(Recorded Webinar) Walking the DEI Tightrope: Balancing Head Start Workforce Diversity Initiatives Without Tripping Over Potential Legal Risk

Duration: 90 minutes
Recorded on: 06/21/2023

Increasingly, organizations are recognizing the utility of cultivating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. Countless studies have shown compelling evidence that companies who are committed to implementing DEI initiatives and embedding a DEI-conducive culture into the fabric of their workplace have reaped substantial benefits such as sustained increases in revenue, productivity, innovation, and employee loyalty. The Head Start program has always encouraged grantees to provide culturally sensitive services to the beneficiaries of the program.  In recent years the Office of Head Start (OHS) has also set goals for programs to ensure leadership addresses inequities and promotes diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging among staff as well as the children and families served in the program.

However, even if a Head Start organization pursues its DEI interests with the best of intentions, the path to forging a diverse and inclusive workplace is rife with legal landmines. Recent court decisions and new state regulations have created an intricate labyrinth that is difficult to untangle and makes it difficult for organizations to craft and maintain their DEI initiatives. As a result of this murky legal landscape, employers have to proceed with great caution and fully understand that the risks, potential pitfalls, and implications of their diversity efforts may expose them to liability.

In this webinar, we will discuss the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in the Head Start workplace. Additionally, we will explore the various legal considerations related to DEI in recruitment, hiring, promotion and workplace culture using real-world scenarios to show how DEI initiatives may run afoul of compliance obligations with applicable employment laws. And, we will also provide practical solutions to organizational challenges in furtherance of navigating liability, mitigating risk, uncovering unconscious bias, and furthering DEI objectives.

Please note: This webinar is offered as a complimentary product to all Head Start Training Package holders. For more information on our Head Start Training Package, click here or Contact Us.

The On-Demand version of this webinar will be available for purchase one week after the conclusion of the live webinar. 

Target Audience

  • Human Resources Managers and Staff
  • “C-Suite” Leadership: CEOs, CFOs, CMOs, COOs, and CCOs
  • Directors and Supervisors
  • Compliance Officers
  • Risk Managers
  • In-House Legal Counsel

Learning Objectives

After this webinar, you will be able to:

  • Understand the importance of implementing DEI initiatives, programs and training
  • Recognize legal blind spots in your organization’s DEI efforts
  • Grasp the anti-discrimination laws that may conflict with your organization's DEI initiatives
  • Understand how rigid quotas and set-asides can torpedo a DEI program
  • Craft and implement DEI initiatives without infringing on established anti-discrimination laws
  • Understand how an outside consultant or law firm can prevent potential biases in implementing your organization’s DEI initiatives as well as ensure that the appropriate methodology is utilized
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.50 Certificate of Attendance
Course opens: 
12/13/2022
Course expires: 
07/01/2025
Cost:
$175.00

Nicole Bacon

Nicole Bacon, a Partner at Feldesman, works in the firm’s Federal Grants, Litigation, and Health Law practice groups. Nicole offers her clients specialized guidance in compliance with federal grant law including specific programmatic requirements as well as the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements of Federal Awards. Nicole represents a variety of community-based organizations, before State and Federal courts as well as administrative bodies. [Full Bio]

H. Scott Johnson Jr.

As of September 2023, H. Scott Johnson is no longer with the firm.

H. Scott Johnson Jr. is Senior Counsel with the firm in the Employment Law, Government Contracts, Litigation, Federal Grants, and Health Care practice groups. Scott maintains an active practice advising business and institutional clients on employment matters, commercial agreements, government contracts, and risk management. In addition to his corporate practice, Scott is also well-regarded for his employment and complex civil litigation practice. His complex civil litigation experience includes representing businesses in a wide variety of contract disputes and business torts including tortious interference, breach of fiduciary duty, civil conspiracy, defamation, fraud, and misappropriation of trade secrets. 

Certificates of Attendance: We verify attendance upon completion of a webinar (live or recorded version) and will only issue certificates in the name of the account holder enrolled in the course. If you need to document attendance for someone other than the account holder, we provide blank Certificates of Attendance for a supervisor to sign and certify that a different individual viewed the course. 

Group Attendance: Due to the online nature of webinars, we cannot verify participation by more than one person. For groups, we provide an attendance record form and blank Certificates of Attendance to record attendance at a group viewing session and document each individual's participation. We recommend that a supervisor or colleague sign the certificate to certify attendance. 

Read more about maintaining an attendance record in our FAQs.

Available Credit

  • 1.50 Certificate of Attendance

Price

Cost:
$175.00
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ACCESS PERIOD

Recorded webinars are available for 90 days after the date of purchase or date of the webinar. Once posted to your account, you can view this webinar anytime on-demand during the access period identified in your purchase confirmation. For additional information on viewing and accessing webinars, view our full terms and conditions here.

PAYMENT POLICY

If you pay by credit card or PayPal, you will be able to access the recorded webinar immediately (unless the live webinar has not yet occurred). If you pay by check, we will grant access to the recording when we receive your check. You will receive a confirmation email once access is granted. Feldesman reserves the right to suspend access to the webinar if payment is not received within 30 days. For more information on payments and registration, please visit our FAQ page.

CANCELLATION POLICY

No refunds will be provided for recorded webinars. Feldesman can transfer a registration to someone else within your organization or, provided you have not already viewed the webinar, transfer the registration to another on-demand program. Where the registration fee for the new webinar is higher, you must also pay the difference between the original course and the new course registration fee at the time of transfer. Administrative fees may also apply. If your organization purchased a webinar under the account of a staff member who no longer works for your organization, please Contact Us. View our full policy on refunds and cancellations here.

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