CalWORKs and CalFresh Racial Equity and Implicit Bias Statewide Initiative
Background
CDSS is collaborating with community partners to develop statewide training in Racial Equity and Implicit Bias (REIB) for county California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) and CalFresh staff. Required topics include CalWORKs 2.0 and CalWORKs Outcomes and Accountability Review (Cal-OAR), as well as trauma-informed, anti-racist, anti-stigma principles to promote the delivery of a CalWORKs and CalFresh program that is geared towards positive outcomes for child and family health and well-being. CDSS is collaboratively developing the training with vendors and community partners, including, but not limited to: CalWORKs recipients/clients, County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA), the exclusive representatives of county eligibility workers, and client advocates. This initiative was authorized by the passage of Assembly Bill 135, Section 44 (Chapter 85, Statutes of 2021).
Partner and community feedback will inform the creation of training curriculum and methods of delivery as well as the selection of training facilitator(s).
County Engagement
Nationally and in California, racial inequities are a reality. Public social service programs like CalWORKs and CalFresh, as programs designed to support low-income Californians in their effort to achieve economic self-sufficiency, are critical in this effort to reduce racial disparities. Each County Welfare Department has an opportunity to guide legislation and create local policies to ensure that CalWORKs and CalFresh recipients achieve their fullest potential.
Through the REIB Initiative, CDSS hopes to build upon existing county efforts to extend training, coaching, and technical assistance to raise awareness of implicit biases across the state. CWD collaboration is critical to the success of the REIB initiative to gain local perspective to frame the future of the initiative.
Racial Equity and Implicit Bias (REIB) Initiative County Survey
As directed by state law, Assembly Bill (AB) 135, Section 44 (Chapter 85, Statutes of 2021) requires the creation of a racial equity and implicit bias statewide training initiative. To maximize the impact of state investment, county staff and leadership in the CalWORKs and CalFresh programs are invited to collaborate with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), along with County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA), client advocates, and other stakeholders to work toward an intentional shift to a trauma-informed, anti-racist, anti-stigma, and implicit bias-aware culture in programs. This effort is geared towards positive outcomes for child and family health and well-being.
CDSS will convene a series of workgroups, surveys, interviews, focus groups, and webinars to inform the development of resources and technical assistance for county CalWORKs and CalFresh staff. The CDSS shall consider and draw upon training and other materials already developed or in use by County Welfare Departments.
Timeline
The timeline below outlines when CDSS will be partnering with partners and collaborators to complete the training report due to the Legislature no later than December 1, 2022, the required precursor to curriculum development and training facilitation.
Spring 2022:
- Partner and Collaborator Kick-off Webinar
- County Surveys and Focus Groups (data collection)
- Collection of insights from other partners and collaborators
Summer 2022:
- Review of the landscape and additional partner and collaborator engagement
- Sense making (analysis) of data collection
- September 2022 partner and collaborator update session
Fall 2022:
- Draft REIB Initiative Plan
- October 2022 partner and collaborator session/draft plan walk-through
Winter 2022:
- Finalize REIB Initiative Plan with partner and collaborator input
- Final REIB Initiative Plan due to legislature (December 1st, 2022)
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Spring/Summer 2023:
- Draft training topics and objectives
- Draft & finalize training curriculum
July – June 2024:
- Statewide launch of REIB training
REIB Collaboration Webinars