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EARN 22.5+ CEs AT THE VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM 2024

ONLINE REGISTRATIONS ARE CLOSING ON THURSDAY, APRIL 18!

The NASW-MA Chapter, in partnership with NASW-RI, will be hosting its Virtual Symposium 2024, on Thursday, April 25 and Friday, April 26. Join the largest gathering of social workers, mental health professionals, and community leaders in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. This year’s theme Reaching Across The Divide: Opportunities for Hope, with Keynote Speaker Mónica GuzmánThis year, Symposium features 75+ workshops and speakers; attendees will have the opportunity to connect with experts in the field and gain new skills at innovative workshops.

Symposium 2024 offers more CEUs than last year at the same low prices! Earn 22.5+ CEs by participating in our live and on-demand workshops. CEs have been approved for NASW-RI attendees (see general, cross-cultural, and professional ethics CEs categories listed in the workshops below). Live workshops are the scheduled workshops: keynote address, evening program, and sessions 1-7, and on-demand workshops are a list of pre-recorded webinars that will be available on the conference’s website for three weeks post-conference. 

ATTENDEES REGISTER HERE!


Keynote Speaker Mónica Guzmán

Join Keynote Speaker Mónica Guzmán, a bridge builder, journalist, and author who lives for great conversations sparked by curious questions, in her presentation “How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times”. Mónica will show participants how to build bridges across gaping cultural, social, and political divides. She will show people the value of staying curious, even when it’s hard, and put the tools they need to see each other across projections and assumptions in easy reach. 

Mónica Guzmán is Senior Fellow for Public Practice at Braver Angels; author of "I Never Thought of it That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times"; host of A Braver Way podcast; and founder and CEO of Reclaim Curiosity. She was a 2019 fellow at the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, and a 2016 fellow at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. Moni is the inaugural McGurn Fellow at the University of Florida, working with researchers at the UF College of Journalism and Communications and beyond to better understand ways to employ techniques described in her book to boost understanding. A Mexican immigrant, Latina, and dual US/Mexico citizen, she lives in Seattle with her husband and two kids and is the proud liberal daughter of conservative parents.


REGISTRATIONS RATES:

Your registration ticket includes access to both conference days' live workshops (keynote address, workshops in sessions 1-7, and evening program) and the list of on-demand (pre-recorded) workshops. Participation in each session is not mandatory. Days prior to the conference, attendees will receive instructions to set up a profile on our conference website and access your workshops Zoom Meeting room links, evaluation forms, Virtual Exhibit Hall, and more. 

Early Bird Rates, closing Friday, March 1:  NASW member: $125 | Not yet a member: $250 

Standard Rates, closing Thursday, April 18:  NASW member: $150 | Not yet a member: $300

Instructions to Register Online: 

  1. Click here to register. Under purchase options, click on "Add to Cart" and then "Check Out".
  2. Login with your username and password to confirm your NASW membership. Create an account if you are new to the NASW SW Online Institute website. 
  3. Fill out your infirmation and complete your payment. 
  4. Please note: You should receive a confirmation email with a link to the Workshops Selection Form.
  5. Select the live workshops you'd like to attend on April 25 & 26 in the Symposium Workshops Form. Participation in each session/workshop is not mandatory; select one workshop per session. You do not need to select the on-demand workshops as these can be accessed in the conference's website at any time.
  6. For changes to your workshop list, please email us at assoc.naswri@socialworkers.org. Do not resubmit the Workshops Selection Form.
  7. After submission, you should receive an email with a copy of your workshop selections confirmation. Make sure to save and/or download this your workshop list. 

You can also register by mailing a check. We should receive it by April 15 at: National Association of Social Workers - Rhode Island Chapter, 260 West Exchange Street, Suite 005, Providence, RI 02903

Cancellation Policy: No refunds will be made for cancellations received after Monday, April 22.

For questions, email us at assoc.naswri@socialworkers.org.

ATTENDEES REGISTER HERE!



SPONSORSHIP AND ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES:

Become a conference sponsor and receive exposure through our conference's websites, emails, social media ads, Virtual Exhibit Hall, and more! During Symposium, all sponsors will have the opportunity to chat live with participants, through their profile at the Virtual Exhibit Hall. These profiles include information about your brand (logo, ads, videos, websites links, and more). Our Virtual Exhibit Hall will be gamified with prizes to incentivize participants to visit your booth throughout both days of the conference. Online registration for sponsors and advertisers are closing on Monday, April 8. 

Premier Sponsor For Schools Social Work: $1950: Two free registration tickets for the full conference, with 22.5+ social work continuing credits available! Sponsor recognition on the conference’s Program Book. This includes a half page ad, logo, 25-word description, and website url. Four free one-year student memberships for students of your choosing. Logo visibility on the conference websites (registration and day-of conference pages). Sponsor booth at the virtual exhibit hall. this includes: chat live feature, logo, 25-word description, website url, and an attendee drop-in contact form. Attendees contact email list (with attendees’ approval). 

Premier Sponsor: $1750: Two FREE registration tickets for the full conference, with 22.5+ social work continuing credits available! Sponsor recognition on the conference’s Program Book. This includes a half page ad, logo, 25-word description, and website url. Logo visibility on the conference websites (registration and day-of conference pages). Sponsor booth at the Virtual Exhibit Hall. This includes: CHAT LIVE feature, logo, 25-word description, website url, and an attendee drop-in contact form. Attendees contact email list (with attendees’ approval). 

Standard Sponsor: $750: One FREE registration ticket for the full conference, with 22.5+ social work continuing credits available! Sponsor recognition on the conference’s Program Book. This includes a 1/8 page ad, logo, 25-word description, and website url. Logo visibility on the conference websites (registration and day-of conference pages). Sponsor booth at the Virtual Exhibit Hall. This includes: CHAT LIVE feature, logo, 25-word description, website url, and an attendee drop-in contact form. Attendees contact email list (with attendees’ approval). 

Advertisers | Symposium Program Book 2024: Full page a $775 - 8.5"W x 11”H, PNG, in color, Half page ad $475 - 8.5"W x 5.5”H, PNG, in color, ¼ page ad $275 - 4.3"W x 5.5"H, PNG, in color, ⅛ page ad $175 - 4.3"W x 2.8"H, PNG, in color

SPONSORS AND ADVERTISERS REGISTER HERE

Conference Sponsors 2024

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THURSDAY, APRIL 25

Keynote Session | 9:00 - 11:00am |1.5 CEs

How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times. Keynote Speaker: Mónica Guzmán. Mónica will show participants how to build bridges across gaping cultural, social, and political divides. She will show people the value of staying curious, even when it’s hard, and put the tools they need to see each other across projections and assumptions in easy reach. Learn more about Mónica Guzmán hereParticipants will learn: 1) How to maintain balance in the midst of a conversation that becomes fraught or divisive, 2) How to detach from assumptions to learn the paths people walk to their views. 3) How to close gaps in understanding by asking truly curious questions. (Cross-Cultural CEs)

Session 1 | 11:30am - 1:00pm | 1.5 CEs

001: Balancing Acts: Patient Autonomy and Heart Transplant Requirements. Speaker: Johnna Marcus, LICSW. This presentation will examine how patients with Advanced Heart Failure can be supported and empowered by interventions of Social Workers through the heart transplant evaluation process in order to meet the requirements for life-saving treatment.  (General CEs)

003: Moving Beyond Polarization: Returning to Respectful Dialogue. Speaker: Fanny Chalfin, MA, LICSW. In these dangerously divisive times, the increasing dehumanization and disrespect for one another has made debate and discussion near impossible let alone dialogue which requires curiosity and a desire to understand the position of others.  (General CEs)

005: LGBT Elders Have Sex Too! Speaker: Joseph Winn LICSW, CST-S. This presentation will focus on assisting clinicians in working with LGBTQ Elders who want to improve their sexual functioning in individual or relational therapy. (Cross-Cultural CEs)

019: Patient/Family Engagement: A Social Justice Leadership Opportunity. Speakers: Laura Dickman, LICSW, Kelly Lawman, MSW (c), Briana Cast, MSW, LICSW. This presentation focuses on a critical opportunity for macro social workers to make a meaningful impact on health care equity as leaders in the field of patient and family engagement.  (General CEs)

038: Fired Up! The Significance of Anger in Trauma Recovery. Speaker: Laurie Ure, LICSW, CBT (Certified Bioenergetic Therapist). Owning one's anger provides an important part of recovery from many traumas. Anger helps build self-esteem, promotes protection of self and others, and fuels advocacy for justice. Learn body-based interventions for grounded, positive expressions of anger.  (General CEs)

045: Treating Perinatal Distress and Supporting the Motherhood Journey. Speaker: Danielle Kenney, LICSW, PMH-C. In this exploration of maternal mental health, we will differentiate between the baby blues, normal postpartum adjustment, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. We will review factors that can protect a parent from emotional distress and those that put parents at risk.  (General CEs)

052: Implicit Bias in the Implementation of Trauma-Informed Suicide Prevention. Speakers: Joanna Bridger, LICSW, Rebecca Mirick, PhD, LICSW. This presentation uses a foundation of the neurobiology of trauma to explore how implicit bias interferes with the implementation of a trauma-informed approach for individuals expressing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. (Cross-Cultural CEs)

062: Artificial Intelligence in Social Work: Emerging Ethical Issues. Speaker: Frederic G. Reamer, PhD. Social workers' use of artificial intelligence is booming. Chatbots, natural language processing, data mining, and software algorithms are transforming social work. This presentation will identify cutting-edge ethical issues and ways to protect clients and practitioners. (Professional Ethics CEs)

078: Sharing Our Clinical Notes Directly With Our Patients: Perspectives on OpenNotes & the Cures Act. Speaker: Steve O'Neill, LICSW, BCD, JD. Are you sharing your clinical notes directly with your patients? Do you understand when you are permitted to withhold your notes from your patients? This presentation will clarify the effects of OpenNotes and the requirements of the Cures Act on social work practice.  (Professional Ethics CEs)

Session 2 | 2:00 - 3:30pm | 1.5 CEs

009: Got Conflict? Managing Conflict: Essential Tools for Social Workers. Speaker: Pedro Spivakovsky-Gonzalez, MSW. This 90-minute training workshop will help participants hone skills at dealing with conflict situations. Emphasizing hands-on experiential training, participants will learn, grow and engage!  (General CEs)

016: PANS/PANDAS: What it is, What to look for and How to Support. Speaker: Sheilah M. Gauch, M.Ed, LICSW. Learn how infections and viruses may trigger a wide range of neuropsychiatric responses. We will talk about why these illnesses can be easily missed, how they are diagnosed, what treatments are used, and how to support those with these illnesses in regaining health.  (General CEs)

021: Introduction to Gender Affirming Clinical Care with Adults. Speaker: Luke Patrick "Tt" King, LICSW. In this workshop, participants receive skills for gender-affirming practice, going beyond a welcoming attitude. Participants build understanding of use of self, a developmental identity model, and skills for anti oppressive practice.  (Cross-Cultural CEs)

033: Strategic Self-Disclosure: A Clinical Tool. Speakers: Gabrielle Witte, DSW, LCSW, Lydia Carbone, MSW. This presentation explores harnessing the power of using Strategic Self-Disclosure in clinical interventions by defining and exploring the uses, benefits, and risks in order to use it effectively.  (General CEs)

042: First Generation Americans: Identity Formation and Psychosocial Development through a Cultural Lens. Speaker: Paulomi Dave-Potter, LICSW. Explore the experience of First Generation Americans through the lens of Erikson's psychosocial stages of development. We will discuss the influence of systemic racism, immigration policy, microaggressions, and intergenerational trauma on identity development of this group. (Cross-Cultural CEs)

051: Couples by Intention: An innovative couples group approach. Speakers: Elliott Kronenfeld, PhD, LICSW, CSTS, Tiane Jennings, LICSW. Couples by Intention is an innovative approach to couples work. Learn how to work with multiple couples over a 12 week period that unleashes opportunity for growth and connection.  (General CEs)

055: Allyship in Action. Speakers: Felicia Heywood, LICSW, Sonia D'Alarcao, BS. Come explore what it means to practice active allyship, including actions to implement and behaviors to avoid. You will have the opportunity to develop an allyship commitment and action plan.

059: Trauma in Boys and Men Who Have Been Trafficked. Speaker: Steven L Procopio, ACSW, LICSW. This presentation will discuss the factors that lead to the sexual exploitation/human trafficking of males and the services needed to support their recovery.  (Cross-Cultural CEs)

065: Firearm Safety Screening Among Mental Health Workers. Speaker: Chris Collins, PhD, LICSW, ACSW. This session summarizes finding from the pilot study of the Engaging in Lethal Means Safety (ELMS) suicide prevention program. In addition, participants will learn and practice new, targeted skills in motivational interviewing to improve their safety screening protocol.  (General CEs)

084: Six Degrees of Visitation: Understanding Supervised Parenting Time. Speakers: Carrie Pekor Jasper, M.S.Ed., LICSW, Howard Yaffe, LICSW, Dacia Thompson, MSW, LCSW. This interactive workshop outlines stressors and factors that can result in the need for supervised parenting time. A continuum-based model will be presented which enables social workers to identify appropriate resources for clients and to collaborate effectively.  (General CEs)

Session 3 | 4:00 - 5:30pm | 1.5 CEs

004: Beyond heteronormativity: What BDSM/Kink teaches about successful relationships. Speaker: Joseph Winn LICSW, CST-S. Challenging the heteronormativity, and exploring the potential that BDSM/Kink, and CNM can offer all relationships is not only an act of personal and social justice but central to the tenets of sound social work practice.  (General CEs)

006: Living in the In-Between: Unpacking Mental Health, Assimilation, and Acculturation. Speaker: Ysabel Garcia, MPH. What happens when cultures collide? Explore the mental health experiences of first and second-generation U.S. Latine and Black immigrants as they navigate assimilation and acculturation in the in-between. (Cross-Cultural CEs)

013: Self-managed Abortion - What is the Social Worker's Role? Speakers: Susan Yanow, MSW, Lauren Paulk, JD. Abortion is increasingly restricted and contested. This presentation will use reproductive justice and harm reduction frameworks to explore social workers' role and practice around self-managed abortion. (Cross-Cultural CEs)

024: How to Protect Your Practice: Words of Wisdom from a Defense Attorney. Speaker: Robert P. Landau, JD. 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. (Professional Ethics CEs)

027: Women Growing Older: Our Bodies Ourselves. Speaker: Joan Ditzion BA, MA, 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 ageist paradigm. (Cross-Cultural CEs)

036: Mediation 101: Conflict Resolution for Families and Communities. Speakers: Ben Stich, Mediator, M.Ed, LICSW, Nnena Odim, JD. Conflict abounds and social workers are ideally suited to help! This is an introduction to mediation, including conflict theory, core principles and mediator strategies, and practice examples of how mediation can help families, communities, schools, and more.  (General CEs)

043: When We Understand Mad Better Than Sad: The Grief of Children in Alternative Care. Speaker: Ruth Pearlman, M.Ed., LICSW. Every child in out of home placement care is a grieving child, yet few of us are trained to effectively address these losses and bereavements. If you work with youth in foster, residential or any out of home children in care, then you are a grief worker.  (General CEs)

067: Whose Reality is it Anyways? Working with Alternate Experiences. Speakers: Stacie Lucius, MS, LCMHC, MLADC, Theo Baars CRSW LADC. When thinking about working with people experiencing psychosis, many clinicians will defer to "reality testing”  as the best treatment approach. Please join us to learn how to redefine these experiences in a way that honors the client's truth and goals for their treatment.  (General CEs)

080: Parental Understanding of Cultural Difference in Transracial Adoption. Speakers: Hope Haslam Straughan, PhD, MSW, ACSW, Chelsea Anderson, LICSW. Gain an understanding of the intentions, processes and implications of transracial adoption and perspectives of how parents raise a child that is a different race/ethnicity than their own. (Cross-Cultural CEs)

083: The NASW Code of Ethics, Social Media and Navigating Difficult Clinical Case Examples. Speaker: Steve O'Neill, LICSW, BCD, JD. Is it ethically permissible to connect with a patient on social media? If you were served a subpoena, would you know what to do? This highly interactive talk will provide a roadmap for dealing with a raft of ethical quandaries utilizing real life case examples. (Professional Ethics CEs)

Evening Workshop | 6:00 - 7:30pm | 1.5 CEs

What The World Needs Now. Speaker: Jen Wofford, LICSW. Increasing conflicts and divisions are sweeping the world. We’ve all had conflicts in our lives. Spend the evening learning how to take clinical therapy methods into resolving both interpersonal and global conflicts.  (General CEs)



FRIDAY, APRIL 26

Session 4 | 8:30 - 10:00am | 1.5 CEs

008: Effectiveness of Gender Transformative Interventions at Decreasing Traditional Masculine Norms. Speaker: Jay Taylor, DSW, LCSW. How do we engage men in efforts to end violence against women and girls? Healthy masculinity interventions can help practitioners liberate men and produce a safer world for gender diverse communities. (Cross-Cultural CEs)

025: Neurodiversity Affirming Practice in the Workplace. Speaker: Sara Rodrigues, DSW, LICSW. Discover how embracing neurodiversity can transform your organization into an inclusive & innovative space where every individual thrives. Learn practical skills to implement neurodiversity-affirming practices in your workplace.Join us to be at the forefront of inclusivity.  (General CEs)

031: Supporting Clients to Divorce with Dignity. Speaker: Ben Stich, Mediator, M.Ed, LICSW. Divorce is complicated. Well-intended but misinformed guidance about divorce can cause harm. Learn about divorce in MA, process options, child-centered divorce, tips for effective negotiation, and divorce myths and misconceptions.  (General CEs)

035: Meeting the Needs of Older Adults Navigating Solo. Speaker: Ailene Gerhardt, MA, BCPA, CSA. During this presentation we will explore the unique needs of solo agers including navigating healthcare, building robust support systems, & challenging isolation. You will leave this presentation with tools & resources to meet the needs of your clients navigating solo.  (General CEs)

039: Professional Guardrails: Ethical Boundaries in Social Work Practice. Speaker: Phyllis Black, PhD, ACSW. Maintaining proper boundaries, is a pivotal imperative for ethical social work practice. Through engagement in an interactive role-play, participants will deliberate authentic boundary perplexities and develop strategies to promote ethical boundary management. (Professional Ethics CEs)

041: The Importance of Understanding and Supporting Caregiver Trauma. Speaker: Sheilah M. Gauch, M.Ed, LICSW. Caregivers of children with mental health needs are often stuck in acute stress/trauma reactions. Understanding this, and the barriers they face, is essential to supporting them (and by proxy their children)!  (General CEs)

053: Sex is a Social Work Issue! Speaker: Joseph Winn LICSW, CST-S. Knowing how to introduce, discuss and intervene with issues of human sexuality, STI/HIV prevention, family planning, and the enhancement of sexual pleasure in relational therapy, is a neglected skill needed by every social worker. Come learn how!  (Cross-Cultural CEs)

066: Beating Burnout: When Passion Just Isn't Enough. Speaker: Dr. Wendy Knight. This presentation will unpack the complex issue of burnout among social workers. Attendees will be empowered with knowledge to increase self-awareness and self-advocacy in order to foster personal well-being.  (General CEs)

087: Normalizing Childhood Grief. Speakers: Jennifer M Harris, LICSW, Daniel Graham, LICSW. Grief is often misunderstood that we must "get over or move on". We will explore our dynamic work with child grief survivors from development stages and neuroscience to normalize the grief. Participants will learn tools to support youth to help them "move with" with grief. (Cross-Cultural CEs)

Session 5 | 10:30am - 12:00pm | 1.5 CEs

002: Pediatric Long COVID: Establishing the Role of Social Work in a Multidisciplinary Clinic. Speaker: Victoria Pacheco, MPH, MSW, LCSW. This presentation will cover the new and evolving diagnosis of Long COVID in pediatric patients and the impact it has on over all well-being. It will explore the role of social work in supporting these patients and their families within a multidisciplinary team setting.  (General CEs)

012: Embracing Eros; Rethinking Intimacy in Care Facilities. Speaker: Nathalie Huitema, PhD. Unlocking the power of intimacy in care facilities: Discover innovative approaches, challenge norms, and foster meaningful connections for improved well-being and compassionate care.  (General CEs)

014: Advocating for Patient Rights in Medicare: Tips for Social Workers. Speaker: Al Kushner, Author. Join us for a simplified guide to Medicare, covering Parts A-D and Advantage plans. Learn how these options meet hospital and health costs from our expert speaker. Grasp this vital program and get all your queries answered professionally.  (General CEs)

018: Introduction to Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT). Speakers: Danielle Green, LICSW, Suzanne McCarthy, PsyD. Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy is a highly effective, compassionate, short-term, structured approach to couples treatment. It is empirically validated and shows that approximately 90% of treated couples report improvement and 70% are recovered from distress at follow up.  (General CEs)

026: The Neurobiology of Trauma and its Application to Successful Treatment of Pain. Speakers: Dr. Judith A. Swack, Wendy Rawlings, CMHC. Trauma is structured and cleared in layers. It has neurobiological underpinnings that need to be accurately mapped to be successfully treated. Participants will learn the structure of trauma and an evidence-based technique from the field of Energy Psychology.  (General CEs)

046: Strength-Based Skills for New/Emerging Social Work Supervisors. Speaker: Jonas Goldenberg, LICSW. You know the value of strength-based practice. Enhance your new/emerging supervisory skills by learning to use this powerful and successful approach for supervising your interns/employees. We will use lecturettes, small/large discussions, case studies, and role plays.  (General CEs)

048: Supporting Military Families (National Guard, Reserve, Active-Duty). Speaker: Barbara L. Cox, LICSW, MA. Military members and families face unique challenges. This first-hand workshop provides qualitative details about military culture, military families, the differences between Active Duty and Guard/Reserve including deployments, benefits and more.  (General CEs)

054: Helping the Helpers: Exploring Wellness Needs and Priorities of the Next Social Work Generation. Speakers: Pamela Szczygiel, DSW, LICSW, Taylor Hall, PhD. Some of us aren't OK. Join us for a candid reveal and discussion of the wellness needs and realities of the next social work generation. Solutions begin with real conversation.  (General CEs)

068: Dementia Friends: Building Public Awareness for All Communities. Speaker: Beth Soltzberg, MBA, LICSW. Experience Dementia Friends, the global public awareness workshop. Learn about disparities and how Dementia Friends Massachusetts engages community partners to serve all cultural/linguistic communities. (Cross-Cultural CEs)

088: Gateways vs. Barriers: Practicing and Supporting Gender Affirming Healthcare. Speakers: Casey Pons, LICSW, JT Timms, MSW, MFA, LCSW, Kathleen Irving, LICSW. Social Workers have been positioned to become either barriers or gateways to life-saving gender affirming care. Join us in learning emerging best clinical practice and concrete ways to support transgender clients. (Cross-Cultural CEs)

Session 6 | 1:00 - 2:30pm | 1.5 CEs

011: "Whatever it Takes" Using Cross-Agency Collaboration to Strengthen Permanency Outcomes. Speakers: Cheryl Peltier, LSW, Meredith Rapoza, LMHC, Kara Sabalauskas, MSW. Learn about a unique permanency-focused partnership that addresses outcomes for youth while unifying clinical practices across child-serving agencies. Participants will learn about our process to collectively engage in practices, advocacy, and outcome evaluation.  (General CEs)

015: Our Federal and State Budgets: Are We Making Progress?. Speaker: Jeff Schrenzel, PhD, LICSW. This presentation explores our Federal and State budgets and their impact on services. Does a Democratic President really make a difference? Funding priorities, concerns and solutions will be discussed. Useful Internet Policy websites will also be shared.  (General CEs)

029: Meeting After Movement: Forced Migration and the Social Work Profession. Speakers: Kerri Evans, PhD, LCSW, Robert G Hasson III, PhD, LICSW. In this discussion-based session, participants will learn about refugees and asylum seekers, and then immediately apply the content through a case study, analyzing the economic injustices of the asylum system. (Cross-Cultural CEs)

032: How Youth Who Feel "Different" Use the Internet/Social Media. Speaker: Elizabeth Englander, PhD. Kids who feel "different" use the Internet differently. This presentation will review research on how these children use social media and gaming, and how adults can help educate all children effectively about Internet health and safety.  (General CEs)

037: Perinatal Palliative Care: The Roles of Social Workers in Program Development and Direct Practice. Speakers: June M. Ganley, LICSW, Jill A. Jeffers, MA, LSW. Learn about one perinatal palliative care program through two illustrative case studies. Presenters will address program development, roles and interventions of social workers, community collaboration, and factors contributing to success.  (General CEs)

056: Family Controlled Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. Speakers: Laurie Krull, LCSW-R, Kait Gannon, BA. Survivor-leader Kaitlynn Gannon and Laurie Krull, LCSW-R, creators of The Ugly Truth About the Girl Nextdoor podcast, share research and lived experience regarding family controlled commercial sexual exploitation of children. (Cross-Cultural CEs)

057: A New Approach to Neurodiversity Affirming Care in Clinical Practice. Speaker: Sara Rodrigues, DSW, LICSW. In this engaging and enlightening session, we will explore how to integrate the principles of neurodiversity into your clinical practice, promoting a more inclusive and empathetic environment for all individuals.  (General CEs)

063: Culturally Responsive Best Practices for Suicide Prevention. Speaker: Yunieska Krug, LICSW, MLADC. Diverse populations consistently report unmet treatment needs attributed to the lack of culturally relevant treatment approaches. Culturally responsive frameworks for suicide prevention support safer health systems for our communities. (Cross-Cultural CEs)

071: Interprofessional Collaboration for Substance Use Disorders During Pregnancy. Speakers: Kristin Erbetta, PhD, MPH, MSW, Zoe Ulrich, LCSW, Shelley Steenrod, PhD, LICSW. Our case-based interactive presentation facilitates learning and application of practice, theory, research and policy about substance use disorders (SUD) during pregnancy. We focus on collaborative practice across systems to best serve pregnant people with maternal SUD.  (General CEs)

089: The Impact of Trauma on Learning. Speaker: Dr. Denise Howley, LICSW. The impact of trauma on learning is not a "one-off" event. Join me to learn how on-going life events such as poverty, racism and marginalization impact the developing brain and learn some strategies and practices to impact change with students and teachers. (Cross-Cultural CEs)

Session 7 | 3:00 - 4:30pm | 1.5 CEs

017: How to Mitigate Imposter Syndrome. Speaker: Beth Craft, LICSW. This workshop seeks to elucidate how people with marginalized identities are at heightened risk for Imposter Syndrome and how it can derail career and educational endeavors. Learn numerous strategies to mitigate it.  (General CEs)

034: Leveraging the Power of Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Ethical Practice. Speakers: Tami Gouveia, DrPH, MPH, MSW, David Andrade, Zoë Richman (MSW 2025). AI is an evolving technology that can be used to improve social work practice and clients' lives. This presentation digs into what social workers need to know to leverage benefits, mitigate risks, and respond to ethical considerations of AI in order to use it effectively. (Professional Ethics CEs)

040: Concussions: The Missed Diagnosis Underlying Mental Health Issues. Speaker: Lee-Anne Thoms, LICSW, OTA. Proper education on Concussion and Brain Injuries will help therapists and agencies to identify mental health issues their clients are experiencing to provide a broader treatment plan.  (General CEs)

047: Treating Children When Their Parent/s Have A Mental Illness. Speakers: Brian Hart, MS, MHC, MBA, MA NPI, Christina Cronin LICSW, Michelle Jones, LCSW. Empowering parents with mental illness to inform and educate their children about their challenges can provide relief for the child and dramatically influence the outcomes for the entire family in many ways.  (General CEs)

069: Long Covid & Mental Health: Emerging research and clinical implications. Speaker: Ellie Lipton, LICSW. This course will explore emerging research on the impacts of Long Covid on new and worsening mental health challenges, and offer recommendations for clinical practice with clients experiencing Long Covid.  (General CEs)

074: Honoring Parents: Truancy Intervention in a Diverse Community. Speakers: Pamela A. Richmond, PhD, Jenny A. Piazza, Ed.D. Participants will experience a mock restorative workshop developed for parents whose child/youth are actively involved in truancy court. (Cross-Cultural CEs)

082: Sustainable Social Work Practice Through Ritual. Speaker: Hope Haslam Straughan, PhD, MSW, ACSW. This interactive session will explore sustainable social work practice by considering and practicing personal and professional rituals utilized in the natural rhythms of the helping relationship of social work.  (General CEs)

086: Neuroscience of Addiction & Relapse: Social Work & Personal Bias. Speakers: Taylor Hall, PhD, Leslie Green, LICSW, David R Selden, LICSW. Participants learn how the brain is impacted by substance use starting in adolescence, as well as the process of relapse and relapse prevention skills. Personal bias is examined in ourselves and in social work practice around substance use and misuse through case analysis. (Cross-Cultural CEs)



ON-DEMAND WORKSHOPS

On demand workshops are pre-recorded webinars that will be available on the website for up to three weeks after the conference. Attendees do not have to select these workshops during registration.

2.5 ces | intuitively informed treatment for trauma: the core approach, speaker: bette freedson, lcsw, licsw, cgp. in this informative and experiential workshop participants will be introduced to the core schema, an innovative four-ingredient, integrative approach- connect, orient, resource, establish-- that can be applied in treating trauma. with didactics, case examples and creative exercises, participants will explore application of the wise guidance of intuition (of both clinician and client) for facilitating therapeutic attunement, bringing dissociated ego strengths into awareness, and empowering endurance of transformative shifts and adaptive reference experiences. the core approach is tailored to the specifics of each individual's personality, life experience and belief system, taking into account not only the situational clinical aspects of the trauma, but most importantly the ecological aspects of each person's race, gender, culture, etc as stated above. best practices for healing and recovery can happen most effectively within this comprehensive perspective.

1.5 ceus | ethics in addiction treatment. speaker: chris dorval, licsw, lcdcs, ladc1. in the world of behavioral health, it is important for professionals to maintain certain standards of practice for the safety of the patient, clinical and agency. furthermore, the need to protect patient confidentiality while navigating multi-layered systems continues to grow increasingly complex as technology and patient needs continue to evolve. maintaining ethical standards and boundaries is of primary importance. this presentation reviews the guidelines of ethical practice and privacy protection regulations, such as hippa and 42 cfr part ii, and discusses ethical risk management strategies to apply this knowledge into practice. in this workshop, participants will have the practice of applying knowledge of confidentiality regulations to complex case studies, as well as, practice skills of active listening, self-reflection, and self-care help to reduce ethical challenges in practice. hosted by the nasw-ri (ceus also approved for nasw-ma attendees).

1.5 ceus | how to be a transgender ally and pitfalls to avoid. speaker: rev. dr. donnie anderson. the lens of the session will be live experience. dr. anderson came out of the closet as a transgender woman at age 69. she will draw from her experience as a member of the community, advocate, counselor and faith leader. the presentation will address issues faced by transgender individuals, including family, society in general, a hostile political environment and the opposition of faith communities. hosted by the nasw-ri (ceus also approved for nasw-ma attendees).

1.5 ceus | unsheltered immigrants in ma: unpacking the state of emergency. speaker: alexandra weber, licsw. on august 8, 2023, governor healey announced a state of emergency due to the rapid increase in the number of newly arriving immigrant and refugee families without the means to secure safe shelter in the commonwealth. join me on september 28 to learn more about new arrivals resettling in our communities and their backgrounds, needs, and gifts. learn why they are arriving. also better understand the state’s shelter crisis and what is being done to address the shelter needs of so many unhoused families. finally, learn what you can do to support new immigrants both professionally and personally. the goal of this webinar is to improve understanding of the circumstances of arriving displaced populations representing racial, ethnic, gendered, cultural, and sexual diversity and diversity of ability. we will discuss ways to support the integration of diverse immigrant communities.

1.5 ceus | technology and social media: helping children, teens and their caregivers navigate the impacts and implications. speaker: elizabeth englander, phd. before the pandemic, screen use, anxiety, and social problems (like bullying and fighting) were top concerns for parents. the last 2 years have made some of these issues even more challenging. this talk will examine how kids are doing emotionally and socially, in light of the pandemic and increased screen use. research on social media use, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, cyberbullying, and online social problems will be summarized. practical approaches that can help children develop emotional resilience, healthy social skills and friendships, and sensible screen and social media habits will be discussed during this presentation. we will discuss how to move forward to a healthier "new normal."

1.5 ceus | rhode island’s response to the opioid crisis. speaker: ryan loiselle, licsw. this presentation will give an overview of friends way and a specific population that we are seeing an increase in: deaths due to suicide, overdose and/or addiction related deaths. practical tools and exercises will be discussed, as well as identifying biases and stigmas amongst marginalized populations. hosted by the nasw-ri (ceus also approved for nasw-ma attendees).

1.5 ceus | what hurts you? pain and social work. speaker: johnna marcus, licsw. this program will explore the treatment of pain in medical settings, with special focus on chronic pain and illness. we will examine how specific social work interventions work to prepare patients for pain and result in reduction in distress. we will discuss the absence of social work in many pain treatment centers and what needs to be done to rectify this. we will pay specific attention to the ways in which diversity plays a part in both pain sensation and treatments of patients in pain in medical settings.

1.5 ceus | words that work along the care continuum of serious illness. speaker: jennifer ritzau, md. conversations with people affected by serious illness often challenge us. when done well, conversations can be deeply rewarding for clinicians and provide patients and their families with necessary guidance. this workshop will provide opportunities along the care continuum to engage patients and families, and will provide participants with “words that work” to allow you to communicate more efficiently and effectively.

for questions, email us at assoc.naswri@socialworkers.org.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 25
  • 8:00am | Conference begins
  • 8:00 - 9:00am | Conference Info Session
  • 9:00 - 11:00am | Keynote Session
  • 11:00 - 11:30am | Visit Virtual Exhibit Hall 
  • 11:30 - 1:00pm | Session 1 Workshops
  • 1:00 - 2:00pm | Sponsored Lunch Room
  • 2:00 - 3:30pm | Session 2 Workshops
  • 3:30 - 4:00pm | Visit Virtual Exhibit Hall
  • 4:00 - 5:30pm | Session 3 Workshops
  • 6:00 - 7:30pm | Evening Workshop
  • 7:30pm | Conference ends

FRIDAY, APRIL 26
  • 7:30am | Conference begins
  • 7:30 - 8:30am | Conference Info Session
  • 8:30 - 10:00am | Session 4 Workshops
  • 10:00 - 10:30am | Visit Virtual Exhibit Hall
  • 10:30 - 12:00pm | Session 5 Workshops
  • 12:00 - 1:00pm | Sponsored lunch
  • 1:00 - 2:30pm | Session 6 Workshops
  • 2:30 - 3:00pm | Visit Virtual Exhibit Hall
  • 3:00 - 4:30pm | Session 7 Workshops
  • 4:30pm | Conference ends

Don't miss out on 22.5 CEs available for social workers - April 25 & 26! 

Register Today Here!