Structural Racism in Behavioral Health: History to Today - 12/11/2026

Course Overview
This continuing education course is designed for behavioral health professionals, social workers, psychologists, counselors, nurses, and related healthcare professionals seeking continuing education credits while strengthening their understanding of racial disparities in behavioral health care. The course examines how structural racism, historical policies, institutional practices, social determinants of health, cultural narratives, and health care systems contribute to inequities in access, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, crisis response, and outcomes for people of color. Learners will explore evidence-informed approaches for providing culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and equitable behavioral health care, with practical strategies that clinicians, researchers, policy makers, and community partners can use to reduce disparities and improve care for diverse populations.

Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:

• Analyze the role of structural racism in shaping behavioral health care systems, policies, and patient outcomes.
• Evaluate the impact of historical policies and practices on present-day behavioral health disparities.
• Assess contemporary disparities in behavioral health access, treatment, and outcomes across diverse populations.
• Examine the influence of social determinants of health, institutional policies, and systemic barriers on behavioral health outcomes.
• Develop strategies to promote equity, culturally responsive care, and improved behavioral health outcomes in behavioral health settings.

About the Author/Presenter
Oliver J. Johnson, PhD, LCSW, LCAS, CCS, earned a PhD in Social Work from the Whitney M. Young School of Social Work at Clark Atlanta University. He retired as a tenured professor from Fayetteville State University after more than 20 years of service and has lectured extensively on issues related to health, wellness, trauma, and behavioral health among African American families. Dr. Johnson currently provides clinical supervision, consultation, and behavioral health services in North Carolina while also leading educational initiatives through Soft Ponds, LLC.

Audience/Accreditations and Approvals
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details):
Social Work, Counselor, Psychology

If you require special accommodations, please contact Colibri Healthcare Support by clicking here: Contact Us