How Share Collaborative Diversity and Inclusion Training Takes a New Approach (While Meeting CLAS Standards)
We have been sharing our Cultural Humility to Cultural Reverence framework since 2015. Our learners have helped us understand more fully that the journey to Diversity and Inclusion begins with one step and proceeds to the next. More is always ideal and desired—rightfully so.
As we can see from the news, media, and our own experiences, this moment requires more significant, quicker steps to achieving Cultural Reverence if we genuinely want to understand, empathize with, and meet the needs of those we serve. If we’re going to affect change at the community level, it must first begin from within ourselves and our institutions.
At Share Collaborative, we know that Diversity and Inclusion training, or “cultural competency” training is just the beginning of the journey to a more transformative, Culturally Reverent approach. The National CLAS Standards help guide organizations as they begin, but it’s essential to recognize that the training is only a small first step.
Broadening the Journey to Equity through Diversity and Inclusion Training
At Share Collaborative, we’ve learned along our journey that a structure is needed to ensure the trip toward Cultural Reverence continues to deepen, evolve, and expand over time. One class or even a full training session isn’t enough … it’s a start.
The nationally recognized and broadly embraced CLAS Standards (Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services) are a helpful structure for defining the journey that learners take as they begin diversity and inclusion training. The CLAS Standards add a framework that marks the path with guideposts and increases the training’s efficiency by helping learners and trainers more fully realize the intention.
After the first realization, the next required step is to drill down and specifically identify which practices and approaches align with the intention to serve other humans equitably and inclusively. How do these approaches embrace and celebrate diversity? How will these practices employ the CLAS Standards structure along with the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion framework they’re learning? And finally, how will we measure if we’re achieving an equitable and inclusive service environment—not just for those we’re serving, but also within our teams?
It’s a lot to take in and understand. At Share Collaborative, we believe our job is to simplify the journey. Our intention is to support you along the way, to make your practices more doable and sustainable. In fact, it’s what we like to geek out about!
Targets of Our Diversity and Inclusion Training Under Our Equity + Inclusion Framework
Diversity and Inclusion training is only a first step, but it’s a good one. At Share Collaborative, our Healing Focused Care training program has several goals, one of which is to simplify and clarify your path. We want to help you find practical applications for the concepts and identify how these ideas strengthen your organization and help you to meet the needs of all involved more fully.
Toward that end, we want to provide you with two guides here today to serve as crosswalks as you explore the possibilities of working with Share Collaborative.
Both pieces begin with the intention of the Nationally Recognized CLAS Standards and describe the alignment of those standards with our preferred Equity and Inclusion framework: The 4 Principles of Cultural Humility:
- Self-Reflection + Lifelong Learning
- Served Person as Expert
- Community as Expert
- Institutional Reflection + Investment
These informational pieces will give you a greater understanding of our work at Share Collaborative and help you see how our approach can align with your organization’s goals and needs.
Cultural Humility to Cultural Reverence (CH2CR) + CLAS Standards Alignments
In this document, we provide an overview of our CH2CR alignments with the CLAS Standards. We also supply you with a matrix tool to help you identify the approaches you’re using and which approaches you might embrace going forward. This tool serves as a guidepost—an action item to adopt the 4 Principles of Cultural Humility to align with the intention of the CLAS Standards. As you reflect, you will also identify how you might measure your steps’ effect along the journey to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
Healing Focused Care + CLAS Standards Alignments
In the second document, we explore our Healing Focused Care model. This piece looks at how our best practices and approaches to human services align with the CLAS Standards. Here we delve into the intention of the CLAS Standards, the trail markers of The 4 Principles of Cultural Humility, and how to measure your organizations’ progress toward more fully realizing those principles.
We also wanted to share part of our team chat about these essential concepts for those who prefer to listen. This share may help you get a better feel for our organization and the collaborative, interactive approach that we take to all our training.
CLAS Standards Overview
As you view and read these materials, you may have questions and even comments you wish to share. We encourage active dialogue and hope you will reach out to discover how Share Collaborative can assist your organization through these critical conversations.
Starting Your Journey Towards Greater Understanding Today
Diversity and Inclusion, Cultural Humility, Cultural Reverence, and Cultural Competency aren’t topics that can be explored in an afternoon, a day, or even a week of training. These are part of a lifelong journey and dedication to creating a world that’s more equitable for all.
For those of us working in human services, whether on the frontlines or in supportive and leadership roles, there is a clear and present need for enacting change. We believe the first steps begin at the institutional level, strengthening our communities, and supporting caregivers and service providers.
Every important expedition starts with taking the first step, including this one. We are always interested to learn what you think of what we share. Feel free to drop us a line by emailing shawn@sharecollaborative.org.
We look forward to sharing more with you about “this conversation” as it is commonly referenced. We believe “this conversation” is a continuous, vital conversation about Culture and Identity. In the future, we’ll be sharing more on our website and through our community. It’s one we must have as we continue to meet the moment and work toward an equitable future. We are excited to share more on that with you in upcoming ripples.
Peace + Blessings on your journey!