NEW PROGRAM PROMOTES STRATEGIES & SKILLS TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENT – RESULTING IN MORE POSITIVE PERCEPTIONS OF POLICING

NASHVILLE – December 14, 2021 – Diversity Builder, Inc., specializing in customized diversity and inclusion training programs for employees and groups, has announced the development of their onsite program – “Policing Diverse Communities: Cultural Competency for Law Enforcement.” The initiative has been facilitated live for the City of Akron’s Police Department, the Birmingham Police Academy, the Canadian National Police Service, among others. Converting the onsite police diversity training program into an interactive and engaging online program is a first. It is specifically tailored to enhance law enforcement’s knowledge of cultural competency while also building inclusive communication skills in order to better connect with the communities they serve.

Following the intense race-related events of the summer of 2020, Diversity Builder, Inc. received dozens of requests for police cultural competency, resolving unconscious bias, and diversity training. Police chiefs and academies were asking for online education solutions due to budgetary and logistical reasons. The first organization to request such a program was the Hartford Police Department’s (HPD) Academy and Training Division. HPD wanted to offer an online class to officers that moved beyond sensitivity training, with a primary focus of cultural competency. Diversity Builder reached out to its IT educational development partner, Vubiz, themselves a leading eLearning provider, to build a robust program with numerous interactive features, including video scenarios, video narration, questions and answers, fill-in-the-blank segments, quizzes, and a final test for understanding.

With the need for training on improving relations and support of diverse communities, the HPD contributed input on content and course review. One topic the team requested was confirmation bias in policing. The course explores how recognizing and addressing bias and taking steps to become culturally aware can foster trust and confidence among the communities law enforcement protects and serves.

“At Diversity Builder, we are passionate about working with police and sheriff’s departments interested in diversity training and establishing intentionally inclusive practices.” said Rachel Stanton, CEO at Diversity Builder, Inc. “We find it to be some of the most impactful work we do. Our diversity trainers asked to develop an online law enforcement class and the timing aligned perfectly.”

Participants in the course learn how perceptions based on biases and microaggressions involving race, religion, socio-economic status, gender, orientation, ethnicity, immigration status or other identities can influence officer conduct and the behavior of suspects, witnesses or others during a law enforcement encounter. Techniques and tools presented within the course support de-escalation and conflict resolution in volatile situations allowing for the understanding of diverse perspectives while keeping the peace.

“Key topics within the course include the science of unconscious bias and how to mitigate it, cultural competency strategies, avoiding microaggressions, effective de-escalation techniques, and forming an inclusive police and sheriff department culture.” adds Stanton.

The course was released in the fall with the title “Diversity and Cultural Competency Training for Law Enforcement.”  Since then, police departments across the nation have added it to their educational development programs for officers, sheriffs, and support staff. As not all police and sheriff’s departments have a budget that supports the expense for onsite training, they have found online training programs to be a viable solution. Virtual education options offered by Diversity Builder include live webinars, employee coaching, and self-directed online courses. The Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) includes the course into its online continuing education class (CEU) catalogue within its diversity and cultural competency courses.

For more information, please visit www.diversitybuilder.com or call (615) 823-1717.

About Diversity Builder, Inc.

Founded in 2003, Diversity Builder, Inc. is a national diversity, equity, and inclusion workplace training and consulting leader supporting organizations in making positive changes using an immersive and engaging action-oriented approach.

Diversity Builder helps organizations build inclusive cultures through self-paced online, virtual, and instructor-led training and consulting where employees thrive and do their best work. In addition to law enforcement training, specialty areas include respect in the workplace, supporting gender identity and expression, bridging generational differences, resolving unconscious bias, LGBT+ inclusion, excellence in leadership, emotional intelligence, StrengthsFinder, cultural competency, harassment prevention, and bystander intervention.

Diversity Builder is a diverse supplier. The company is women-owned, LGBT-owned and is an SBA small business.

About Vubiz

Vubiz is an award-winning, leading eLearning provider offering unbeatable pricing, quality content and outstanding customer service. Vubiz has an impressive and diverse library of online courses in topics such as anti-racism & racial equity classes, preventing harassment and discrimination, sensitivity and respect, safety and compliance topics. Vubiz can brand or customize content to meet organizational needs and can develop new online DE&I programs with their highly qualified team of instructional designers and multimedia staff. Vubiz courses are self-directed and incorporate the latest vertical scroll technology. The online classes require minimal bandwidth and are compatible with most learning management systems (LMS). Vubiz services millions of learners through their network of clients at Fortune 2000 businesses, government, and national associations. Vubiz was named to Training Industry’s Watch List, which recognizes online learning companies with unique strengths and capabilities, for the last two years in a row.

Source: https://thenewsfront.com/diversity-builder-inc-releases-online-diversity-training-and-cultural-competency-program-for-law-enforcement/