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On Demand

Implicit Bias in Behavioral Health


Total Credits: 1 including 1 Category II CEs

Categories:
OnDemand
Instructor:
Gisele Ferretto, MSW, LCSW-C
Duration:
1 Hour 19 Minutes
Format:
Audio and Video


Description

This 90-minute workshop is focused on the exploration of implicit bias in the delivery of behavioral health services. These common, yet complex issues concerning implicit bias impact the delivery of behavioral health services and contribute to health disparities. Content will cover the following: implicit bias, the impact of bias on therapeutic outcomes and agency practices, and strategies for identifying and addressing bias in behavioral health. The new law and licensing regulations, which define implicit bias and the professional responsibilities for behavioral health, will be highlighted.  

This course meets the one-time implicit bias training requirement for all practitioners who hold a license or certificate issued by a Health Occupations Board in the State of Maryland.  

Instructor

Gisele Ferretto, MSW, LCSW-C Related Seminars and Products

University of Maryland School of Social Work


Gisele Ferretto, MSW, LCSW-C, has over thirty-five years of social work experience in both clinical and macro practice areas. Her areas of expertise include: policy, professional ethics, supervision and leadership, confidentiality, social work and field practicum education, child welfare practice, and curriculum development. Ms. Ferretto provides consultation and training for private and public agencies in her areas of expertise. She has served on various committees and boards at the local, state, and national level, developing policy and program initiatives.     

Currently, Ms. Ferretto is on the faculty at the University of Maryland School of Social Work (SSW) and serves as the director of public policy and manager of training for the Office of Practicum Education. During her tenure at the SSW, she has held positions in the Office of Practicum Education, Office of External Affairs, Child Welfare Fellowship Program, Child Welfare Academy, Family Connections Baltimore, and Social Work Community Outreach Service (SWCOS). Prior to her time at the SSW, she served as an administrator at the Maryland Department of Human Services in the following programs: Child Protective Services, Office of Equal Opportunity, and the Office of Staff Development and Training. Ms. Ferretto began her social work career as a child protective services worker at the Baltimore City Department of Social Services.  


Learning Objectives

Objectives: Participants will: 

  1. Explore the definitions of implicit bias and bias as defined in law and behavioral health care practice standards, including Health General § 20-1301. 
  2. Examine the impact of implicit bias on every level of service delivery including intake, assessment, intervention, and agency protocols. 
  3. Identify strategies for identifying, addressing, and preventing implicit bias in behavioral health care. 

Bibliography & References

BIBLIOGRAPHY & REFERENCES

Bibliography 

Goode, T. D. (2004). Cultural competence continuum handout and guide. National Center for Cultural Competence, Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development. https://nccc.georgetown.edu/ 

Harvard Project Implicit.  Implicit association test (IAT). https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html 

Iyer, D. (2020). Social change ecosystem map. Building Movement Project. https://buildingmovement.org/our-work/movement-building/social-change-ecosystem-map/ 

Maryland Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities (MHHD). Implicit bias resources. https://health.maryland.gov/mhhd/Pages/Implicit-Bias-Resources.aspx 

National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities. (n.d.). http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/npa/ 

National Institute of Mental Health. (2025). Science updates: 2025 research highlights. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-updates/2025  

National Center for Cultural Competence. (2003). A guide to choosing and adapting culturally and linguistically competent health promotion materials. https://nccc.georgetown.edu/documents/Materials_Guide.pdf 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2011). HHS action plan to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities. http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/npa/files/Plans/HHS/HHS_Plan_complete.pdf 

Smedley, B. D., Stith, A. Y., & Nelson, A. R. (Eds.). (2003). Unequal treatment: Confronting racial and ethnic disparities in health care. Washington, DC: Committee on Understanding and Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care, Institute of Medicine.

Course Completion & CE Information

Category II Maryland BSWE Requirement

The Office of Continuing Professional Education at the University of Maryland School of Social Work is authorized by the Board of Social Work Examiners in Maryland to sponsor social work continuing education programs. This workshop qualifies for 1 Category II Continuing Education Units. The Office of Continuing Professional Education is also authorized by the Maryland Board of Psychologists and the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors to sponsor Category A continuing professional education. 

To receive ACE credit, full attendance is required; no partial credits will be given for partial attendance. 

 

Certificate Access

To access the evaluation and certificate, click on the orange certificate button in your CPE account. Once you complete the evaluation, access to the certificate will be available.  

Live Interactive Webinars (Cat I) and Live Webinars (Cat II) - Allow up to 30 minutes post-training for attendance to be verified, then you will be able to access the evaluation and certificate. 

In Person Trainings - Please allow five (5) business days post-training for attendance to be verified, then you will be able to access the evaluation and certificate. 

 

Please refer to the tab "Live Interactive Webinar Policies & FAQs" for UMSSW Office of CPE policies regarding all live interactive webinar related matters. Contact our office at cpe@ssw.umaryland.edu for more information.  

Target Audience

Social Workers, LCPCs, Psychologists and all Behavioral Health Practioners

We welcome anyone interested in the topic!

 

ADA Accommodations

If you are requesting ADA accommodations, please contact our office via email at least two weeks prior to the workshop date. Requests after that date may not be fulfilled.  

Our email address is cpe@ssw.umaryland.edu.  

Live Interactive Webinar Platforms

LIVE INTERACTIVE WEBINAR PLATFORMS

The Office of Continuing Professional Education hosts Live Interactive Webinars through Zoom. This platform offers a high quality and user-friendly webinar platform for our registrants.

System Requirements:

  • Operating Systems: Windows XP or higher; MacOS 9 or higher; Android 4.0 or higher.
  • Internet Browser: Google Chrome; Firefox 10.0 or higher.

Our system is not compatible with the Safari web browser.

  • Broadband Internet Connection: Cable, High-speed DSL and any other medium that is internet accessible.

**Please have your device charging at all times to ensure that your device does not lose power during the webinar.

Course Interaction Requirements:

To participate in Live Interactive Webinars, you MUST have a device that allows you to view the presentation on screen and hear the instructor at all times. We do not allow participants to call-in from their phones or mobile devices and solely listen to the presentation. Participation in Live Interactive Webinars is mandatory.

Our webinar policies can be found on our website by clicking here.

Webinar Policies & FAQs

Click The Link to View The Webinar Policies & FAQs

https://umbsswcpe.ce21.com/Page/live-interactive-webinar-procedures-policies-4129

 

 

Evaluation

Participants will have access to the evaluation after attendance has been verified. Evaluations will be available for one (1) week after the workshop has ended.  

After one (1) week, participants will no longer have access to the evaluation and will have to contact CPE about reactivation.