Panel discussion on microaggressions
On Tuesday, June 20, the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences hosted a panel discussion on microaggressions. The panel discussed what microaggressions are, how they show up in our workplace, tools to help prevent them, and support options at UCSF if you are the focus of them.
Panelists were:
- Dante King – Author, Leader and Innovator
- Kendra Hypolite, MSW – UCSF CARE Advocate for Racial Justice, Co-Director of CARE Program
- Natalie Todd, PsyD – Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Director of the Wavefront CBT Clinic
- DeVante Jewett, LCSW – Clinical Social Worker at Citywide Case Management
- Moderator: Khary Dvorak-Ewell, MBA – Undoing Anti-Black Racism Advisor
Download: CARE presentation slides
Microaggressions
Microaggressions are everyday interactions, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to marginalized groups. The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences does not tolerate microaggressions and works towards zero in the workplace.
For anyone that experiences a microaggression, some experiences require support, mediation, and guidance to work through, while other microaggressions are violations of UCSF policy and can be followed up with accordingly. In the event a microaggression is experienced, the resources below are available to employees.
Resources
Guidance/advocacy
- UC CARE Advocate program – The CARE program provides free, confidential support to any UCSF affiliate including students, staff, faculty, post docs and researchers who have experienced harassment, abuse or discrimination related to identity.
Personal support
- Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) (confidential) – FSAP supports staff/faculty for work related stressors including discrimination, harassment, or retaliation.
Mediation
- Ombuds (confidential) – The UCSF Office of the Ombuds assists with discussion about issues involving discrimination, harassment, or retaliation through mediation between affected parties.
Policies and reporting
- Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (OPHD) – Employees can file a complaint anonymously to report instances of discrimination, harassment and retaliation.
- Human Resources Grievance Process
- Staff Grievance Policy, or contact Labor and Employee Relations
- Office of Diversity and Outreach, Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity
- Bullying Policy – UCSF policy about violence and bullying in the workplace.
- Whistleblower Protection Policy and Whistleblower Hotline
Relevant webinars
- A Conversation with Dr. Sami Schalk: Black Disability Politics (Apr. 25, 2023)
- Social (In)Justice and Mental Health by Ruth S. Shim, MD, MPH (Jun. 14, 2022)
- Understanding Racialized and Intergenerational Trauma: A Conversation with Resmaa Menakem (May 17, 2022)
- Confronting Racism Denial: Naming Racism and Moving to Action by Camara Phyllis Jones, MD, MPH, PhD (Feb. 8, 2022)
- Supporting Constructive DEI Conversations in Clinical Supervision by Anastasia S. Kim, PhD, Professor of Clinical Psychology, The Wright Institute (Dec. 8, 2021)
- Coping With Microaggressions and Strategies to Manage Minority Stress – UCSF psychologist Natalie Todd, PsyD, talks about the different types and impacts of microaggressions and ways of coping with the negative impacts. (Sept. 23, 2020)
For more information or if you have additional resources for this webpage, please contact [email protected].
