ANCRA-IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING

Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Requires mandated reporters to complete an initial implicit bias training within 3 months of their date of engagement in a professional or official capacity as a mandated reporter, with certain exceptions, and at least every 3 years thereafter. Provides that the implicit bias trainings shall be in-person or web-based and shall include, at a minimum, information on implicit bias and racial and ethnic sensitivity. Requires the implicit bias trainings to provide tools to adjust automatic patterns of thinking and ultimately eliminate discriminatory behaviors. Provides that, during these trainings, mandated reporters shall complete a pretest to assess baseline implicit bias levels, an implicit bias training task, and a posttest to reevaluate bias levels after training. Provides that the implicit bias curriculum for mandated reporters shall be developed within one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act and shall be created in consultation with organizations demonstrating expertise and or experience in the areas of implicit bias, youth and adolescent developmental issues, prevention of child abuse, exploitation, and neglect, culturally diverse family systems, and the child welfare system. Provides that implicit bias training shall be provided through the Department of Children and Family Services, through authorized entities.