> >

NASW Conferences

2024 NASW National Conference Social Work Leading Social Change June 19-22 2024

Experience the Meeting of the Profession

conference attendees give a standing ovation

Join more than 2,000 social workers, like-minded professionals, and social work thought leaders at NASW’s 2024 National Conference. Take advantage of unparalleled opportunities in professional development, continuing education, and networking. Engage in thought-provoking conversations tackling the most pressing issues facing the social work profession across the world.

Experience the latest education and insights from leaders in the social work field
Earn CE Credit toward licensure
Engage with peers in the profession
Explore cutting-edge products, programs, and services in the Exhibit Hall

Registration is Now Open

CALL FOR STUDENT VOLUNTEERS
NASW is seeking student members to volunteer at the 2024 NASW National Conference in Washington, DC , June 19 – 22, 2024. All student volunteers will receive complimentary registration to the conference. To apply to volunteer please e-mail Dave Miller at dmiller.nasw@socialworkers.org and include the following: Full Name; Cell Phone Number; Student e-mail address; and name of College or University no later than March 29, 2024. Volunteers will be selected by random drawing on April 8, 2024.

Featuring Professional Jazz Vocalist Hannah Carter; National Association of Black Social Workers CEO Melissa Haley; Black Youth Project 100 Founding National Director Charlene Carruthers; and performance from Cirque Zuma Zuma. Program begins at 3:30 p.m. in the Regency Ballroom.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

(subject to change as program evolves)

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

8:00am - 5:00pm	NASW Advocacy Day Program on Capitol Hill
8:00am - 9:00am	Issue Briefing – Omni Shoreham Hotel – Empire Room
9:30am - 5:00pm	Hill Day – Capitol Hill

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

9:00am - 6:00pm	Registration
11:30am - 2:30pm	▶ PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS » Dignity of Risk: An Integral Component of Person-Centered Work with Older Adults \| 3 Social Work CEs Chris Herman, MSW, LICSW, Senior Practice Associate–Aging, National Association of Social Workers Bonnie Olsen, PhD,Vice Chair of Academic Affairs,Department of Family Medicine,Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California Lori Mars, JD, LLM, Deputy Director, National Center on Elder Abuse, and Assistant Professor of Clinical Family Medicine, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine Risk taking and risk exposure are inherent in our everyday lives. Yet, as we become older adults, our right to engage in any behavior that may involve risk tends to be challenged, especially if our physical or cognitive abilities have changed. Balancing competing expectations and ethical responsibilities in such situations presents significant challenges for social workers who serve older adults. This practice-based, interactive workshop will delve into the concept of dignity of risk as integral to person-centered service delivery. Participants will gain knowledge, tools, and strategies to inform assessment of capacity, optimize older adult decision making, and practice professional self-care. » Documenting in the Private Practice Setting to Successfully Pass an Audit and Prevent Claw Back \| 3 Clinical CEs Mirean Coleman, MSW, LICSW, Director, Clinical Practice, National Association of Social Workers The landscape of documentation in a private practice setting is included in this pre-conference workshop through tips, tools, and case examples to help private practitioners receive reimbursement, pass an audit, and prevent claw backs. This presentation will assist private practitioners and other clinical social workers in improving their skills in developing a diagnostic assessment, creating treatment plans and goals, preparing progress notes, filing a claim, using procedural, diagnostic, place of service, and telehealth codes, and more.  » Engaging Clients Around Geek Interests \| 3 Clinical CEs Kayla Balensiefer, LICSW, LCSW, Owner/Director, Saving Throw Therapeutics LLC In this training we will focus on geek therapy techniques aimed to provide mental health professionals with innovative tools rooted in geek culture. We will cover a comprehensive understanding of what geek culture is and explore various interests such as video games, comics, movies, technology, and tabletop role playing games within the geek community. The training explores how therapists can leverage these interests to create meaningful connections with clients and facilitate therapeutic interventions. Ultimately, the goal of the training is to equip therapists with the knowledge and skills to begin to consider the implementation of geek culture as a therapeutic medium, enhancing their ability to connect with clients, and promote positive mental health outcomes while meeting their clients where they are at. » Social Work is a Political Profession \| 3 Macro CEs Victor Manalo, PhD, MSW - President, NASW-California Chapter Justin Hodge, MSW- University of Michigan, School of Social Work Tanya Rhodes Smith, MSW- University of Connecticut, School of Social Work Marla Blunt Carter, MSW- Rutgers University, School of Social Work Sherron Wilkes, DSW, MSW- The University of Alabama, School of Social Work Will Francis, LMSW- NASW Texas and Louisiana Chapters Valerie Arendt, MSW, MPP- NASW North Carolina Chapter Ja’Bree Harris, MSW- NASW National Office In this preconference session, we'll explore the inherent political nature of social work, focusing on its connection to societal structures and policies. Through interactive discussions and skill-building exercises, participants will learn how to advocate for policy change and challenge existing power dynamics to advance social justice. By examining power structures within client interactions and society, attendees will be equipped to address systemic barriers and promote inclusive policies, guided by ethical obligations outlined in the NASW Code of Ethics. » A Framework for Thinking Ethically \| 3 Ethics CEs Ed Geraty, LCSW-C, LICSW This workshop will focus on the five historical approaches to ethics and how these approaches are synthesized into a personal approach to ethical decision making that is exemplified in the NASW Code of Ethics. Participants will learn what ethics is and is not, as well as understand why it is difficult to identify ethical dilemmas and ethical standards » Suicide Prevention is Everybody’s Business \| 3 Social Work CEs Jonathan Singer, PhD, LCSW, Professor of Social Work, Loyola University Chicago Nearly 50,000 people in the U.S. lost their lives to suicide in 2022, according to a provisional tally from the National Center for Health Statistics. The agency said the final count would likely be higher. The suicide rate of 14.3 deaths per 100,000 people reached its highest level since 1941. The record reflects broad struggle to help people in mental distress following the pandemic where more than one million in the U.S lost their lives, upended the economy and left many people feeling alone and fearful. Illicit drugs and the readily availability of guns have also contributed to the rise in suicides. Structural changes are needed to implement suicide prevention and intervention strategies, including a reduction in access to lethal means and an increase in access to affordable, culturally appropriate mental health services.  Join this pre-conference workshop to explore suicide prevention strategies.
3:00 - 3:30pm	Welcome & Opening Remarks-0.5 CEs Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C Chief Executive Officer National Association of Social Workers Yvonne Chase, PhD, LCSW, ACSW Awards: Introduction and overview of award presentations during the conference Dr. Estreet – Award Presentation Emerging Social Work Leader Olymphia O’Neale White, DSW
3:30 - 4:30pm	Opening Presentation A Celebration of Juneteenth-1 CE Featuring Professional Jazz Vocalist, Hannah Carter; National Association of Black Social Workers’ CEO, Mellissa Haley; and performance from Cirque Zuma Zuma Regency Ballroom
4:30 - 6:00pm	Opening Keynote Presentation-1.5 CEs Building A Better World Eddie S. Glaude Jr, PhD James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of African American Studies, Princeton University; Best selling author Picture this: It’s the 1960s in rural Mississippi. Several black sharecroppers were sitting on a bus on their way to register to vote. They knew what could be in store for them—jail, attacks from a mob or even death. And then, one lone woman began singing spirituals to lift them. Her name was Fannie Lou Hamer. Although not yet one of the most powerful voices for voting and civil rights we all know, she had already pictured a better world where everyone was equal … and she was willing to die for it. That story was told to Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr. by Bob Moses, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee activist and founder of The Algebra Project. In this powerful talk, Dr. Glaude shares stories of those who resisted the voices who urged them to settle for the world as it is and why we must do the same. You’ll learn how we can train ourselves to see what’s possible instead of what’s impossible and the incredible power of curiosity.
6:00 - 7:30pm	The Welcome Reception in Exhibit Hall

Thursday, June 20, 2024

7:00am - 6:00pm	Registration
7:00 - 8:30am	Continental Breakfast
8:30 - 10:00am	▶ Plenary Session Leading Social Change: Maximizing Opportunity for a Just Society (1.5 Macro Social Work CEs) Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C CEO National Association of Social Workers Monica Barrera, MSSW Chief Managing Officer Immigration Hub Leslie M. Proll, JD Senior Director for Voting Rights The Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights Dr. Tara D. Wallace, MSW, LSCSW, CTF-CBT, RYT, SLC Private Practice Chair, NASW Specialty Practice Section – Social and Economic Justice & Peace Yvonne Chase – Award Presentation NASW Foundation International Rhoda G. Sarnat Award Pedro Navarro Aguilar, MSW
10:00 - 10:30am	Break
10:30am - 12:00pm	▶ Concurrent Breakout Sessions Choose from multiple session topics across the social work spectrum and earn 1.5 CEs. Advocacy in Action: Politics and Policy for the Busy Social Worker (Macro Social Work CE) Allison Berkowitz, DSW, MSW System Change Through Cultural Practices: The California Reducing Disparities Project (Cross Cultural CE) Stacie Hiramoto, MSW, Josefina Alvarado Mena, JD, Cheryl Grills, PhD Suicide Safer Care: Best Practices for Organizations and Clinicians (Social Work CE) Virna Little, PsyD, LCSW-r, MBA Providing Equitable Mental Health Care Access to Black & Latino Youth through the HAVEN Model (Social Work CE) Lena Green, DSW, LCSW, CLC, Victoria Juste MSW Leading Social Change in Illinois: Breaking Down Barriers to Social Work Licensure (Social Work CE) Joel Rubin, MSW, ACSW, LSW, CAE, Latesha Newson, MSW, LCSW Social Workers as Wounded Healers: Their Childhood Trauma, and its Impacts on Practice (Clinical CE) Michael LaSala, PhD, LCSW Navigating Vicarious Trauma & Countertransference in Supervision (Clinical CE) La'Tesha Sampson, PhD, MPA, MSW, LCSW Infusing an Antiracist Framework into Macro Social Work Courses and Practice (Macro Social Work CE) V. DuWayne Battle, PhD, MSW, Eric D. Lock, MA, Bernardo Hiraldo, MSW, LCSW Hot Enough?! Promoting Agency in Social Work Practice to Address Climate Change Anxiety (Social Work CE) N Marjorie Edguer, PhD, LISW-S, LICDC-CS, Mark Chupp, MSW, PhD, Hannah Gill, MSW, LSW Enhancing Cultural Humility & Social Justice: Social Workers as Immigration Psychological Evaluators (Cross Cultural CE) Miriam Geiger, MSW, LCSW, Dalissy Washington, MSW, LCSW Cultural Competency with Latino and Spanish-speaking Immigrant Populations (Cross Cultural CE) Mercedes Ledesma, MSW, LSW Transition from Pediatric to Adult Medical Care for People with Complex Childhood-Onset Conditions (Social Work CE) Karin Roseman, MSW, LCSW, Mary Stephens, MD, MPH, Natalie Stollon, LCSW, MPH Private Practice vs. Public Access: Ethical Considerations for Those with Socio-Economic Barriers (Ethics CE) Kora Wilkes, MSW, LMSW Social Workers as Clinical Ethics Leaders: Opportunities for Advocacy and Advancement in Healthcare (Ethics CE) Riley Yang, MSW, MPH, LCSW
12:00 - 1:30pm	Lunch (on your own)
1:30 - 3:00pm	Keynote Presentation Patrick J. Kennedy Founder, The Kennedy Forum Author, Profiles in Mental Health Courage Patrick will discuss the current state of mental health parity and his upcoming book, Profiles in Mental Health Courage. In this book, former Congressman Kennedy adapts his uncle’s idea to inspire the “mental health courage” it takes for those with these conditions to treat their illnesses, and risk telling their stories to help America face its crisis in our families, our workplaces, our jails, and on our streets. The resounding silence surrounding these illnesses remains persistent, and this book takes an unflinching look at the experience of mental illness and addiction that inspires profound connection, empathy, and action. Dr. Chase – Award Presentation National Social Worker of the Year Award State Representative Lydia Crafts, LCSW (ME)
3:00 - 3:30pm	Break - Exhibit Hall
3:30 - 5:00pm	▶ Concurrent Breakout Sessions Choose from multiple session topics across the social work spectrum and earn 1.5 CEs. Political Social Workers Leading Social Change: Building Influence through Relationships (Macro Social Work CE) Victor Manalo, PhD, MSW, Valerie Arendt, MSW, MPP, Marla Blunt Carter, MSW The Burdens We Carry African American Women Seeing Their Way Through! (Cross Cultural CE) Jacqueline Butler, PhD, LCSW, LSATP Dismantling Institutionalized Racism in Health Care to Improve Health Outcomes of Black Women (Cross Cultural CE) Cheryl Talbert, MSW, LCSW Increasing Cultural Competence Through Affirmative Practice for the LGBTQIA+ Community (Clinical CE) Rochelle Turner, MSW, LMSW, LCDC, Raymond Castilleja, MSW, MBA, LCSW-S Social Work Services and Supports to the Young Transgender Child (Clinical CE) Susan Radzilowski, BS, MSW Social Work Leadership in the Gun Violence Prevention Movement (Macro Social Work CE) Johanna Thomas, PhD, LCSW What do we do with the Trauma that Gun Violence leaves Behind? (Macro Social Work CE) Renee Sartin, EdD, MSSW The Integral Role of Social Workers on Criminal Defense-Based Teams (Social Work CE) Stephanne Thornton, MSW, LICSW Leading Social Change in the Juvenile Justice System (Social Work CE) Rachel Hunter, MSW, LCSW Pledge to Connect: Bridging the Gap Between Health Care and Behavioral Health (Social Work CE) Heather Thomas, MSW, LSW Utilizing Kotter’s Change Model to Integrate Clinical Best Practices (Social Work CE) Kimberly Malayter, LCSW Leading Social Change for Unaccompanied and Separated Immigrant Children (Social Work CE) Sarah Donovan, MSW, Jennifer Hojaiban, JD, Ingrid Zavala, MPH Energizing Your Board of Directors: A Focus on Advocacy, Collaboration and Leadership (Social Work CE) Julie Schirmer, MSW, LCSW, Chris McLaughlin, MSW, LCSW, Cynthia Cushing, BS, MSW '25 Cracking the Code: Understanding Different Motives of Those Who Batter & Connection to Lethality (Domestic Violence CE) Dorthy Halley, LMSW, Steve Halley, LSCSW Treating Domestic Violence Offenders, "Healing 2 Healthy" Therapeutic Model (Domestic Violence CE) Charles Frazier, DSW, LCSW, MBA, CEAP "Nothing About Us Without Us" - Centering Formerly Enlisted Veterans in Social Work Practice (Social Work CE) Timothy Scott, PhD, MSW, Rebecca Washington, Elesia Patten, MA, Tom Alfano
5:00 - 6:00pm	Networking, Exhibits, Poster Presentations
7:00 - 9:00pm	NASW Film Festival - 2 CEs » Park View » Angels and Saints - Eros and Awe » Unseen
9:00 - 11:00pm	A Night Out with NASW! A Night Out with NASW is a vibrant mixer designed for conference participants to network, unwind, and enjoy an evening of socializing. Attendees can relax and dance to the energetic beats provided by DJ Ty Alexander, creating a lively atmosphere. It's the perfect opportunity to forge new connections and rejuvenate after a day of conference activities.

Friday, June 21, 2024

7:00am - 6:00pm	Registration/Conference Information Center
7:00 - 8:15am	Continental Breakfast
8:15 - 9:45am	▶ Plenary Session Environmental Justice is Social Justice (1.5 Macro Social Work CEs) Rachel Forbes, MSW Associate Professor, University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work Ande Nesmith, PhD, MSW Director and Professor, School of Social Work, University of St. Thomas Ben Fulgencio-Turner, MPP Director, Climate for Health, ecoAmerica Meredith Powers, PhD, MSW University of North Carolina, Greensboro The professional commitment to underserved and vulnerable populations necessitates that social workers are knowledgeable about climate change and its effects on people. As noted in the Grand Challenges for Social Work, a changing global environment requires transformative social responses: new partnerships, deep engagement with local communities, and innovations to strengthen individual and collective assets. This session will address how the social worker community can help mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on individuals and communities. The session will bring together experts to share insights about the intersection of social work and environmental justice. Dr. Chase – Award Presentation National Lifetime Achievement Award Richard L. Edwards, PhD, MA
9:45 - 10:45am	Keynote Presentation The Honorable Debbie Stabenow United States Senator D-MI Dr. Chase – Award Presentation NASW Foundation Knee-Wittman Lifetime Achievement Award The Honorable Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
10:45 - 11:00am	Break
11:00am - 12:30pm	▶ Concurrent Breakout Sessions Choose from multiple session topics across the social work spectrum and earn 1.5 CEs. Ecosocial Work: Leadership for Climate Justice (Macro Social Work CE) Rachel Forbes, MSW Social Work and Environmental Exposures: A Call to Action (Macro Social Work CE) Katharine Bloeser, PhD, LICSW, Lisa Pickett, MSW, LCSW What's Trending in Social Work Ethics and the Law: Exploring Key Challenges Facing the Profession (Ethics CE) Andrea Murray, MSW, LICSW, Ashlee Fox, JD, MSW, Michael Gianotti, MSW, LICSW Gender Affirming Care Letters for Trans and Gender Diverse Clients (Clinical CE) JT Timms, LICSW, Kathleen Irving, LICSW, Casey Pons, LICSW Financial Social Work: Needed by Most Americans (Social Work CE) Reeta Wolfsohn, CMSW Reframing Latino Financial Discipline: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Financial Wellness (Social Work CE) Jasmine Ramirez, MSW, LCSW Social Work Career Mapping: Elevate The Field Education Experience (Social Work CE) Lequita Brooks, MSW, LCSW Social Workers as Thought Leaders & Change Agents (Social Work CE) Resia Cooper, MSW Is Implementation of Child Welfare Legislation Part of the Problem (Social Work CE) Joan Zlotnik, PhD, ACSW Step Up to Step Down, California: Engaging Caregivers Towards Training Solutions (Social Work CE) Liza Arellano, DSW, LCSW Empowering Change: Macro Social Work in Organizational Leadership (Macro Social Work CE) Kimberly Henry, LMSW Cultivating Authentic Leaders: A Roadmap for Social Workers to Create Lasting Change (Macro Social Work CE) Beth Eversole, LCSW-S, CFSW, LCDC, Maria Fountain, LMSW Sibling Support: A Catalyst for Social Change in the Disability Community (Social Work CE) Emily Holl, MSW, MFA, Lisa Matthews The 7 Pillars of Disability Inclusion: A Framework to Improve Inclusion, Accessibility, and Allyship (Social Work CE) Tessa Bathauer, MSW, LMSW Strategies to Mitigate Burnout Among VA Social Workers (Social Work CE) Derrick Kranke, PhD, Sharon Milligan, PhD, MSW, MPH Prejudicial Assumptions and Biases Towards Veterans with Substance Use Disorders (Social Work CE) Tyleen Caffrey, PhD, LMSW, BA, CNP
12:30 - 2:00pm;	Lunch (on your own)
2:15 - 3:15pm	▶ Plenary Session Decision 2024: An Election Forecast (1 Macro Social Work CE) It has been said the very foundations of our democracy are at stake in the 2024 elections. The Social Work Code of Ethics tells us “Social workers should be aware of the impact of the political arena on practice and should advocate for changes in policy and legislation to improve social conditions to meet basic human needs and promote social justice.” Social workers of all persuasions are looking at the 2024 election to see how it may impact the direction of the country. There is no mistake that the 2024 election will affect issues critical to social work. This plenary session will offer an overview on electoral prospects, vital issues, and general observations on the Presidential, Senate, and House races. Dr. Chase – Award Presentation National Public Citizen of the Year Award– Cynthia Herrera, JD (TX)
3:15 - 3:30pm	Break
3:30 - 5:00pm	▶Concurrent Breakout Sessions Choose from multiple session topics across the social work spectrum and earn 1.5 CEs. Leading for Change - Crucial Competencies to become a Successful Social Work Leader (Social Work CE) Goutham Menon, PhD, MA, MBA, Jennifer Luna, MSSW, Bruce Friedman, PhD, ACSW, CSWM, LCSW Solution-focused Brief Therapy Crisis Intervention with At-Risk Youth in Schools (Clinical CE) Xiao Ding, MSW, PhD, Cynthia Franklin, PhD, LCSW Suicide Prevention Strategies and Support: Empowering School Social Workers (Clinical CE) Jillian Meinhardt, MSW, LCSW The Complex Care Certificate: Training Social Workers to Lead in Equitable Care and Social Change (Social Work CE) Sheryl Mathis, MSW, MPH, Ashley Moore, LICSW A Holistic Approach to Helping Family Caregivers (Social Work CE) Felicia Wilson, PhD, MSW, MBA, LCSW Bold Warriors: From Trauma Informed to Healing Engagement with Black Male Youth in Out of Home Care (Cross Cultural CE) Sheryl Brissett Chapman, EdD, MSW, Jasilyn Morgan, MPH, Ralph Belk, LCSW-C, LICSW, Krystal Holland, BS Connecting the Dots: All Violence is Connected (Domestic Violence CE) Grey Endres, DSW, LCSW, Dr. Tara D. Wallace, MSW, LSCSW, CTF-CBT, RYT, SLC Intergenerational Trauma and Holistic Ways of Healing: Going Back to our Roots (Cross Cultural CE) Erica Sandoval, MSW, LCSW, Cindy Bautista-Thomas, PhD, LCSW, Jessica Hardial MSW, LCSW AI and Social Work: Use in Practice, Ethics, and the Future (Social Work CE) Amanda Baranski, DSW, LCSW, Megan Conti, DSW, LCSW Integrating AI to Develop 21st-Century Skills in Social Work Supervision & Training (Social Work CE) Marina Badillo-Diaz, DSW, LCSW Revolutionizing Social Work Post-Roe: Legislative Responses to Pregnancy Criminalization (Macro Social Work CE) Lauren Wranosky, MSW Best Practices in the Treatment of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) (Clinical CE) Gregory Nooney, MSW, LISW, LCSW Integrating Harm Reduction in Clinical Practice and Beyond (Clinical CE) Lauren Porter, MSW, LMSW
5:00 - 6:00pm	Networking, Exhibits, Poster Presentations
7:00 - 8:00pm	Evening Program Performance by Capitol Fools

Saturday, June 22, 2024

7:00am - 2:00pm	Conference Information Center
7:30 - 8:30am	Continental Breakfast
8:30 - 10:00am	▶ Plenary Session Artificial Intelligence and Social Justice (1.5 Macro Social Work CE) Juan Rios, DSW, LCSW Associate Professor, Seton Hall University Jamie Sundvall, PhD, LICSW Director Online Education/Online MSW Program Director, Touro University Hsun-Ta Hsu, PhD, MSW Associate Professor, University of North Carolina At the intersection of social work and AI lie untold potential for achieving the goals of social justice. Through on-the-ground applications, social work can take AI out of the laboratory and render it an operational tool for good. Through social work initiatives—whether one-on-one clinical work or macro-level organizing—AI researchers have the opportunity to implement models and adjust them in accordance with real-time feedback, moving the needle on social justice. Dr. Chase – Award Presentation NASW Foundation Knee-Wittman Outstanding Achievement Award – Peter Buxtun, JD (1937-2024)
10:00 - 10:15am	Break
10:15 - 11:45am	▶ Concurrent Breakout Sessions Choose from multiple session topics across the social work spectrum and earn 1.5 CEs. Pouring from an Empty Cup: The Ethical Implications of Ignoring Compassion Fatigue (Ethics CE) Alissa Hebert-Wallace, DSW, LCSW-S Restorative Steps: An Alternative Approach to Complex Cases of Elder Abuse (Social Work CE) Meredith Levine, LMSW, APHSW-C, Rachael Domanico, LMSW Social Work in Healthcare for Vulnerable, Marginalized, and Minoritized Populations (Social Work CE) Tamara Idette Thorn, DMSc, MSW, LCSW, MSPAS, PA-C, Danielle McCoy, MSW, LCSW, LRT/CTRS Nurturing Latina Leadership in Social Work: A Symposium on Scripts, Challenges, Strategies (Cross Cultural CE) Cindy Bautista-Thomas, PhD, LCSW, Sandra, Crespo, MSW, LICSW, Erica Priscilla Sandoval, MSW, LCSW, AWA Entrepreneurship 101- An innovative Approach to Leading Change and Advancing Social Work Practice (Social Work CE) Jennifer Luna, MSSW, Tessa Bathauer, MSSW, LMSW, Kathleen Grover Loss, Trauma & Incarceration Through Poems & Monologues (Social Work CE) Helena Lewis, DSW, LCSW, LCADC, CCS, Asa Paris, DSW, LCSW, LCADC, CJM, Priscilla Carmona, PhD, MSW, LCSW Staying Sane In An Insane Time: Societal Burnout, Dangerous Leadership, and Direction (Social Work CE) SaraKay Smullens, MSW, LCSW Leading the Charge: Catalysts of Change in Social Work Culture (Social Work CE) Carrie Freshour, MSW, LCSW-C Leading Re-takers Toward Exam Success: Best Practices for Shaping Powerful Professional Futures (Social Work CE) Susan Mankita, MSW, LCSW P4P: A collaborative approach to addressing unpaid field work (Social Work CE) Elise Colquitt, MSW, Zoe Johnson, PhD, LCSW Engaging Social Workers to Support Evidence-based Practice Implementation In Homeless Services (Social Work CE) Sona Hovsepian, MSW, LCSW, Taylor Harris, PhD, MA, Ronald Calderon, MSW Bridging the Gap: The Interconnections of Corporate Social Responsibility & Social Work Leadership (Macro Social Work CE) Dewin Hernandez, MBA, MSW, LCSW, Keita Franklin, PhD, MSW, Anna Ettinger, PhD, MSW, MPH Intergenerational Trauma: The Burdens We Are Not Meant To Carry (Clinical CE) Terance Dawkins, MSW, LISW-CP Taking an Intergenerational Approach to Healing (Clinical CE) Mollie Innocent-Cupid, PhD, LCSW
11:45am - 12:00pm	Break
12:00 - 1:00pm	Closing Keynote Presentation Reviving the Art of Communication: Building Rapport and Collaborative Relationships with Clients (1 CE) Maryum Ali Social Worker, Activist & Author Dr. Chase - Award Presentation National Public Elected Official of the Year Award - Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes, City of Austin (TX)
1:00 - 1:15pm	Closing Remarks and Adjournment Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C Chief Executive Officer National Association of Social Workers

VIRTUAL PROGRAM

(subject to change as program evolves)

The Virtual Program will live-stream keynote presentations, plenary sessions and select breakout sessions so you can view the 2024 National Conference from your computer or mobile device anywhere. Earn up to 16.5 CEs by attending the whole virtual program!

Thursday, June 20, 2024

8:30am	Welcome Remarks Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C Chief Executive Officer National Association of Social Workers
8:30 - 10:00am	▶ Plenary Session Leading Social Change: Maximizing Opportunity for a Just Society (Macro Social Work CE) Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C CEO National Association of Social Workers Monica Barrera, MSSW Chief Managing Officer Immigration Hub Leslie M. Proll, JD Senior Director for Voting Rights The Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights Dr. Tara D. Wallace, MSW, LSCSW, CTF-CBT, RYT, SLC Private Practice Chair, NASW Specialty Practice Section – Social and Economic Justice & Peace
10:00 - 10:30am	Break
10:30am - 12:00pm	▶ Concurrent Breakout Sessions Choose from three session topics across the social work spectrum and earn 1.5 CEs. Social Workers as Wounded Healers: Their Childhood Trauma, and its Impacts on Practice (Clinical CE) Michael LaSala, PhD, LCSW Navigating Vicarious Trauma & Countertransference in Supervision (Clinical CE) La'Tesha Sampson, PhD, MPA, MSW, LCSW Private Practice vs. Public Access: Ethical Considerations for Those with Socio-Economic Barriers (Ethics CE) Kora Wilkes, MSW, LMSW Social Workers as Clinical Ethics Leaders: Opportunities for Advocacy and Advancement in Healthcare (Ethics CE) Riley Yang, MSW, MPH, LCSW Infusing an Antiracist Framework into Macro Social Work Courses and Practice (Macro Social Work CE) V. DuWayne Battle, PhD, MSW, Eric D. Lock, MA, Bernardo Hiraldo, MSW, LCSW
12:00 - 1:30pm	Lunch (on your own)
1:30 - 3:00pm	Keynote Presentation Patrick J. Kennedy Founder, The Kennedy Forum Author, Profiles in Mental Health Courage Patrick will discuss the current state of mental health parity and his upcoming book, Profiles in Mental Health Courage. In this book, former Congressman Kennedy adapts his uncle’s idea to inspire the “mental health courage” it takes for those with these conditions to treat their illnesses, and risk telling their stories to help America face its crisis in our families, our workplaces, our jails, and on our streets. The resounding silence surrounding these illnesses remains persistent, and this book takes an unflinching look at the experience of mental illness and addiction that inspires profound connection, empathy, and action.
3:00 - 3:30pm	Break
3:30 - 5:00pm	▶ Concurrent Breakout Sessions Choose from three session topics across the social work spectrum and earn 1.5 CEs. Political Social Workers Leading Social Change: Building Influence through Relationships (Macro Social Work CE) Victor Manalo, PhD, MSW, Valerie Arendt, MSW, MPP, Marla Blunt Carter, MSW Increasing Cultural Competence Through Affirmative Practice for the LGBTQIA+ Community (Clinical CE) Rochelle Turner, MSW, LMSW, LCDC, Raymond Castilleja, MSW, MBA, LCSW-S Social Work Services and Supports to the Young Transgender Child (Clinical CE) Susan Radzilowski, BS, MSW Cracking the Code: Understanding Different Motives of Those Who Batter & Connection to Lethality (Domestic Violence CE) Dorthy Halley, LMSW, Steve Halley, LSCSW Treating Domestic Violence Offenders, "Healing 2 Healthy" Therapeutic Model (Domestic Violence CE) Charles Frazier, DSW, LCSW, MBA, CEAP

Friday, June 21, 2024

8:15 - 9:45am	▶ Plenary Session Environmental Justice is Social Justice (Macro Social Work CE) Rachel Forbes, MSW Associate Professor, University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work Ande Nesmith, PhD, MSW Director and Professor, School of Social Work, University of St. Thomas Ben Fulgencio-Turner, MPP Director, Climate for Health, ecoAmerica Meredith Powers, PhD, MSW University of North Carolina, Greensboro The professional commitment to underserved and vulnerable populations necessitates that social workers are knowledgeable about climate change and its effects on people. As noted in the Grand Challenges for Social Work, a changing global environment requires transformative social responses: new partnerships, deep engagement with local communities, and innovations to strengthen individual and collective assets. This session will address how the social worker community can help mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on individuals and communities. The session will bring together experts to share insights about the intersection of social work and environmental justice.
9:45 - 10:45am	Keynote Presentation Debbie Stabenow United States Senator State of Michigan
10:45 - 11:00am	Break
11:00am - 12:30pm	▶ Concurrent Breakout Sessions Choose from three session topics across the social work spectrum and earn 1.5 CEs. What's Trending in Social Work Ethics and the Law: Exploring Key Challenges Facing the Profession (Ethics CE) Andrea Murray, MSW, LICSW, Ashlee Fox, JD, MSW, Michael Gianotti, MSW, LICSW Gender Affirming Care Letters for Trans and Gender Diverse Clients (Clinical CE) JT Timms, LICSW, Kathleen Irving, LICSW, Casey Pons, LICSW Empowering Change: Macro Social Work in Organizational Leadership (Macro Social Work CE) Kimberly Henry, LMSW Cultivating Authentic Leaders: A Roadmap for Social Workers to Create Lasting Change (Macro Social Work CE) Beth Eversole, LCSW-S, CFSW, LCDC, Maria Fountain, LMSW
12:30 - 2:00pm	Lunch (on your own)
2:15 - 3:15pm	▶ Plenary Session Decision 2024: An Election Forecast It has been said the very foundations of our democracy are at stake in the 2024 elections. The Social Work Code of Ethics tells us “Social workers should be aware of the impact of the political arena on practice and should advocate for changes in policy and legislation to improve social conditions to meet basic human needs and promote social justice.” Social workers of all persuasions are looking at the 2024 election to see how it may impact the direction of the country. There is no mistake that the 2024 election will affect issues critical to social work. This plenary session will offer an overview on electoral prospects, vital issues, and general observations on the Presidential, Senate, and House races.
3:15 - 3:30pm	Break
3:30 - 5:00pm	▶Concurrent Breakout Sessions Choose from three session topics across the social work spectrum and earn 1.5 CEs. Intergenerational Trauma and Holistic Ways of Healing: Going Back to our Roots (Cross Cultural CE) Erica Sandoval, MSW, LCSW, Cindy Bautista-Thomas, PhD, LCSW, Jessica Hardial MSW, LCSW AI and Social Work: Use in Practice, Ethics, and the Future (Social Work CE) Amanda Baranski, DSW, LCSW, Megan Conti, DSW, LCSW Integrating AI to Develop 21st-Century Skills in Social Work Supervision & Training (Social Work CE) Marina Badillo-Diaz, DSW, LCSW Best Practices in the Treatment of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) (Clinical CE) Gregory Nooney, MSW, LISW, LCSW Integrating Harm Reduction in Clinical Practice and Beyond (Clinical CE) Lauren Porter, MSW, LMSW

Saturday, June 22, 2024

8:30 - 10:00am	▶ Plenary Session Artificial Intelligence and Social Justice (Macro Social Work CE) Juan Rios, DSW, LCSW Associate Professor, Seton Hall University Jamie Sundvall, PhD, LICSW Director Online Education/Online MSW Program Director, Touro University Hsun-Ta Hsu, PhD, MSW Associate Professor, University of North Carolina At the intersection of social work and AI lie untold potential for achieving the goals of social justice. Through on-the-ground applications, social work can take AI out of the laboratory and render it an operational tool for good. Through social work initiatives—whether one-on-one clinical work or macro-level organizing—AI researchers have the opportunity to implement models and adjust them in accordance with real-time feedback, moving the needle on social justice.
10:00 - 10:15am	Break
10:15 - 11:45am	▶ Concurrent Breakout Sessions Choose from three session topics across the social work spectrum and earn 1.5 CEs. Pouring from an Empty Cup: The Ethical Implications of Ignoring Compassion Fatigue (Ethics CE) Alissa Hebert-Wallace, DSW, LCSW-S Entrepreneurship 101- An innovative Approach to Leading Change and Advancing Social Work Practice (Social Work CE) Jennifer Luna, MSSW, Tessa Bathauer, MSSW, LMSW, Kathleen Grover Intergenerational Trauma: The Burdens We Are Not Meant To Carry (Clinical CE) Terance Dawkins, MSW, LISW-CP Taking an Intergenerational Approach to Healing (Clinical CE) Mollie Innocent-Cupid, PhD, LCSW
11:45am - 12:00pm	Break
12:00 - 1:00pm	Closing Keynote Presentation Maryum Ali Social Worker, Activist & Author
1:00 - 1:15pm	Closing Remarks and Adjournment Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C Chief Executive Officer National Association of Social Workers

REGISTRATION FEES

Early Bird Rate: Available Through March 31, 2024

Regular Registration: April 1 – June 8, 2024

Onsite Registration: June 9 – June 22, 2024

Pre-conference Workshop Registration Fees

Membership Category	Early-Bird	Regular	On-site
NASW Member	$135	$135	$175
Non-Member	$185	$185	$225
Student Members	$100	$100	$140
Retired Member	$100	$100	$140

In-Person Registration Fees

Membership Category	Early-Bird	Regular	On-site
NASW Member	$499	$559	$659
Non-Member	$725	$785	$950
Student Members	$250	$275	$299
Retired Member	$250	$275	$299

Virtual Registration Fees

Member Category	Full Package	Day One	Day Two	Day Three
NASW Member	$349	$175	$175	$125
Non-Member	$499	$250	$250	$175
Student Members	$175	$125	$125	$75
Retired Member	$175	$125	$125	$75

Exhibitors Registration Fees

Membership Category	Early-Bird	Regular	On-site
NASW Member	$1300	$1300	$1750
Non-Member	$1300	$1300	$1750

FILM FESTIVAL SELECTIONS

"Park View”

Talana Kreeger, a woman who identified as lesbian, was murdered near Wilmington, NC and her body left in the woods. From the beginning homophobia marred the case, with funeral homes and churches refusing to hold services and law enforcement taking the position that Kreeger must have done something that caused the murder. Social worker, NASW member and filmmaker Tab Ballis’ film Park View looks at the battle it took to bring justice for Talana Kreeger and her loved ones.

"Angels and Saints - Eros and Awe”

This documentary, from social worker and NASW member Vic Compher (his previous film “Caregivers” was featured at the conference), examines the way religion hampers the way people view their bodies, sexuality, and reproductive rights. The film in particular looks at the way people who are LGBTQIA have balanced their sexuality and religious faith.

"Unseen”

Most people dream of a better future. Pedro, an aspiring social worker, is no different. But as a blind, undocumented immigrant, Pedro faces political restrictions to obtain his college degree, secure a job in his field, and support his family. As he finally graduates, uncertainty looms over Pedro. What starts as a journey to provide mental health care for his community ultimately transforms into Pedro’s path towards his own healing.

SPEAKERS

Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr.
New York Times Bestselling Author & James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor, Princeton University
One of the nation’s most prominent scholars, Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr. is an author, political commentator, public intellectual and passionate educator who examines the complex dynamics of the American experience. His writings, including Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul, In a Shade of Blue: Pragmatism and the Politics of Black America, and his most recent, the New York Times bestseller, Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for our Own, takes a wide look at Black communities, the difficulties of race in the United States and the challenges we face as a democracy. In his writing and speaking, Glaude is an American critic in the tradition of James Baldwin and Ralph Waldo Emerson, confronting history and bringing our nation’s complexities, vulnerabilities and hope into full view. Hope that is, in one of his favorite quotes from W.E.B. Du Bois, "not hopeless, but a bit unhopeful."

Jonathan Singer, PhD, LCSW
Jonathan B. Singer, PhD, LCSW is an internationally recognized expert in youth suicide and social work technology. He is Professor of Social Work at Loyola University Chicago, Past-President of the American Association of Suicidology, coauthor of two editions of the best-selling text Suicide in Schools: A Practitioner's Guide to Multi-level Prevention, Assessment, Intervention, and Postvention, co-lead of the Social Work Grand Challenge “Harness Technology for Social Good,” and founder and host of the award-winning Social Work Podcast, for which he was named an NASW Social Work Pioneer in 2023. He has chaired national committees for NASW and CSWE and served on youth advisory boards for Sandy Hook Promise, JED Foundation, Suicide Prevention Resource Center, and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. He is the author of over 90 publications and his research has been featured in national and international media outlets like NPR, BBC, Fox, Time Magazine, and The Guardian. He lives in Evanston, IL with his wife and three children and can be found on X/Twitter as @socworkpodcast and Facebook at facebook.com/swpodcast.

Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C
Chief Executive Officer
National Association of Social Workers
Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C, earned a bachelor’s in science in psychology from Bowie State University, an MSW at Virginia Commonwealth University, a doctorate in social work at Morgan State University, and an MBA at the University Maryland-College Park. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the oldest intercollegiate African American fraternity. He has been a professor and chair of the Master of Social Work Program at Morgan State University since 2013. Estreet is also founder and chief executive officer of Next Step Treatment Center in Baltimore, which provides substance use treatment and mental health services. He is an active member of the Council on Social Work Education and the National Association of Black Social Workers. While at Morgan, Estreet was awarded more than $6 million in extramural grant funding for social work workforce development, research, and training. He also led the development and expansion of the first MSW program in the United States, and at a historically Black college or university, to have an area of specialized practice focused on addressing substance use disorders. During his career, Estreet has also been tapped to turn around and expand an underperforming clinical program and speed up public health action to address HIV health disparities among men in Baltimore and Jackson, Mississippi. Estreet has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, is a prolific national conference presenter and keynote speaker, and has two published books.

Former U.S. Representative Patrick J. Kennedy
During his time in Congress, Patrick J. Kennedy was the lead author of the landmark Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (Federal Parity Law). In 2013, he founded The Kennedy Forum, a nonprofit that unites advocates, business leaders, and government agencies to advance evidence-based practices, policies, and programming in mental health and addiction. In 2015, Kennedy co-authored the New York Times Bestseller, “A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey Through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction,” which details a bold plan for the future of mental health care in America. In 2023, The Kennedy Forum launched the Alignment for Progress, a movement to align leaders from across industry and across the aisle to achieve 90/90/90 by 2033: 90% of all individuals will be screened for mental health and substance use disorders; 90% of those screened will be able to receive evidence-based treatment; 90% of those receiving treatment will be able to manage their symptoms in recovery. Kennedy’s second co-authored book “Profiles in Mental Health Courage” available April 2024 will delve into the compelling stories of a diverse group of Americans who have struggled with their mental health – many of whom are sharing their stories for the first time.

Kennedy is also the founder of DontDenyMe.org, an educational campaign that empowers consumers and providers to understand parity rights and connects them to essential appeals guidance and resources; co-founder of One Mind, an organization that pushes for greater global investment in brain research; co-chair of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s Mental Health & Suicide Prevention National Response to COVID-19 (National Response); and co-chair of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Behavioral Health Integration Task Force.

Maryum Ali
Social Worker, Activist & Author
When Maryum was a child, her father Muhammad Ali would often ask her, "What is your purpose?" She would give the same response, “I want to help people.” For over a decade, Maryum has worked with and provided services to youth and families in underserved communities.

She has been a Director of social services programs and a Regional Manager for the Mayor’s Office of Gang Reduction & Youth Development in Los Angeles. In 2016, the A&E Network heard about her work and invited her to participate in their ground-breaking docuseries, 60 Days In, where she spent two months in a real jail as an undercover inmate in order to make recommendations on jail reform.

For the past seven years, Maryum has been a Public Speaker for social and human services organizations and departments; sharing thought-provoking stories about working with people impacted by institutional disparities, high rates of violence and other social issues. As an advocate for Parkinson’s disease awareness and research, Maryum gives presentations about her father’s journey with Parkinson's disease.

Dr. Tara D. Wallace, MSW, LSCSW, CTF-CBT, RYT, SLC

Dr. Tara D. Wallace, MSW, LSCSW, CTF-CBT, RYT, SLC
Tara D. Wallace is a licensed clinical social worker, certified spiritual life coach, and registered yoga teacher in private practice. She volunteers on numerous community boards whose missions advocate for children and families in the state of Kansas. Tara is also the CEO of a non-profit, Lighthouse Therapeutic Community Outreach Foundation, which promotes holistic wellness in low income and low access communities. She holds national certifications in art therapy, maternal mental health, and trauma. As an adjunct professor, advocate, and public speaker, Tara promotes understanding of issues related to child welfare and foster care, cultural bias, and maternal mortality. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in community care and counseling with emphasis in traumatology from Liberty University.

Kayla Balensiefer, LICSW, LCSW
Kayla Balensiefer, LICSW, LCSW works as the owner and director of Saving Throw Therapeutics LLC. She graduated in 2013 from the University of Southern California with her MSW and has over 10 years of experience working with children and families. Kayla is a huge fan of tabletop role playing games, board games, Marvel, Harry Potter, video games, Pokémon, and Minecraft. She has been playing in a weekly Dungeons & Dragons campaign with the same friends since 2016. She also works on the podcast Full Metal RPG and is on the board of directors for the nonprofit Saving Throw Society, an organization dedicated to expanding access to gaming and gaming diversity. Kayla is also affiliated with Geek Therapeutics.

Chris Herman, MSW, LICSW
Chris Herman (she/her), MSW, LICSW, has served as Senior Practice Associate–Aging at the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) for 17 years. In that capacity, she analyzes and advocates for aging-related federal policy, develops resources to enhance social work practice with older adults, and provides technical assistance to NASW leaders, members, and other stakeholders. Chris also represents NASW in numerous national coalitions and initiatives focused on older adults; those specific to elder abuse include the National Center on Elder Abuse advisory board, the National Center for State and Tribal Elder Justice Coalitions advisory committee, and the Reframing Elder Abuse advisory committee. Before joining the NASW staff, Chris worked directly with adult clients for 15 years in various aging, disability, and health settings.

Bonnie Olsen, PhD
Bonnie Olsen, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist with extensive experience as a geropsychologist, working in academic medicine for over 20 years. She provides cognitive assessment and short-term mental health treatment in a collaborative geriatric primary care setting. As the Vice Chair of Academic Affairs in the Department of Family Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at USC, Dr. Olsen is involved in a number of research and program grants that focus on interprofessional geriatric education and elder abuse education and prevention. She is particularly interested in elder mistreatment as it occurs in the context of dementia caregiving and understanding decisional capacity. In 2009, she was awarded the Gold Humanism Honor Society’s Gold Star Award for Humanism in delivery of health care and has remained dedicated to community service throughout her career. Dr. Olsen is a passionate advocate and expert for elder justice and the prevention of elder abuse and has guest lectured throughout the country on the topic.

Lori Mars, JD, LLM
Lori Mars, JD, LLM, is the Deputy Director of the National Center on Elder Abuse. She is an assistant professor of clinical family medicine in the Department of Family Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. After practicing law for over 20 years, Lori’s concentration lies in the area of elder abuse research and education. She is interested in scholarship at the intersection of law, aging, and elder abuse. Ms. Mars has a master’s in law in alternative dispute resolution and serves as a volunteer long-term care ombudsman. She is passionate about elder justice and advocating for the rights of all older adults to live with dignity and respect.

Mirean Coleman
Mirean Coleman is a professional social worker who is a licensed, independent clinical social worker in Washington, DC. She has practiced in the field of social work for over 25 years as a clinician, supervisor, administrator, auditor, trainer, and consultant in a variety of settings including psychiatric hospitals, community mental health, acute care hospitals, long term care facilities, family service agencies, and private practice. She is currently the Director of Clinical Practice at the national office of NASW.

Rachel Forbes, MSW
Rachel Forbes, MSW, is an associate professor of the practice of social work and the Western Colorado MSW program director at the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work. She is an appointed member of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Commission on Educational Policy, the inaugural cochair of the CSWE Committee on Environmental Justice, and a former member of CSWE’s Council on Global, Learning and Practice. Rachel was the taskforce cochair for the CSWE Curricular Guide for Environmental Justice (2020). She is co-editor of the book Ecosocial Work: Environmental Practice and Advocacy (2023) and co-author of the book The Intersection of Environmental Justice, Climate Change, Community and the Ecology of Life (2021). Rachel is an elected member of the Colorado Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers Board of Directors. She has taught coursework on sustainability, ecological justice, culture and place-based equity, and fostering sustainable behavior across undergraduate and graduate programs for over 10 years. Rachel’s current research and teaching looks at the impacts of climate change on mental health and ecological justice social work practice. Her work has been published in Environmental Justice and has been funded by the CSWE Katherine A. Kendall Institute for International Social Work. Rachel lives in Glenwood Springs, Colorado where she advocates for environmental justice in mountain communities across Colorado’s Western Slope.

Ande Nesmith, PhD, MSW
Ande Nesmith is School of Social Work Director and Professor at the University of St. Thomas in the Morrison Family College of Health. Her passion is environmental justice. She has developed curricular tools to integrate this into the classroom and community. Dr. Nesmith serves on the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Committee on Environmental Justice and the CSWE Commission on Global Social Work Education. Dr. Nesmith also studies outcomes for youth and young adults in foster care and juvenile justice. She was recently awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study child welfare in the Czech Republic.

Monica Barrera
Monica is Hub's Chief Managing officer and leads the Hub’s strategic organizational planning efforts. As part of the executive leadership team, she helps drive the organization’s overall strategy and oversees the Hub’s leadership development programs. In her previous role as the Hub’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, she led efforts to cultivate and strengthen partnerships in and outside of the immigrants' rights movement to leverage a broader base of support for pro-immigrant policies. Prior to joining the Hub, Monica served as a senior advisor to Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid on legislative and policy developments impacting Latino and AAPI communities, including immigration policy. Monica also served as the Senior Policy Advisor for Latino Affairs to Senator Bob Menendez in the years during and following the establishment of DACA and the Senate fight to pass comprehensive immigration reform. She began her work on Capitol Hill as a postgraduate legislative fellow in the office of Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard and has worked in DC on policy advocacy benefiting immigrant communities for more than a decade. Prior to moving to Washington, D.C., Monica worked at the Women of Color Policy Network at NYU Wagner and advanced the policy institute’s legislative priorities in the areas of economic security, social equity, and immigration reform. Monica is a Peace Corps alumna (Dominican Republic) and a graduate of Dartmouth College and Columbia University School of Social Work.

Ben Fulgencio-Turner, MPP
Ben Fulgencio-Turner leads the Climate for Health program, a national initiative to build climate leadership and action in the health sector, advancing solutions that protect personal and community health. Ben started his career as a community organizer in New Orleans, supporting neighborhood leaders and building power in communities recovering from Hurricane Katrina. He has studied and worked within systems of safety-net health care for over fourteen years, developing cross-sector partnerships to address root causes of health inequities. He received a BA from Tulane University and a MPP from Georgetown University.

Leslie M. Proll
Leslie Proll is the Senior Director for Voting Rights at The Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights, the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights coalition. She helps lead the national voting rights coalition in working to strengthen our democracy by ensuring that all voters, regardless of race, ethnicity, language, or ability, can fully participate in the political process. Leslie served as Director of the Departmental Office of Civil Rights for the U.S. Department of Transportation under President Obama, where she advised the Secretary of Transportation on civil rights matters. For many years, she served as Policy Director of the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, where she worked extensively on Congressional reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act in 2006 and on legislation responding to the Supreme Court’s 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder. Leslie began her civil rights career in Birmingham, Alabama. She litigated class actions and jury trials in the areas of voting rights, housing discrimination, employment discrimination, and higher education school desegregation. Leslie served as a law clerk to the late Chief Judge Sam Pointer, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. A native Californian, Leslie is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and the University of California at Davis School of Law.

Hsun-ta Hsu, PhD, MSW
Dr. Hsun-Ta Hsu is an associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Social Work and School of Data Science in Society. His research focuses on the application of artificial intelligence in promoting health and housing outcomes among individuals experiencing homelessness. His most recent work uses a community-engaged machine learning approach to connect individuals with rural housing resources fairly and efficiently.

Jamie-Sundvall Jamie Sundvall, PhD, LICSW
Dr. Jamie Sundvall, PhD, LICSW, BCD is the Director of Online Education for the MSW program at Touro University. She has been a leader for clinical and advanced generalist program development, implementation, and oversight, supporting various institutions of higher education in online education and in clinical practice. She holds a CSWE-accredited MSW, with dual concentrations in Clinical Practice and Gerontology. She earned a research-based PhD in International Psychology specializing in Trauma Services. Dr. Sundvall completed a prestigious two-year, post-graduate trauma fellowship at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and served as Medical Service Corps Officer in the United States Navy, holding various leadership positions. She is an expert in online clinical care and educational program delivery. She engages in cutting edge technology and online practice to support and advance training within the profession. Dr. Sundvall believes in harnessing the power of technology to build better programming, improve professional training and competency, and improve access to care in a rapidly advancing digital world. She emphasizes the importance of boundaries, ethical awareness, and responsibility for professionals on the front lines.

Meredith Powers, PhD, MSW
Dr. Meredith C.F. Powers (she/her) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work at UNC Greensboro, in North Carolina, USA. She teaches, facilitates community-engaged, action-research, and has co-authored and co-edited a growing body of open-access work on topics of climate justice, climate migration, ecosocial worldviews, eco-therapeutic practices for healing, ecosocial work, and justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. Dr. Powers is the founding Director of the Climate Justice Program of the International Federation of Social Workers. With this role, she also produces and co-hosts a new podcast project, JAM Sessions. She established and co-administers the global Green / Environmental Social Work Collaborative Network. Her local, community-engaged, action research projects include: “Parks for All People”, for the extensive enhancement of outdoor recreation spaces; “Climates of Inequality: Stories of Environmental Justice”, focused on global and local climate migration and resettlement; and, most recently, “All That We Share”, an inclusive, community public art project that serves to enhance the community as we celebrate diversity and strengthen our bonds to each other and our environment

Debbie Stabenow
United States Senator
State of Michigan
“Made in Michigan” through and through, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow continues to lead on public policy and improve the lives of the people of Michigan and Americans across our country. Her leadership is characterized by an unrivaled work ethic, the ability to build bipartisan coalitions to get things done, and a commitment to public service that has set the standard for constituent service.
Throughout her years in public service, she has blazed trails and opened doors for women and girls. Among her many “firsts” – she was the first woman elected to the United States Senate from Michigan.

Senator Stabenow is the leader in the United States Senate in the movement to improve access to mental health and substance abuse services. In 2014, her bipartisan Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act created a new, transformational system that funds community behavioral health services the same way we fund physical health services. Senator Stabenow is also the leader in strengthening school-based health services including behavioral health. Senator Stabenow is a champion for behavioral health care providers as well. With her bipartisan Improving Access to Mental Health Act, she has been leading the effort to increase Medicare’s reimbursement rate for clinical social workers and ensure they can provide their full range of services to Medicare beneficiaries.

As Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Stabenow has been the leader for protecting and strengthening national food assistance programs and child nutrition initiatives, so that children have access to healthy meals at school. She is also the author of the new permanent summer meals program for children. As a state representative in Michigan in the 1980s, Representative Stabenow chaired the Mental Health Committee. Among many laws enacted to improve the lives of Michiganders, she authored the Children’s Mental Health Act and the Family Support Subsidy Act to help families caring for severely disabled children at home.

Senator Stabenow received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Michigan State University. She is a proud member of the Congressional Social Work Caucus.

Charlene Carruthers
Charlene A. Carruthers (she/her) is a writer, filmmaker, and Black Studies PhD student at Northwestern University. A practitioner of telling more complete stories, her work interrogates historical conjunctures of Black freedom-making post-emancipation and decolonial revolution, Black governance, and Black feminist abolitionist geographies.

She is a 2020 Marguerite Casey Presidential Freedom Scholar and Mellon Interdisciplinary Cluster Fellow in Gender and Sexuality Studies. Her work spans more than 15 years of community organizing across racial, gender and economic justice movements. As the founding national director of BYP100 (Black Youth Project 100), she worked alongside hundreds of young Black activists to build a member-led organization dedicated to creating justice and freedom for all Black people.

Her work has been covered in several publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, Chicago Reader, The Nation, Ebony and Essence Magazines. She has appeared on CNN, Democracy Now!, BBC and MSNBC. The Chicago native has also written for theRoot.com, CRISIS Magazine, Teen Vogue, Truthout, Colorlines and the Boston Review. She is recognized as one of the top 10 most influential African Americans by The Root 100, one of Ebony Magazine's "Woke 100," an Emerging Power Player in Chicago Magazine and is the 2017 recipient of the YWCA's Dr. Dorothy I. Height Award.

A believer in telling more complete stories about the Black Radical Tradition, the filmmaker is a highly sought after speaker at various institutions including Wellesley College, Shaw University, Princeton University, Northwestern University and her alma mater Illinois Wesleyan University. She is author of the bestselling book, "Unapologetic: A Black, Queer and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements."

Juan Rios
Dr. Juan Rios, LCSW, Associate Professor of Social Work at Seton Hall University, Certified UX/UI Designer, Certified Foresight Practitioner, current MBA student with a concentration in Data Analytics, NASW-NJ State Delegate, TEDx Speaker and Founder of The Rios Lab, is a distinguished professional with a wide-ranging impact across academia, consultancy, and community advocacy.

In academia, Dr. Rios serves as a highly respected tenured faculty member in the Masters of Social Work program and Scholar in Residence for the Center of Community Research and Engagement. He is also a Fellow for the RWJ National Collaborative of Health Equity and the RWJ Social Work Futures Lab. He has conducted research on Generative AI art as a tool for trauma healing, the integration of mindfulness and virtual reality and the use of digital narratives to design safe, compassionate communities. His career is marked by a commitment to integrating academic theory with practical, real-world applications as a practitioner-scholar. His guiding mantra, "Healing is the fusion of mindful design, sustainable community practice, and resilient advocacy," highlights his innovative approach to mental health, social justice, and transformative education.

Beyond his academic and consultancy roles, Dr. Rios has demonstrated a profound commitment to social justice. He has consulted on issues such as gun violence and suicidality for community mental health programs, the City of Newark, and the White House. Dr. Rios has also conducted extensive research and delivered presentations on the impact of emergent technology on minoritized communities and the use of generative AI art for trauma healing. His dedication to tackling systemic oppression and promoting empathy, compassion, and humanity is further reflected in his efforts to uplift burgeoning social workers, drawing inspiration from his journey as an immigrant, first-generation college graduate from an inner-city community.

Omni Shoreham Washington DC Hotel

Hotel

The NASW room block at the Omni Shoreham Hotel for the 2024 NASW National Conference has sold out. We have secured additional rooms for registrants at The Churchill Hotel. 1914 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20009
Transportation between The Churchill Hotel and the Omni Shoreham will be provided.

Travel

With hundreds of daily flights, getting into Washington, DC is easy! Choose from three major airports in the metro area.

FROM RONALD REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT – 13 MILES

Take a taxi from Ronald Reagan International Airport for roughly $20 or take the Metro to Adams Morgan/Woodley Park metro stop. Walk south from the metro exit and take a right from Connecticut Ave NW to Calvert Street NW. You will see the hotel on your left.

FROM DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – 28 MILES

Take the Dulles Airport Toll Road to Route 66 East. Proceed East on Route 66. After crossing the Roosevelt Bridge and entering Washington, D.C., exit onto Constitution Avenue. Stay on Constitution, then make a left onto 18th Street. Then make a left onto Connecticut Avenue. You will go through an underpass under Dupont Circle. After you pass the Hilton on your right, you will go 1 mile, crossing over the Taft Bridge and Rock Creek Park. At the end of the bridge, make a left onto Calvert Street. The hotel will be on your left.

FROM BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT — 38 Miles

Proceed through the airport and follow the signs for I-95 South. Take 495 West toward Silver Spring to Exit 33 (Connecticut Avenue South) toward Washington, D.C. Proceed South on Connecticut Avenue for approximately 5 miles. The National Zoo will be on your left. Proceed another 5 blocks and make a right onto Calvert Street. The hotel will on your left.

From Union Station

If you are arriving by train or bus at Union Station, you can reach the venue by car or cab in about 20 minutes or by the Metro in about 25 minutes. Take the Red Line towards Shady Grove from Union Station and get off at Adams Morgan/Woodley Park Metro. Walk south from the metro exit and take a right from Connecticut Ave NW to Calvert Street NW. You will see the hotel on your left.

EXHIBITORS

Be part of an event that showcases innovative social work programs, research, and advocacy work across the country. Access this group of dedicated, engaged professionals in an opportunity to connect with leaders in the field who are seeking information about products and services that can help them do their jobs and serve their clients more efficiently. Download the Exhibitor Prospectus .

Download the Exhibitor Kit

Spotlight Your Solution

Audience - Speak with key social work leaders who have purchasing power, private practitioners that need small business products and services, and other helping professionals
Reception & Refreshments – The opening reception as well as daily refreshment breaks and meet ups will all take place in the Exhibit Hall, driving traffic to your booth
Prizes - All attendees are eligible to win prizes by visiting exhibitors, enticing them to engage with you.

PATRON PROGRAM
Get in front of your target audience virtually.

Your organization's logo posted on the conference site
1 complimentary registration to the Virtual Conference
Your organization’s logo will be featured in a powerpoint loop that will be broadcast during the virtual conference

SPONSORSHIP
Interested in highlighting your company? Download the Sponsor Prospectus .

For questions and to sign up for the Patron Program or to become a Sponsor, email Richard Loomis: rloomis.nasw@socialworkers.org or Raffaele Vitelli: rvitelli.nasw@socialworkers.org

Social Work Leadership Roundtable Statement on Safety and Inclusiveness

Members of the Social Work Leadership Roundtable, representing their respective organizations — American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare, Association of Social Work Boards, Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors, Council on Social Work Education, Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work, Grand Challenges for Social Work, National Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work, National Association of Black Social Workers, National Association of Social Workers, Saint Louis Group, and Society for Social Work and Research — stand united in support of the professional culture that we want to cultivate at our events. Social work conferences and meetings are places where we gather to learn, share information, and begin and renew professional collaborations. As such, it is important to foster an atmosphere that promotes safety and inclusiveness. We are committed to fulfilling the expectation for an atmosphere that is physically and psychologically safe.
While none of our organizations have the power to monitor spaces such as online platforms and we recognize that some societal norms continue to fuel behaviors that can be problematic or unsafe, we will continually strive to urge and administer expectations for decorum, respectful communication, safety, and inclusiveness. As leaders in our profession representing diverse organizations, we are committed to communicating the importance of gracious conduct to our members. By encouraging the positive intentions of our members and ensuring a sound means for providing feedback and responding swiftly when those intentions are not met, we commit to building and maintaining a culture of dignity and respect at all our events and workplaces.

Manav - HTML 5 Accordian Demo
FAQs

↓ Where and when will the 2024 NASW National Conference take place? ↓

The 2024 NASW National Conference, “Social Work: Leading Social Change” will be held in Washington, DC at the Omni Shoreham Washington Hotel from June 19 to June 22, 2024.

↓ When can I register for the 2024 NASW Conference? ↓

Registration will open in January 2024.

↓ Do I have to be a social worker to attend the 2024 NASW National Conference? ↓

No, in addition to social workers, we encourage other health and human services professionals to attend the conference.

↓ What is included in the registration cost? ↓

Registration for the conference includes all keynote presentations, breakout sessions, plenary programs, materials, refreshment breaks, admission to the exhibit hall and Social Work Film Festival.

↓ What is the deadline for registration? ↓

Register for the 2024 NASW National Conference online through Friday, June 7. Following June 7, registration will be available onsite at the conference. The deadline for the Early-Bird Registration rate is March 31 2024. Register early as space is limited!

↓ Will I receive written confirmation of my registration? ↓

Yes. Online registrants will receive an email confirmation shortly after submission.

↓ Are there any discounted rates for registration? ↓

There is a special Early Bird registration rate of $499 (members) and $725 (non-members) available through March 31, 2024. Regular registration fees are $599 (members) and $785 (non-members).

↓ Is there a student member registration rate? ↓

Yes, a reduced registration rate is available for student members of NASW. Early bird rate (through March 31) for NASW student members is $250. Regular student rate is $275. The onsite student registration rate is $299.

↓ Is there a Retired Member registration rate? ↓

Yes, a reduced registration rate is available for retired members of NASW. Early bird rate (through March 31) for NASW retired members is $250. Regular rate for retired members is $275. The onsite retired member registration rate is $299.

↓ What is the conference cancellation policy? ↓

Written requests for refunds must be sent to NASW by email to naswconference@socialworkers.org. Refunds will be issued 30 days following receipt of the request and will follow the schedule below:
- For cancellation requests received before March 31, 2024: You will receive a 75 percent refund of your registration fee.
- For cancellation requests received April 1 - May 31, 2024: You will receive a 50 percent refund of your conference registration fee.
- After May 31, 2024: No refunds will be issued for any reason.
- Payments for pre-conference workshops and continuing education credits are non-refundable.
- NASW regrets that refunds will not be given for no-shows.

↓ What are pre-conference Workshops? ↓

Pre-conference workshops are 3-hour intensive sessions held on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. There is a separate registration fee for the pre-conference workshops: NASW Members: $135 and $175 onsite; Student members & retired members: $100 and $140 onsite; Non-members: $185 and $225 onsite. You must register for the full conference in order to be able to register for a pre-conference workshop.

↓ How many continuing education contact hours are available at the conference? ↓

The conference includes up to 24.5 CEs which are included in your registration. Attendees will need to scan their badge into each session in order to obtain CEs. There are 3 CEs for the pre-conference workshops and are included in the price of the workshop.

↓ Are there special events associated with the conference? ↓

- Social Work Film Festival - Thursday, June 20, 2024 at 7:00 pm. Three films featuring critical social work issues will be screened. Attendees may select one of the three films to view. There is no additional registration fee for the film festival. - NASW Career Development Forum

- Social Work Practice Meet-Ups
- A Night Out with NASW - A vibrant mixer designed for conference participants to network, unwind, and enjoy an evening of socializing. Attendees can relax and dance to the energetic beats provided by DJ Ty Alexander, creating a lively atmosphere. It's the perfect opportunity to forge new connections and rejuvenate after a day of conference activities.

↓ Are there volunteer opportunities at the conference? ↓

Volunteer opportunities are available to NASW student members only. The deadline to sign-up to become a volunteer is March 31, 2024. If you are interested in volunteering for the conference, please send an email to dmiller.nasw@socialworkers.org. Volunteers are responsible for their own lodging and travel costs.

↓ Is there a discounted hotel rate for conference attendees? ↓

Conference attendees can book their hotel stay at the conference hotel, the Omni Shoreham Washington Hotel. A single/double room can be booked for $269(+tax) per night. Online reservations can here.

Foundation Awards

The NASW National & NASW Foundation Awards shine a spotlight on the incredible contributions of social workers and other remarkable individuals who tirelessly champion the principles and ideals of the social work profession.

Their recognition isn't just about acknowledging past achievements; it's also about empowering and creating hope for the future. We honor these individuals who have gone above and beyond, to express gratitude for their dedication and commitment and to inspire the next generation of social workers.

NASW and the NASW Foundation celebrate the resilience, courage, and unwavering dedication of those who lead by example and inspire us to reaffirm our commitment to building a more just and equitable society for all.

Barbara Lee

NASW Social Justice Award

Barbara Lee

Congresswoman Barbara Lee, MSW, stands as a beacon of unwavering commitment to social justice. Her career is marked by tireless advocacy in support of historically marginalized communities and progressive causes. Born in El Paso, Texas, Lee’s upbringing was deeply influenced by the civil rights movement, igniting her passion for activism and equality.

In 1998, Lee made history by becoming the first African American woman to represent Northern California in the U.S. Congress, a position she has held with distinction ever since. From her seat in the House of Representatives, Lee has championed causes that reflect her deep-rooted commitment to social justice, including education, housing, health care, the environment, and HIV/AIDS.

In 2023, Congresswoman Lee reintroduced bipartisan legislation called the Improving Access to Mental Health Act. Important to social workers nationwide, this legislation amends the Social Security Act to improve Medicare beneficiaries’ access to health and mental health services provided by clinical social workers (CSWs).

Congresswoman Lee led the introduction of the Social Work Month Resolution over the last several Congresses. She joined Representative Gwen Moore to introduce a resolution that designated March 3-9, 2024, as School Social Work Week. Lee said: "As a former psychiatric social worker and chair of the Congressional Social Work Caucus, I am proud to recognize ‘School Social Workers Week’ alongside my colleague Congresswoman Gwen Moore. School social workers are critical mental health professionals who serve as bridges between vulnerable students and the resources they need to thrive as adults. Congress must use every possible avenue to uplift and empower school social workers and the students they serve.”

In 1975, she began her public service as a staffer for Congressman Ron Dellums, where she honed her skills as a grassroots organizer and advocate. Inspired by Dellums’ unwavering commitment to progressive values, Lee continued to rise through the ranks, serving as his Chief of Staff until 1998.

Currently, Congresswoman Lee serves on the Budget Committee and the powerful Appropriations Committee, which oversees all federal government spending. In January 2021, she became the first African American to chair the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.

Congresswoman Lee is the highest ranking African American woman appointed to Democratic Leadership, serving as Co-Chair of the Policy and Steering Committee. She is the chair of the Congressional Social Work Caucus, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (111th Congress) and Chair Emeritus of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (109th & 110th Congresses).

Through these caucuses, Lee has been a powerful voice, providing support for vulnerable populations in California and around the country. And the Congresswoman’s dedication to social justice extends beyond the halls of Congress: she is a vocal advocate for criminal justice reform, LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive justice, economic equality.

Among her many awards, Congresswoman Lee has been honored as an NASW Social Work Pioneer®, inspiring new generations of social welfare advocates and progressive policymakers. Congresswoman Lee received a BA in Psychology from Mills College and a MSW from the University of California, Berkeley.

Congratulations, Congresswoman Lee, for your commitment to social justice.

Pedro Navarro Aguilar, MSW

NASW Foundation International Rhoda G. Sarnat Award

Pedro Navarro Aguilar, MSW

Pedro Navarro Aguilar, MSW, is a social worker who, while navigating his life as a blind, undocumented immigrant, has made significant contributions toward conveying a positive image of social work.

The documentary film “unseen” starts in 2016, from the time Pedro was a student to his current life as a professional social worker. In the film, we see how he: provides mental health care to survivors of one of the deadliest mass shootings in the U.S.; facilitates trainings for adults experiencing vision loss so they can develop skills like using a walking cane or reading Braille; hosts workshops in Spanish to further develop the skill sets of mental health professionals; offers mental health services to underserved communities (namely, immigrant and blind people) using culturally sensitive and in-language methodology; and demonstrates vulnerability on a personal level to further enhance his own mental health practice and ability to relate to his clients.

In the documentary, Pedro demonstrates to audiences the emotional intelligence and tremendous skill it takes to practice as a professional social worker. A field that seems so unfamiliar to many gains more relevancy as Pedro models how his lived experience informs the work he does by embodying the very tenets of social work.

A testament to Pedro’s compelling expertise in the profession, the film has been supported by NBCUniversal, Sundance Institute, Open Society Foundations, Ford Foundation, Gotham Film and Media Institute, Field of Vision, Firelight Media, among others. It has been screened in 25 film festivals on three continents. Pedro’s work has moved audiences globally, as attested by these select accolades and reviews:

Independent Spirit Awards, Truer than Fiction Award: Film Independent
Vijay Mohan Social Impact Award: Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival
Best Feature, Shortlist: International Documentary Association (IDA) Awards
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, Official Selection
Active Vista International Human Rights Festival (Philippines), Official Selection
US Broadcast on award-winning PBS documentary series, POV / Press Release

Sample review: “What I find uplifting about Pedro as a person is the balance that he strikes between vulnerability and courage… A compelling portrait of a resilient individual pursuing a better life despite his situation, “unseen” aims to transcend socio-politics with its narrative and instead focus on the humanity of its subject.” - The Movie Buff

To learn more about Pedro’s journey, copy and paste PBS link: https://www.pbs.org/pov/films/unseen/

Trailer (2 mins): https://vimeo.com/834915696/409add305c

The NASW Foundation congratulates you, Pedro.

Peter Buxton, JD

NASW Foundation Knee-Wittman Outstanding Achievement Award

Peter Buxton, JD (1937-2024)

Peter Buxtun was a former employee of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) who became known as the whistleblower responsible for ending the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, also known as the “USPHS study of untreated syphilis in the negro male at Tuskegee Macon County, AL 1932-1972.” Buxtun’s life experiences led him to identify the study as morally indefensible and to seek justice for the male victims.

After earning a European History BA at the University of Oregon, Buxtun served in the U.S. Army as a Psychiatric Social Worker. Later, as a 27-year-old epidemiologist in San Francisco, he was hired by the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) in December 1965 as a venereal disease (VD) investigator to interview patients with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). In the course of his duties, he learned about the Tuskegee experiment from co-workers.

In November 1966, he filed an official protest on ethical grounds with the USPHS Division of Venereal Diseases. The men were vulnerable populations of poor farmers who were deceived about the offerings of free medical care and other benefits for their participation. Buxtun’s protest was rejected on the grounds that the experiment was not yet complete. He filed another protest in November 1968, seven months after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., pointing out the political volatility of the study. Again, his concerns were ruled irrelevant.

In 1972, Buxtun leaked information on the Tuskegee experiment to Jean Heller of the Associated Press. It first appeared in the Washington Star. Heller's story exposing the experiment was published on July 25, 1972. Senator Edward Kennedy called Congressional hearings, at which Buxtun and officials from the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare testified. The experiment was terminated shortly afterwards.

In May 1999, Buxtun attended the launch of a memorial center and public exhibit dedicated to the history of the Tuskegee Experiment. Buxtun’s charges led to new laws governing human research and governing medical ethics committees with non-physician members.

In 1997, U.S. President Bill Clinton apologized for the Tuskegee Experiment: “The United States government did something that was… profoundly, morally wrong… clearly racist.”

The Tuskegee men, their partners, and their children/descents still receive payments of restitution from the CDC today for its lifelong effects on the families. Buxtun's efforts led to the creation of the Belmont Report, which established new laws governing human research, as well as Medical Ethics Committees featuring non-physician members. These measures safeguard against unethical treatment of human subjects, families, groups, and communities. Many textbooks today in social work analyze his study and how it relates to research and healthcare social work practice.

Buxtun came to America as an infant when his family fled the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939. Born in 1937 in Prague, Czechoslavakia, Buxtun was of Jewish and Czech descent. A self-described child of the Holocaust, he was born to a Jewish father and a Christian mother who took him to America in 1938. He grew up speaking German and was a German history and Nuremburg trials researcher. It was this expertise that led to Buxtun joining the CDC in 1965 as a VD investigator.

Lydia Crafts, LCSW

National Social Worker of the Year Award

State Representative Lydia Crafts, LCSW (ME)

Representative Lydia Crafts grew up in midcoast Maine as the daughter of a clinical social worker. She had the privilege of attending Smith College where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree and later, the University of Maine for her Master of Social Work degree.

After living in the Pacific Northwest for several years, Representative Crafts returned to Maine and pursued a career in behavioral health. She has devoted the last decade of her professional life to special education, with a focus on treating children with dangerous behaviors. As a current legislator, her policy work focuses on strengthening Maine’s behavioral health infrastructure, increasing access to services, and promoting a strong workforce.

Representative Crafts was recently honored by the NASW Maine Chapter for her comprehensive and sustained efforts to improve social conditions and advocate for social workers and their respected clients across Maine. She has exemplified the best in social work through her service and leadership as both an elected Representative for District 46 (Damariscotta/Newcastle) and as a licensed Maine social worker for the past eleven years. She has helped to sponsor and co-sponsor over 100 pieces of legislation during the 131st Legislative Session including: the Social Work Loan Repayment bill and legislation to support social work licensing, school-based behavioral health services, and practice conditions for social workers in the State of Maine.

Representative Crafts has also co-sponsored a new bill to remove barriers for entry into the field of social work for BSW and MSW graduates. She has been referred to as “a guiding star, a champion for social work causes, a supreme collaborator, facilitator, and wise consultant.” She is a staunch advocate for her clients as well as her constituents and is well respected for her work as a clinical social worker. With social workers under attack across the country, Representative Crafts has stood firm in her commitment to the people of Maine. She is a champion for the underserved, oppressed, stigmatized, and historically marginalized. Her actions reflect the core social work values espoused in the NASW Code of Ethic; those of service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. Her work as an elected official and as a clinical social worker have benefited so many. It is for these reasons and many more that we honor and celebrate Representative Lydia Crafts as the recipient of the NASW National Social Worker of the Year Award.

Debbie Stabenow

NASW Foundation Knee-Wittman Lifetime Achievement

The Honorable Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)

“Made in Michigan” through and through, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow continues to lead on public policy and improve the lives of the people of Michigan and Americans across our country. Her leadership is characterized by an unrivaled work ethic, the ability to build bipartisan coalitions to get things done, and a commitment to public service that has set the standard for constituent service.

Throughout her years in public service, she has blazed trails and opened doors for women and girls. Among her many “firsts” – she was the first woman elected to the United States Senate from Michigan.

Senator Stabenow is the leader in the United States Senate in the movement to improve access to mental health and substance abuse services. In 2014, her bipartisan Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act created a new, transformational system that funds community behavioral health services the same way we fund physical health services. This new approach is expanding community mental health services nationwide. It’s also reducing the stigma around mental illness and moving us closer to true parity between physical and mental health care.

Senator Stabenow is also the leader in strengthening school-based health services including behavioral health. Senator Stabenow is a champion for behavioral health care providers as well. In the end of the year funding bill, she secured the inclusion of provisions to expand and strengthen the behavioral health workforce. With her bipartisan Improving Access to Mental Health Act, she has been leading the effort to increase Medicare’s reimbursement rate for clinical social workers and ensure they can provide their full range of services to Medicare beneficiaries.

As Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Stabenow has been the leader for protecting and strengthening national food assistance programs and child nutrition initiatives, so that children have access to healthy meals at school. She is also the author of the new permanent summer meals program for children.

As a state representative in Michigan in the 1980s, Representative Stabenow chaired the Mental Health Committee. Among many laws enacted to improve the lives of Michiganders, she authored the Children’s Mental Health Act and the Family Support Subsidy Act to help families caring for severely disabled children at home.

Senator Stabenow received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Michigan State University. She is a proud member of the Congressional Social Work Caucus.

Cynthia Herrara, JD

National Public Citizen of the Year Award

Cynthia Herrara, JD

Cynthia “Cy” Herrera, JD, serves as Executive Director of ASHwell, a holistic sexual health and wellness center based in Austin, Texas. ASHwell offers stigma-free and radically inclusive clinical, integrated Eastern, and social wellness care to end Hepatitis C and HIV within the LGBTQ+ community and communities of color. Serving previously as CEO of Project Transitions, Cy (want to use last name throughout instead?) spearheaded a successful $3.5M capital campaign to build 101 units of affordable housing for people living with HIV in Central Texas.

As an attorney with the Texas Advocacy Project, Cy relentlessly advocated for survivors of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault. She founded the first medical-legal partnership initiative in Austin, collaborating with local health providers to identify and prevent ongoing intimate-partner violence against their patients. Through the initiative, hundreds of health providers at community-based healthcare organizations and major hospitals were trained on the upstream medical-legal partnership model of patient-client care and its efficiencies in saving time, money, and lives. In 2018, in partnership with Community Health Empowerment, she established a free legal clinic for LGBTQ+ community members and was published in the Texas Family Physician magazine.

A graduate of Loyola University Chicago School of Law with a Juris Doctor and holder of a Certificate in Health Law from the nationally acclaimed Beazley Institute for Health Law and Policy, Cy’s interest in public health began as a volunteer at The University of Michigan Law School Pediatric Advocacy Initiative. Also, as a student attorney in a groundbreaking medical-legal partnership clinic, Health Justice Project at Loyola, she worked with medical and social work students to prevent the eviction of renters and improve dangerous housing conditions. She was a member of the National Lawyers Guild and Officer of the Latino Law Student Association.

In May 2022, Cy graduated from the 43rd Essentials Class of Leadership Austin. She serves as Treasurer and Chair of the Healing Fund for Contigo Wellness, a local nonprofit addressing equity in mental wellness through anti-racism and decolonizing community work. She serves as Chair of the VPI (Vision Plan Implementation) Committee of Pease Park Conservancy and as a member of The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC) Advisory Board, dedicated to the preservation, creation, presentation, and promotion of the cultural arts of Mexican Americans and Latino cultures. She also co-founded and Co-Chairs the ECHO Affinity Group where she helps coordinate and advocate for a more thorough community response to achieve functional zero homelessness for community members with HIV.

NASW is proud to recognize Cynthia “Cy” Herrera as the recipient of the NASW National Public Citizen of the Year Award.

Olymphia O’Neale White, DSW

Emerging Social Work Leader Award

Olymphia O’Neale White, DSW

Olymphia O’Neale-White, DSW, also known as “Dr. O”, is a licensed clinical social worker with a passion for education, public speaking, professional development, and advocacy. Dr. O brings a unique approach to everything she does. As a second-generation American, servicemember, and clinician, she works to promote cultural inclusion, ethics, education, and competency within professional spaces. The founder of Through My Lens Consulting Services LLC, Dr. O infuses her humor, enthusiasm and infectious energy into each consultation, training session, job preparedness program, and employment service. Her goal is to provide transformative learning experiences for students and post graduate professionals, molding them into the change agents of tomorrow.

Dr. O's journey into human services began with a degree in sociology from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. Intrigued by communities, systems, and policies, she dived into social work at North Carolina Central University, later earning her Doctor of Social Work (DSW) degree from the University of Kentucky. Driven by personal challenges in reproductive healthcare and child loss, Dr. O also dedicated herself to advancing reproductive education for social betterment. Balancing the roles of a military social worker, entrepreneur, and part-time professor at various universities nationwide, she made her contributions through teaching, guiding, and volunteering.

Within professional systems, it can be difficult for an individual to address perceived issues or gaps. It is said of Dr. O by one of her supporters, that as a new army officer and emerging social worker, she does not shy away from this work. She places her effort in discovering ways to educate and improve service outcomes. This effort inevitably supports military service members, their families, and the United States Army. Dr. O is a social worker who will make a lasting mark on the communities she serves.

Beyond her commitments in mental health and the military, Dr. O embodies a creative spirit and is recognized as an emerging social work leader in the profession. Her impactful contributions have already left a lasting impression, and her potential for further growth and influence is boundless. NASW is proud to recognize Dr. O’Neale-White as the recipient of the NASW 2024 Emerging Social Work Leader Award.

Vanessa Fuentes

National Public Elected Official of the Year Award

Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes, City of Austin

Vanessa Fuentes is the proud representative of District 2 on the Austin City Council, which includes the diverse neighborhoods of Dove Springs, Del Valle, Pleasant Hill, Dittmar, Easton Park, and Goodnight Ranch. It also encompasses Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Circuit of the Americas and McKinney Falls State Park.

It has been noted by one of her endorsers, that Councilwoman Fuentes is dedicated to service and is a leader who models integrity. Through her leadership she has advanced public policy that addresses the needs of vulnerable populations. Since taking office in 2021, Councilwoman Fuentes has fought for improved health and livability, affordability, creative arts, and quality of life for her constituents. In addition to tackling these community challenges, she has advocated for health equity as Chair of the Public Health Committee by sponsoring legislation on displacement prevention, reproductive justice, community health workers, vaccine distribution, mental health services, and healthy food access. Born and raised in Central Texas to an immigrant mother from Mexico and military veteran father, Councilwoman Fuentes understands the unique challenges her District 2 communities face. Since the beginning of her career in the public sector as a legislative aide, she has focused on criminal policy reform, to healthcare advocacy and policy, and has demonstrated her passion and commitment to advocating for healthy communities and racial justice.

Councilwoman Fuentes has also focused on economic justice. She introduced and passed legislation to increase the living (minimum) wage for City Employees (Austin, TX) to $20/hr. Additionally, she is also ensuring that the littlest Austinites have a strong start in life by expanding access to childcare and dual-language, and full-day pre-K for families in the eastern crescent. She also ensured that library cards were made available at no cost to all youth in Travis County. Being committed to environmental justice and understanding the impact of climate disasters on marginalized communities that often bear the brunt of climate change, Councilwoman Fuentes co-sponsored the implementation of the Austin Climate Equity Plan with a special emphasis on building resilient communities. Her efforts include connecting residents with affordable flood mitigation opportunities. Following a major ice storm in 2023, she immediately sought the passage of a policy to start the analysis of burying power lines in city-funded projects.

Councilwoman Fuentes is Chair of the Public Health Committee and the Community Advancement Network Board of Directors. She is also serves as a committee member of Audit and Finance, Mobility, and the CAMPO Transit Policy Board. NASW proudly recognizes Councilwoman Vanessa Fuentes as the recipient of the National Public Elected Official of The Year Award for her advocacy and for demonstrating social work values.