitudes about race, to practice better ways of talking to one another about sensitive topics, and to begin to have courageous conversations with one another about how the notion of race affects our attitudes, beliefs and behaviors. Defined as a learning exchange, rather than as a training, RPI is both a guided educational experience which uses a standard curriculum and a facilitated discussion that encourages and supports participants’ active involvement in the learning exchange. A team of intensively-trained facilitators with a background in child welfare and commitment to eliminating disproportionality in the Iowa child welfare system lead the learning exchange. The current curriculum for the learning exchange was developed through the Iowa Department of Human Services, based on work done by Khatib Waheed for Casey Programs. In addition to learning new information delivered in the PowerPoint presentation, participants experience new insight through viewing segments of the video, Race: The Power of an Illusion - The House We Live In. This PBS presentation is the first film on race to focus not on individual attitudes and behaviors but on the role that our institutions and public policies play in shaping life opportunities and individuals’ ability to accumulate wealth and benefit from the opportunities that wealth provides. Location Info: TRAINERS: Jesse Thomas - Jesse Eash Thomas currently works to provide supervision and leadership in her role as a Family Centered Services Program Coordinator for Four Oaks in the Cedar Rapids Service Area. Jesse has worked as a facilitator and/or supervisor for 12 years; however, she has worked in the Child Welfare System for 23 years in a variety of positions. Jesse has an AA degree from Kirkwood College and studied Psychology, with a focus in Behavior Modification, at the University of Northern Iowa. Jesse is an approved Iowa State Trainer since 2017. In addition to her work with Solution Based Casework and Facilitation, Jesse also sits on the Linn County Community for Change team and facilitates RPI: Race the Power of an Illusion and UIRB: Understanding Implicit Racial Bias Learning Sessions. Registration will begin at 8:30AM. Training will begin promptly at 9:00AM. This training is scheduled until 4pm. Lunch is on your own Please note: Priority seating is provided to staff working within one of the current DHS child welfare service contracts, including: Family Centered Services (FCS); Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) / Group Foster Care; Child Welfare Emergency Services (CWES): Aftercare Services; Supervised Apartment Living (SAL); Recruitment, Retention, Training and Support Services (RRTS); Parent Partners; Foster Care Youth Council. If you do not work within one of the current DHS child welfare services contract, you may be bumped from the course and placed on a wait list. If you have questions regarding seating for the training or if you are unable to participate for any reason, please contact Katie Henry ([email protected]). Click here to registerContact: For more information contact Katie Henry, [email protected] |