3/17/2017

Faculty

Vivian Carter, MFT, SAP Training Behavioral Health Systems, Inc. Birmingham, AL

Satellite Conference and Live Webcast Monday, March 20, 2017 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Central Time

Produced by the Alabama Department of Public Health Distance Learning and Telehealth Division

Friendly Reminder • Please silence all: This presentation is part of the services provided by the State Employee Assistance Program – Cell phones through Behavioral Health Systems, Inc. The State EAP is administered and managed by the State – Pagers Department of Finance’s Division of Risk Management (DORM). If you have questions – Two-way radios regarding the policy, procedures or services provided by this program, please contact the Program Manager, Melanie Longpre, at [email protected]. You can also find more information about the State Employee Assistance Program on the Division of Risk Management’s website at www.riskmgt.alabama.gov.

What is an Employee What is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)? Assistance Program (EAP)? • The EAP is a benefit that is provided – Clarify a problem using by the State of Alabama to you and assessments (e.g. “Is it the blues, your dependents to help identify and or a medical condition, or just a find solutions to personal problems current p hase of my lif e?” ) • The EAP offers short term, solution – Identify options and local resources focused counseling to help you: – Develop plans to approach difficult issues

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What is an Employee The State of Alabama Assistance Program (EAP)? EAP Benefit • The EAP is completely confidential • 3 visits annually covered at 100% (no – Your name is not shared with copay) to address issues including: anyone at the State of Alabama − Marital / Family Concerns − Grief and Loss − ParentParent--ChildChild Conflict − Life Changes / T ransi ti ons or DORM − Relationship Issues − Eating Disorders − Stress − Financial Issues − Depression − Eldercare Concerns − WorkWork--RelatedRelated Issues − Alcohol and Drug Issues

The State of Alabama The State of Alabama EAP Benefit EAP Benefit • Managed by the Department of • Call BHS (800-245-1150) to: Finance’s Division of Risk • Determine appropriate provider Management (DORM) referral (()no wasted visits) • Confidential in nature • Verify benefit eligibility (discuss – Your supervisor nor the State of free EAP visits) Alabama receive names of people • Schedule initial assessment who utilize EAP (priority scheduling)

Objectives • Enhance participants’ understanding of and the importance of self- Cultural Sensitivity: cultural awareness Understanding Diversity in the Workplace • Examine the concept of diversity and its impact to the workplace • Explore the benefits of diversity and cultural sensitivity

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Objectives What is Culture? • Identify roadblocks to cultural • “….people with common origins, sensitivity customs and styles of living, who share a sense of identity and • Outline keys to managing workplace language. Their common diversity that promote cultural experihthiliences shape their values, sensitivity goals, expectations, beliefs, perceptions and behavior”

What is Culture? What is Culture? • Culture is all those things that people • How can that awareness change your have learned to do, believe, behavior as you interact with others and enjoy in their history…the ideals, on a daily basis? beliefs, skills, tools, customs and institutions into which each member of society is born • You identify with a culture that represents your experience, but so does everyone you come in contact with on a daily basis

Disclaimer Self-Cultural Awareness • Why do we need to be aware of our • There are exceptions to every rule. own culture? Today, we may make generalizations about characteristics shared by – To better understand the groups of individuals. It is important motivation for our actions to remember not to make and reactions assumptions based on – To realize that what defines generalizations about a group. socially acceptable behavior and socially non - acceptable behavior seem natural and routine to the people in that particular culture….

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Self-Cultural Awareness Self-Cultural Awareness – ….because they are continuously a • Why do we need to be aware of our part of their way of life; learned from own culture? an early age and reinforced over time – To promote acceptance of other – These socially acceptable and non - acceptable “rules” that govern by realizing that there are our individual behavior should not be no right or wrong cultural beliefs generalized to all settings universally – To increase awareness and – One must have an awareness of how understanding of other people’s “rules” change based upon the social setting actions and reactions

Self-Cultural Awareness Culture: Interpreting – To ensure that we do not take our Your Environment own natural and common sense • Culture is the lens with which an practices for granted and become individual sees, understands and or remain ethnocentric perceives his / her environment • Different is OKAY – • Culture impacts: not substandard – Eating habits – Religion and politics – Family and roles

Culture: Interpreting Communication: Filtered Through Your Environment Your Cultural Perspective – Communication • Age • Customs – Traffic systems • National origin • Geographic Location • Race – Laws of the land • Languages used • Gender • Work style – Body language / nonverbal cues • Religion/Politics • Learning style and personal space • • Economic status – Dress codes • Education • Military experience – Concepts of time

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What is Diversity? Life Without Diversity • Diversity is the mosaic of people • Take a moment to complete the who bring a variety of experiences, following exercise: values, styles, preferences, backgrounds and beliefs as assets – Close your eyes and image that to the groups and organizations everyone in the room looked just with which they interact like you. Exactly the same as you! • It is ever present in organizations Same hair color, weight, height, throughout the world today….even amongst individuals of the same race eye color, hue of their skin, talked • The “uniqueness” of diversity is a just like you, and dressed just positive like you!

Diversity and Diversity and Workplace Outcomes Workplace Outcomes • Workforce diversity is positively • Gender diversity is positively associated with higher business associated with more effective group performance outcome measures processes and performance in • Racial diversity is positively organitiizations with peopl e - oritdiented associated with higher performance performance cultures in organizations that integrate and leverage diverse perspectives as resources for product delivery

Diversity and Diversity and Workplace Outcomes Workplace Outcomes • Diverse teams are more creative and • in the workplace perform better in problem solving challenges individuals to respond to than homogeneous teams their diverse work environment • In the presence of inhibiting effectively conditions in an organization, the positive effects of diversity are stifled

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Diversity and Diversity and Workplace Outcomes Workplace Outcomes • “Valuing” individual and group • Be aware of other’s perceptions and cultural differences is critical to cultures; challenge yourself to achieving organizational goals increase your own knowledge of • Know your own cultural background other cultures outside of your own; this promotes cultural sensitivity • Recognize your own stereotypes and biases

Melting Pot verses Melting Pot verses a Bowl of Soup a Bowl of Soup • American society has evolved over • To benefit from the uniqueness of time. Most used to think of this each distinct ingredient in the soup, process as creating one big “melting each item in the soup needs to pot” where all cultures assimilated remaihlin whole….yet tildd included • Members of various cultural groups may not want to be assimilated – They may want to keep their preferences: tastes, looks, traditions, styles

Benefits of Workforce Diversity Benefits of Workforce Diversity and Cultural Sensitivity and Cultural Sensitivity • Improved understanding of self • Increase employee productivity and others • Increased retention rates • Creates a work environment that • Boosts employee morale promotes acceptance • Reduces complaints and grievances • Provides multiple perspectives on • Promotes tolerance problem solving • Better performance outcomes

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Roadblocks to Cultural Sensitivity • Stereotypes Beware • Bias Roadblocks to Cultural Sensitivity! • Prejudice • Discrimination • Ethnocentricism

Tolerance: The Key to Tolerance: The Key to Cultural Sensitivity Cultural Sensitivity • Defined as “recognition of and • Fosters team building and respect for the opinions, practices communication or behavior of others” – Teams/work groups diverse in skill sets, knowledge levels , ethnicity • Allows you to appreciate and enjoy and culture, perform better than others who are different those with identical skill sets • Helps you accept that others do not – Diversity and cultural sensitivity think the way you do decreases team conflicts and enhances creativity

Tolerance in the Workplace Promoting Cultural • Address intolerance by others and Sensitivity in the Workplace challenge yourself when necessary • Multicultural calendars • Avoid making snap judgments based • Fact sheets on how others dress, talk or behave • Discussion boards • UitidtdiblUse positive words to describe people • Pot luck events • Try to understand the other point of view – there is always one! • Cultural dress (when appropriate) • Look for things you have in common • Recruiting practices verses highlighting differences • Share / invite to community events

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