Volume 3, Issue 1, Winter 2021 |
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Approaching DEI Training as Heart Work, Not Hard Work
Diversity. Equity. Inclusion. What do these words mean to you? How do you define them? How do they inform the work you do as a child support trainer?
DEI has taken center stage in the workplace. In some organizations, the definition of DEI is expanding; in others, the dialogue is just beginning. Wherever your organization is in the DEI conversation, we’re hoping this newsletter prompts you into action.
When I refer to “action,” I want to distinguish between action that is hard work and the consistent actions that are heart work. We all know DEI is hard work. Creating meaningful organizational change in spite of the history of injustice that has marginalized underrepresented groups in this country seems insurmountable. However, we are more likely to succeed when we view these efforts as heart work rather than hard work. Creating and implementing inclusive practices requires acknowledgement, recognition, appreciation and celebration of diversity—actions that come from the heart. When we do these things consistently from a place of honesty, passion, conviction, and love, hard work becomes heart work.
While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all rule book for building and maintaining a successful DEI program, you can begin your journey by learning what DEI truly is and understanding the value it can bring to your staff and clients. DEI training can help build awareness of unconscious bias, cultural competence, or additional barriers to diversity, inclusion, and belonging. It can also motivate positive behaviors and attitudes, and foster an environment where staff feel comfortable bringing their full, authentic selves to work and engendering that feeling in our clients.
Maya Angelou reminds us to, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” Join me in this heart work as we strive to do better in support of our child support staff and clients each day.
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Community Informational Sessions: Approaching a Presentation with Equity in Mind
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The Michigan Office of Child Support is committed to becoming an anti-racist organization. One of the steps we are taking is to use an Equity Impact Assessment Tool to review our policies through an equity lens. The tool uses six stages to objectively assess policy and processes to reduce inequities and systemic disparities. |
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If you are interested in hearing more about the Equity Impact Assessment Tool and the Michigan Office of Child Support’s efforts to form a Community Advisory Council, check out “Plenary VII: Equitable Policy Development: Dream it. Plan it. Build it” on Feb. 25 at the NCSEA Policy Forum!
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Quarterly Call Recap
The fourth quarter CSTP call took place on Nov. 12, 2020. Emily Offord from Clemson University presented on how to support social and emotional health in a COVID-19 environment.
Offord, a ThinkShops training specialist with Clemson’s Youth Learning Institute, continued the discussion of virtual training and practicing self-care through the pandemic started by her colleague Melanie Hammack on the August call More specifically, she spoke about how trauma can manifest itself during times of crisis and three signature practices to use for combating trauma. More than 40 people attended this immensely useful presentation.
Visit the CSTP web page to find a recording of the November call, our newsletter archive, and other resources.
The next quarterly CSTP call will be on Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. Central. We will be starting a series on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training for child support workers that will continue throughout the year. This call will feature a roundtable discussion designed to start the conversation on these important topics with future calls providing a “deeper dive” into what child support organizations are doing to provide DEI training.
To join the call, click this link.
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The mission of the Child Support Training Partnership is to advance the current and future state of child support training through networking, communication, and collaboration. |
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The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion: What We Can Learn from History |
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Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away, I was one of a handful of Americans hired to archive the millions of Nazi World War II documents housed at the Berlin Document Center. So when I come across an article, as I did recently, on “Holocaust deniers,” it tends to pique my curiosity. Admittedly, that is mostly because I want to see what “facts” were relied upon to reach the article’s conclusion. Here is my short answer: There are no facts that support a denial of the Holocaust. I have seen the proof.
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Professional Development Opportunities |
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NTCSA will update members and the public when new dates for the 2021 conference are announced
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All events are subject to change. Check conference sites for the latest information on postponements or cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
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NCSEA 2021 Policy Forum: Focusing on DEI |
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If you’re interested in exploring how DEI issues impact child support policy, plan to attend this year’s National Child Support Enforcement Association’s Policy Forum. The following information comes from NCSEA's website.
“This year’s NCSEA Policy Forum is taking on the timely and tough subject of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our child support community is known for our innovation and resilience – it’s time we apply our formidable skill and creativity to issues of bias, barriers, racial trauma, and systemic inequities to ensure the best outcomes for families. It’s time to start Moving Towards Equity through Policy.
Over five days spanning two weeks our child support community will come together virtually to talk about the impacts of our policy choices on the people we serve. How do we, as an institution, reckon with the ways we help or harm and how do we move forward to be more equitable and inclusive? Be part of this dynamic dialog and join us for 12 impactful plenaries and three discussion groups to unpack what we are learning to move towards equity through policy.”
See you “’virtually” at the NCSEA 2021 Policy Forum, Feb. 23-25, and March 2-3.
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Thank You, Newsletter Committee Members |
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We would like to extend a big “thank you” to the following CSTP members who have volunteered their time and effort to serve on our newsletter committee over the past few years:
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Jalynn Almond, Legal Analyst. Iowa State University/Iowa Child Support Recovery Unit (2019-present)
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Charley Barlow, former Welfare Training Specialist, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (2019-2020)
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Paula Burns, Manager Instructional Design, Iowa State University/Iowa Child Support Recovery Unit (2019-present)
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Gregg W. Duffek, MSMOB Manager, Stockbridge-Munsee Community Tribal Child Support (Wis.) (2020)
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Kirsten Thompson, Training and Help Desk Manager, Michigan Office of Child Support (2019-present)
Committee members participate in quarterly meetings to determine the focus of each newsletter. They suggest themes, write articles, recruit potential contributors, and proofread final drafts.
If you’re interested in being part of the newsletter committee, please reach out Jalynn Almond. We welcome people from all types of child support organizations to share their voice with our members. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Copyright © 2021 Child Support Training Partnership, all rights reserved. | CSTP
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