[2-day Short Course] Multicultural Sensitivity In Corrections

:: About the Course ::

Cross cultural barriers can impede the development of an effective helping relationship. An absence of sensitivity to cultural diversity and differences can contribute to how services are prematurely terminated by service users in the corrections setting, or it can lead to a helping relationship that is mainly organized by service users’ obligations to the system. Service users also may not fully engage with the support that is rendered to them. Such challenges are typically influenced by how rapport is built, how the needs of service users are met, how the appreciation of service users’ perspectives of their own situations is demonstrated, how genuine concern is communicated such that service users fully receive them, and how service users are empowered in their relationships with workers. This workshop will explore what multicultural sensitivity entails and the processes involved in developing such competency. Participants will heighten awareness, and acquire skills and knowledge necessary to enhance multicultural practice, with a focus on corrections-specific scenarios.

This workshop is intended to be interactive, experiential and reflective. Learning will be derived from experiential exercises, case discussions, personal and group-level reflections, role-plays, demonstrations, stories as well as some short lecture vignettes.

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

1. Better examine their relationship with their own cultural heritage, and how this may contribute to unconscious biases and stereotypes, as well as their effects on helping relationships;
2. Navigate personal level and structural level constructs to acknowledge diversity, respect differences, as well as recognize injustice and power dynamics; and
3. Better appreciate how service users construct their worldviews, build on their intentions, and respect and support their purposes. Narrative Practice ideas will be introduced.

Who Should Attend?

This course is targeted at correctional officers, counsellors, social workers and psychologists.

How to Register?

Registration is now closed.

:: About the Instructor ::