Social work is inarguably rife with significant challenges, including burnout and vicarious trauma. Burnout is often perpetuated by delegitimizing, abusive institutions and systems, with myriad negative consequences for practitioners and the profession in general. While individual self-care practices are an essential component of practitioners’ longevity toolkits, this session will explore the concept of radical self-care, or the reprioritizing of personal well-being and the disruption of delegitimizing, draining systemic and institutional contexts. Specifically, this workshop will offer a critical appraisal of the policies and practices that imperil social worker well-being across practice settings. Additionally, this session will embolden participants to engage in radical and collective forms of self-care, with a keen eye toward challenging the systemic and institutional perpetuators of burnout.

In my tenure within the field of Social Work the pendulum viewpoint on self-disclosure has swayed from agency to agency and throughout the years.

Self-disclosure: Never?  Sometimes? When? How?

It all seems so gray when navigating client benefit vs risk, along with our own internal needs. As a social work professional in long term recovery, I have witnessed harmful self-disclosure and I have also seen the beautiful space for change it can cultivate.  We will explore the when, how and why of self-disclosure and navigate the power of using our own stories in creating connections and space for therapeutic change.

A review of the NASW-ASWB best practice standards in social work supervision along with two ethical frameworks Congress 2000 and Reamer 2018 will provide practitioners with best practice guidelines to use in everyday practice while providing supervision and helping manage ethical dilemmas. Presenters will review recent history impacting current and prospective social workers in the U.S., including the 2020-2021 pandemic, school shootings, increased mental health issues, economic uncertainty, political discord, and global conflict. This review will be discussed to help promote resiliency and strength-based approaches to supervision with social work employees and students in field placement, including those with mental health and neurodivergent learning needs. 

The effects of technology on social work practice since the onset of the pandemic have been enormous. Out of necessity, many providers rushed to adopt technology-assisted practices in an effort to continue to provide care to those in need. What have we learned from these practice changes? Are the 2018 changes to the Social Work Code of Ethics adequate to address modern practice challenges? This workshop will explore these critical questions and will also examine some of the specific boundary-related issues that arise in technology-assisted practice. In addition, as the evidence mounts regarding the harmful effects of technology on mental health, relationships, and community wellbeing, we will ask critical questions regarding the role of our profession in addressing these concerns.

In today's complex and demanding human services landscape, practitioners often find themselves navigating ethical dilemmas and encountering situations that can lead to moral distress. This training course is designed to equip professionals in the human services field with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to address these ethical challenges while prioritizing their own well-being. The course will provide guidance on maintaining healthy boundaries in client interactions, organizational dynamics, and professional relationships. Participants will learn how to navigate ethical dilemmas with integrity and compassion, while safeguarding their own mental health. Course objectives will be established through a combination of interactive lectures, group discussions, and practical exercises.