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| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30- Deep Empathy in Care: Integrating an Ethical Trauma - Responsive Framework into the Supervisory Relationship
Deep Empathy in Care: Integrating an Ethical Trauma - Responsive Framework into the Supervisory Relationship
As helping professionals, we carry many individuals and families through life's traumas. Through this provision of care and support, we simultaneously collect the stories of countless people and communities we serve. This component of trauma-responsive practice creates a unique burden resulting from deep empathy – magnified by our collective professional and ethical orientation to social justice. Leaders and providers alike remain in the unique position of having to simultaneously lead, mentor, and effectively navigate and make sense of the sometimes-traumatic nature of social work practice. This educational session seeks to illustrate the impact of trauma on supervisors and supervisees; highlight the role of self-reflection in implementing supporting practice; and provide insights and reflections on self-stewardship and trauma-responsive practice within the context of clinical and organizational leadership.
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| 1 | 2- Lead with Impact: Clinical Supervision
Lead with Impact: Clinical Supervision
This workshop explores the nuances of clinical supervision and the importance of understand the roles of a supervisor and supervisee, and how it directly impacts the future of social works and mental health clinicians. Together, we will explore common and less common ethical and legal risks that you may face as a supervisor and explore ways to manage these risks while protecting yourself, the client and teaching the supervisee at the same time. We will also explore how we can have difficult conversations with supervisees and how to support growth while giving both positive and constructive feedback.
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| 4 | 5- Deepening Skills for Experienced Motivational Interviewing Helpers
Deepening Skills for Experienced Motivational Interviewing Helpers
This is a 6-hour virtual workshop designed to help professionals sustain and strengthen their use of Motivational Interviewing (MI) when supporting individuals with mental health, substance use, and/or medical challenges. MI is an evidence-based, collaborative, person-centered approach that helps individuals explore and strengthen their own motivation for change. Participants will learn and practice more complex OARS skills, apply additional MI strategies and tools, and develop skills for effectively responding to sustain talk and discord. The workshop will also introduce basic concepts related to MI fidelity and provide guidance on next steps for continued MI skill development.
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| 6- Deepening Skills for Experienced Motivational Interviewing Helpers
Deepening Skills for Experienced Motivational Interviewing Helpers
This is a 6-hour virtual workshop designed to help professionals sustain and strengthen their use of Motivational Interviewing (MI) when supporting individuals with mental health, substance use, and/or medical challenges. MI is an evidence-based, collaborative, person-centered approach that helps individuals explore and strengthen their own motivation for change. Participants will learn and practice more complex OARS skills, apply additional MI strategies and tools, and develop skills for effectively responding to sustain talk and discord. The workshop will also introduce basic concepts related to MI fidelity and provide guidance on next steps for continued MI skill development.
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| 7- Specialty Practice Sections Webinar: A Social Work Perspective on the Foster Care-to-Trafficking Pipeline
Specialty Practice Sections Webinar: A Social Work Perspective on the Foster Care-to-Trafficking Pipeline
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 (1 – 2:30 pm ET)
Presenter: Adam McCormick, PhD, MSSW
CEs: 1.5 Social Work contact hours
Youth in foster care face disproportionately high rates of trafficking vulnerability due to experiences of trauma, placement instability, homelessness, congregate care placement, and disrupted attachment. This workshop explores how systemic failures within child welfare can unintentionally create pathways into exploitation, with a particular focus on the heightened risks faced by LGBTQ+ youth. Drawing from qualitative research with foster care alumni and survivors of trafficking, participants will examine how rejection, disconnection, institutionalization, and unmet belonging needs increase vulnerability while identifying trauma-informed and affirming strategies that promote safety, permanency, and healing.
Objectives:
- Examine how trauma, placement instability, congregate care, and disrupted attachment contribute to trafficking vulnerability among youth in foster care, particularly LGBTQ+ youth.
- Apply trauma-informed and affirming social work practices that strengthen safety, belonging, permanency, and protective factors for youth involved in child welfare systems.
- Evaluate social work policy and practice strategies aimed at reducing reliance on congregate care and disrupting pathways from foster care to exploitation, homelessness, and criminalization.
Cost: SPS Members: Free / Non-SPS NASW Members: $25 / Non-NASW Member: $40
Registration
| 8 | 9- Breaking Barriers: Trauma-Informed, Culturally Responsive Care as Social Action
Breaking Barriers: Trauma-Informed, Culturally Responsive Care as Social Action
This webinar examines the intersection of trauma, culture, and systemic inequity in mental health care delivery. Drawing on real-world case studies, interactive discussion, and clinical frameworks, participants will explore how trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices are not simply clinical techniques — they are acts of social justice. Through the lens of Health Equity, clinicians will examine the structural forces that create barriers to care, challenge deficit-based clinical language, and identify concrete strategies to transform their practice from the micro to the macro level. Helen's Project serves as a living example of what equitable, community-centered behavioral health care looks like in action.
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| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14- Social Work & Politics
Social Work & Politics
It has become commonplace for people to claim that each election is the most important one of our lifetimes. But there is a case to be made that that really is the case in 2026. We’ll review where things are and offer tips on what to pay attention to on and after Election Day. Control of the US House and Senate is up for grabs, along with control of many state legislature and a host of state and local offices, many of which have profound influence on the lives of our clients and communities. We’ll review these elections, and help you think about what social workers might do to find meaningful engagement.
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| 15 | 16- Beyond Desire: Female Sexual Functioning for the Mental Health Clinician
Beyond Desire: Female Sexual Functioning for the Mental Health Clinician
Sexual concerns are common among the clients social workers and behavioral health clinicians serve, yet many practitioners receive little to no formal training in female sexual function and dysfunction, leaving them uncertain how to assess, discuss, or treat these issues. This 3-hour workshop provides clinicians with a foundational, biopsychosocial understanding of female sexual response, common sexual dysfunctions (desire, arousal, orgasm, and pain-related), and evidence-based frameworks for assessment and intervention. Drawing on current diagnostic criteria and guidelines from the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH), participants will learn practical tools for taking a sexual history, screening for common conditions like Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) and genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder, and knowing when and how to refer to medical specialists. The workshop emphasizes a trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and destigmatizing approach that clinicians can integrate directly into existing practice.
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- Trauma Informed Care: Refresh, Reset, and Revive Virtually
Trauma Informed Care: Refresh, Reset, and Revive Virtually
In this webinar, we will re-explore Trauma Informed Care (TIC) to Refresh, Reset, and Revive our healing past pains and trauma. As we refresh our memory, we explore more improved paths to promote psychological and emotional safety; then, we can hit the reset button that fosters a sense of safety, a environment of trust and empowerment; finally, we revive our passion as practitioners that reminds us how to answer hard questions that supports sound recovery.
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| 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23- Cultural Considerations in Youth Suicide Prevention
Cultural Considerations in Youth Suicide Prevention
Over the past several years the rates of suicide for Hispanic, Black, Asian and Pacific Islander youth have seen significant increases, while the rate of suicide amongst White youth has decreased. Additionally, the risk of suicide among 2SLGBTQIA+ youth is three times that of their heterosexual and cisgender peers. (Chu, J., O’Neill, S.E., Ng, J.F., Khoury, O. (2022). The Cultural Theory and Model of Suicide for Youth.)
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| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4- Fall Virtual Forum
Fall Virtual Forum
Join us for our Annual Fall Virtual Forum, a dynamic professional development experience designed to inform, inspire, and connect with social work professionals across practice areas. This year’s forum will bring together leading practitioners, scholars, and advocates to explore timely issues shaping the social work profession and the communities we serve.
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- Ethical and Risk Management Issues in Social Work Supervision: Best Practices
Ethical and Risk Management Issues in Social Work Supervision: Best Practices
This training will provide participants with an in-depth examination of compelling and complex ethical and risk-management challenges in social work supervision. Frederic Reamer, Ph.D. will discuss key ethical and legal standards, including the concepts of respondeat superior, vicarious liability, and standards of care. He will highlight practical steps social work supervisors can take to protect supervisees, employers, and themselves, including the use of supervision agreements, sound documentation protocols, consultation, and compliance with relevant ethical standards. Dr. Reamer will discuss challenges in social work supervision related to conflicts of interest, boundary issues, and dual relationships.
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- Ethical and Risk Management Issues in Social Work Supervision: Best Practices with Dr Frederic Reamer
Ethical and Risk Management Issues in Social Work Supervision: Best Practices with Dr Frederic Reamer
This training will provide participants with an in-depth examination of compelling and complex ethical and risk-management challenges in social work supervision. Frederic Reamer, Ph.D. will discuss key ethical and legal standards, including the concepts of respondeat superior, vicarious liability, and standards of care. He will highlight practical steps social work supervisors can take to protect supervisees, employers, and themselves, including the use of supervision agreements, sound documentation protocols, consultation, and compliance with relevant ethical standards. Dr. Reamer will discuss challenges in social work supervision related to conflicts of interest, boundary issues, and dual relationships.
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| 5- Fall Virtual Forum
Fall Virtual Forum
Join us for our Annual Fall Virtual Forum, a dynamic professional development experience designed to inform, inspire, and connect with social work professionals across practice areas. This year’s forum will bring together leading practitioners, scholars, and advocates to explore timely issues shaping the social work profession and the communities we serve.
Read more
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