Calling In: Navigating Challenging Conversations and Cultivating Compassionate Connection

5/1/2025 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Presenter: Loretta J. Ross

 

With the rise of cancel culture, we often find ourselves embroiled in disagreements rather than focusing on our shared goal of advocating for human rights. To build solidarity in our work and communities, we must adopt a strategy that unites us and embraces our differences. ‘Calling In’ offers a path to engage in transformative conversations, meeting people where they are while making people feel heard, respected, and cared for. In this presentation, activist, public intellectual, and scholar, Loretta Ross helps us understand the divisiveness of cancel culture and leads us through alternative ways of holding one another accountable while developing empathy and building meaningful connection.

017 - Addressing Intergenerational Trauma

5/1/2025 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Presenter: Amy Ebbeson, LCSW

 

The latest in Mental Health research has shown us that ancestors may have genetically encoded traumatic responses, passing them to future offspring they may never meet. This presentation will offer promising practices in the treatment of intergenerational trauma.

029 - Creating a Supportive Community for Solo Agers: Best Practices and Innovations

5/1/2025 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Presenter: Ailene Gerhardt, MA, BCPA, CSA®

 

This presentation will address the unique concerns of solo agers, focusing on innovative best practices for creating and sustaining support. Attendees will explore case studies gaining insights into development, collaboration, outreach, engagement, and sustainability.

042 - Supporting Queer/LGBTQ Survivors of Relationship Violence

5/1/2025 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Presenter: Kaytee Gillis, LCSW

 

Through interactive discussions, case studies, and therapeutic exercises, participants will gain practical tools for creating affirming and inclusive therapeutic spaces, addressing intersectional identities, and navigating complex dynamics of IPV within queer relationships.

071 - KaAbBa: Building The Lighted Temple/Tree of Life Keys

5/1/2025 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Presenter: Nteri Nelson, PhDE, LICSW, MSW, MSEP

 

KaAbBa: Building The Lighted Temple/Tree of Life Keys is an Awakening Consciousness, Psychological, Sociological, Spiritual, Educational Model of African/Kemet/Egyptian Civilization wisdom for Mind, Body, Soul and Character development of a human & Divine Constitution.

085 - Concussions: The Missed Diagnosis Underlying Mental Health Issues

5/1/2025 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Presenter: Lee-Anne M. Thoms, LICSW, OTA

 

Proper education on Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries will help therapists and agencies to identify mental health issues their clients are experiencing and to provide a broader treatment plan.

009 - Changing the Narrative: Affirmation for Newly Identified Autistics

5/1/2025 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Presenter: Sara Rodrigues

 

Join us as we empower social work professionals to challenge stereotypes and promote neurodiversity. Learn inclusive practices through   an interactive session on promoting positive social identity, resilience, and systemic change through a neurodiversity affirming lens.

016 - Embracing Eros; Rethinking Intimacy in Care Facilities

5/1/2025 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Presenter: Nathalie Huitema, PhD

 

Explore the vital role of intimacy in care facilities. Learn to identify barriers and discover innovative strategies to foster meaningful relationships that enhance residents' well-being. Gain insights into ethical practices and person-centered care. Join us!

035 - What is Known about Treating Attachment Disorder in Children and Adolescents?

5/1/2025 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Presenter: James Drisko, PhD, LICSW

 

Attachment impacts every part of one's social life.  Yet both assessment and treatment approaches for childhood and adolescent attachment disorders are limited.  This session reviews how attachment issues are assessed, diagnosed and treated based on current practice research.

049 - "If Not Now, When?" Understanding and Fighting Antisemitism

5/1/2025 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Presenter: Cathy C. Renz, LICSW

 

Antisemitic attitudes, stereotypes and conspiracy theories show up in schools, in white nationalist ideology, in memes on social media. They span the political spectrum. We can hold anti-Jewish stereotypes without realizing it. What is this phenomenon and what is to be done?

079 - Improving Outcomes: Addressing Nutrition in Substance Use Recovery

5/1/2025 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Presenter: Gabrielle Simons MS, RD, LDN and Danielle Owen, MSW

 

For clients struggling with substance use disorder (SUD), poor nutrition can severely impact their physical & psychological health but also impact their SUD recovery. Learn new ways to empower SUD clients and improve outcomes no matter how limited their food access is.

013 - Social Workers as Wounded Healers: Their Childhood Trauma, and its Impacts on Practice

5/1/2025 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Presenter: Michael C. LaSala, PhD, LCSW

 

In this workshop, learn how social workers transform their traumatic histories into a drive to help others and make the world a better place. Self-care methods that build resilience and address vulnerabilities leftover from childhood will also be addressed.

028 - Introduction to Fat Liberation in Social Work

5/1/2025 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Presenter: Olivia Montgomery, MSW, LICSW

 

Come learn about the foundations of the Fat Liberation movement in the United States! We will learn together about the history of anti-fatness, how to recognize and challenge it in ourselves and others, and how to advocate against size discrimination in policy.

057 - Restoring Hope: Empowering Strategies for Mothers Navigating Post-Separation Abuse

5/1/2025 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Presenter: Yunieska Trujillo-Ramirez

 

This workshop will explore culturally responsive, trauma-informed strategies to empower mothers facing ongoing intimate partner violence (IPV) after separation. Participants will learn practical mental health strategies to address the unique challenges of post-separation abuse, focusing on resilience, holistic well-being, and support for healing.

075 - Considerations and Approaches to Suicidality in Clinical Work With Gender and Sexual Minority Youth

5/1/2025 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Presenter: El Sher, MSW, MFA; Molly Hedrick, PhD; and LJ Dawson, PhD

 

Learn practical techniques to create a more affirmative and welcoming environment for gender and sexual minority youth, who are at high risk for suicidality. Discuss the challenges of addressing suicidality, including the toll this can take on providers.

096 - Got Conflict? Managing Conflict: Essential Tools for Social Workers

5/1/2025 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Presenter: Pedro Spivakovsky-Gonzalez, JD, MA Philosophy

 

Our Conflict Skills Workshop focuses on improving conflict skills and how to communicate effectively in difficult situations. Our training approach is based on a very interactive model combining presentations with experiential learning, including exercises and role-plays.

Creating and Maintaining Immigrant Family Support and Security

5/1/2025 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Presenter: Alexandra Piñeros Shields, PhD

 

After providing a historical perspective on immigration policy for context, we will share strategies for supporting immigrant families. Offering effective support to immigrant families requires organizations to develop plans for both internal and external goals and strategies. We will present possible internal organizational policies and programs as well as potential external-facing policies to advance immigrant family networked support. Rooted in an ecological model approach, this presentation offers a menu of strategies and resources for you and your organization towards a vision of immigrant well-being.

006 - Decolonizing Mandated Reporting Screening Practices in Pediatric Healthcare Settings

5/2/2025 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Presenter: Emily Stewart, DSW, LICSW

 

A comprehensive overview of how racism at the intersection of pediatric healthcare and the child welfare system has contributed to disproportionate suspicions of child maltreatment in children and families of color, with solutions for change from an anti-racist framework.

027 - What Social Workers Want to Know About Caring for Children With Prenatal Opioid Exposure

5/2/2025 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Presenter: Theresa Harmon, RN, LICSW and Andra Wilkinson, PhD MSPH

 

Join us in supporting children with prenatal opioid exposure, the premiere nonprofit research center focusing on child well being to discuss their recent research findings on the long term impacts of prenatal opioid exposure.

046 - How to Protect Your Practice: Words of Wisdom from a Defense Attorney

5/2/2025 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Presenter: Robert P. Landau, Esq

 

Everything you always wanted to know but were afraid to ask about how to minimize the risk of facing a malpractice lawsuit and licensing board complaint.

052 - Understanding and Treating the Five Phases of Divorce Grief

5/2/2025 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Presenter: Oona Metz, LICSW, CGP

 

The Five Phases of Divorce Grief is a new model. Participants will learn the Five Phases, their characteristics, and therapeutic interventions for each phase, and leave with more skills and confidence working with their divorcing clients.

070 - Supporting Trans and Gender Diverse Clients

5/2/2025 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Presenter: JT Timms, LICSW and Casey Pons, LICSW

 

Learn how to support clients and their families through different forms of transition and challenges they may face. We will explore all the different forms of transition from social to surgical, what these entail, the steps involved, and the various roles you may play.

005 - How Poverty Changes the Brain, Which Changes Everything

5/2/2025 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Presenter: Linda K. Riddell, MS

 

In this session, you will experience how poverty changes the brain by playing the game Gettin' By, then learn the science and hidden impact of poverty on a person. You will leave this session seeing poverty in a new way and with new tools to make your work more effective.

022 - Making Peace: Exploring Death and Dying on a Multidisciplinary Team

5/2/2025 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Presenter: Johnna Marcus, LICSW

 

This presentation works to explore topics relating to death and dying in multidisciplinary teams. While medicine is no a stranger to death, many people who work in patient care struggle with it. This topic will explore how to support one another, patients and ourselves.

038 - Calm Amid Chaos: Supporting Students Through Global Adversity

5/2/2025 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Presenter: Dr. Jennifer Lawrence, DSW, LICSW

 

Discover how to create resilient educational environments amid global crises. This presentation offers trauma-informed care techniques, innovative interventions, and strategies for equitable support. Equip yourself with the tools to foster student resilience and success.

065 - A Case-Based Application of Environmental Justice Principles to Eco-Social Work Practice

5/2/2025 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Presenter: Kristin Erbetta, PhD, MPH, MSW and Eva Olsen, BA, MSW Candidate

 

Our case-based interactive presentation facilitates learning and application of practice, theory, research and policy about climate change and environmental justice. We focus on eco-social work principles across systems to best serve those impacted by environmental injustice.

072 - Understanding Child Welfare Practice with Disabled Parents: Considerations to Inform Practice

5/2/2025 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Presenter: Kevin Durant, MSW, DSW Student

 

The intersection of child welfare practice with disabled parents is a growing social work concern. This presentation will review legal requirements, information sources, and recent research directions and findings for practitioners to consider in their own practice.

094 - Treating Children & Parents; When Parents Have Personality Disorder Traits

5/2/2025 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Presenter: Brian Hart, MS, MHC, MBA and Michelle Jones, LCSW

 

Parental personality disorder traits, often undiagnosed, may cause maladaptive parenting, client resistance, and intergenerational trauma. You will learn strategies for building alliances and recognizing defenses. A comprehensive set of resources will be provided.

001 - Social Work, Psychedelics, and the Future of Mental Health

5/2/2025 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Presenter: Jay Taylor, DSW, LCSW

 

Psychedelic assisted psychotherapy is upon us. Evidence suggests that psychedelics will play a significant role in addressing a variety of mental health conditions when combined with adjunctive psychotherapy provided by well trained Social Workers

023 - Women Growing Older: Our Bodies Ourselves

5/2/2025 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Presenter: Joan Ditzion, MSW

 

With increased longevity aging women are facing new opportunities and challenges. This presentation will explore aspects that affect women's aging. Together we need to embrace aging and the potential for growth and development and work together to change the aging paradigm.

031 - Practicing Together: Fostering Collaborations Between DCF and Mental Health Providers

5/2/2025 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Presenter: Karen Zilberstein, LICSW and Dawn Jenner, MSW

 

Overcoming silos and barriers and forming effective collaborations between child welfare workers and mental health providers leads to improved outcomes for clients and better worker satisfaction and retention. This workshop helps participants navigate the complexities.

063 - Disability Justice in Social Work: Enhancing Education and Practice for Equity

5/2/2025 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Presenter: Abdul Haseeb Hamza, MSW Candidate; Bethlyn Vergo Houlihan, MSW, MPH; an Tami Gouveia, DrPH, MPH, MSW

 

Passionate about enhancing disability training in social work? Join us to delve into our original research highlighting critical gaps in social work education. Engage in learning about integrating intersectionality and disability into social work as a social justice issue.

003 - The Power of Expressive Arts: Make Stuff. Feel Better.

5/2/2025 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Presenter: Kimberly DiOrio-Rooney, MSW, LICSW

 

Participants will review the brain's role in anxiety and then embark on an expressive arts journey to explore emotions. Through artistic and creative endeavors, attendees will grasp the significance of employing diverse methods for gathering information and treatment tools.

033 - We're All in This Together: Collaborating for Comprehensive School Mental Health

5/2/2025 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Presenter: Bianca Carreiro, LICSW and Vanesa Morales, LMHC

 

Join us for an engaging session where we dive into our exciting grant initiatives, eye-opening survey insights, and a practical guidance document.

047 - Rest as Resistance

5/2/2025 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Presenter: Dr. Anthony C. Hill, EdD, MSW

 

This workshop will identify the seven forms of rest (physical, mental, emotional, sensory, social, creative, and spiritual rest) and explore how each is a powerful tool and can transform one's effectiveness as a social work professional.

082 - Neurofeedback: An Alternative Treatment for Trauma

5/2/2025 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Presenter: Ainat Rogel, PhD, MSW, BCN, LICSW and Diana Martinez, MD, PhD

 

Neurofeedback, alternative non-pharmaceutical intervention, alters electrical brain activities associated with various brain conditions, including developmental trauma. It significantly improves functionality and reduces symptoms, according to research and clinical reports.

090 - Solution Focused Therapy: Exceptions Lead to Change

5/2/2025 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Presenter: Susan Lee Tohn, MSW, LICSW

 

During this interactive workshop, participants will learn the concept of Solution Focused exceptions, and how to direct these conversations to facilitate change talk and action with clients. We will watch a demonstration and practice the exception language.