Thinking of Becoming a CASA?
Everyone has bias - racial, gender, religious and socio-economic – to name a few. If you are not aware of your bias, it may impact your volunteer work with families and children in the child welfare system. Please take the time to learn about your implicit bias and come prepared to learn and grow in your CASA role.
Implicit Bias Test
Psychologists at Harvard, the University of Virginia and the University of Washington created “Project Implicit” to develop Hidden Bias Tests – called Implicit Association Tests (IATs) to measure unconscious bias. IATs on the site allow you to test bias regarding race, gender, disability, and sexuality among others.
To take one the hidden bias tests, click here. You will be asked to register by entering your email address but may also continue as a guest. Most tests take approximately 10-12 minutes to complete.
About Stereotypes and Prejudices
Hidden Bias Tests measure unconscious, or automatic, biases. Your willingness to examine your own possible biases is an important step in understanding the roots of stereotypes and prejudice in our society.
The ability to quickly and automatically categorize people is a fundamental quality of the human mind. Every day we group other people into categories based on social and other characteristics. This is the foundation of stereotypes, prejudice and, ultimately, discrimination.
Can I Change?
The more people are aware of their hidden biases, they can monitor and attempt to change their hidden attitudes before they express them with their behavior.
