Time: 9 a.m. to noon

Modality: Zoom 

Presenter: Kenya Brumfield-Young and Heather Lewis

Learning objectives:

• Understand the concepts of multi-partiality as it pertains to group dynamics.
• Understand the multi-levels of topical analysis as it pertains to group dynamics.
• Understand and articulate the importance of intention versus impact as it pertains to group dynamics.
• Applying LARA during difficult conversations to help people better understand one another’s position on issues.

Course Description:  One often encounters challenging conversations in classrooms and other workspaces, particularly following high-profile events that spark emotion and intense public reaction. This course focuses on approaching and facilitating conversations with students and other groups related to these events, providing approaches for effectively facilitating them.  

Participants will gain insights into fundamental facilitation strategies such as identifying group dynamics, employing multi-partiality, and utilizing LARA to help navigate these conversations. This knowledge will help participants gain confidence in navigating tough conversations and situations. 
 
Bio: Kenya Brumfield-Young is an assistant professor and the internship coordinator for the criminology/criminal justice program within the School of Social Work at Saint Louis University.  
 
Bio: Heather Lewis serves a dual role as the assistant director of field education for students pursuing their M.S.W. or M.S. A.B.A. degrees as well as clinical faculty in the applied behavior analysis program at Saint Louis University. She is a social worker and licensed behavior analyst, consulting in school, home, and clinic-based settings for over 20 years.  
 
Heather develops and supervises behaviorally based programs, with a particular interest in supervision and training of future practitioners. She presents in local and national workshops and conferences covering issues common in the fields of behavior analysis and social work, including supervision and mentorship.   

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Time: 1 to 4 p.m. 
 
Modality: Zoom 
 
Presenter: Maria Morrison, Ph.D.

Learning objectives:

• Articulate the role of trauma in the lives of justice-involved individuals.
• Describe what a trauma-informed approach involves and how it improves health and safety outcomes.
• List and assess specific trauma-informed strategies for working with individuals involved in the criminal justice system. 

Course Description: The criminal justice system touches the lives of millions of Americans, particularly those we work with as social workers. This workshop will present current research findings on the alarmingly high rates of chronic traumatic exposures experienced across the life course by those involved in the criminal justice system and explore why these matter to intervention with this population. It will then discuss the value of a trauma-informed approach and offer specific strategies to use with this population in a range of settings. 
 
Bio: Maria Morrison, Ph.D., recently joined the faculty of SLU’s School of Social Work as an assistant professor after 20 years of social work practice.   
 
Morrison is also a senior social worker at the Equal Justice Initiative, a non-profit human rights organization providing legal services to individuals who have been unjustly sentenced and challenging racial and economic injustice. The focus of both her practice and research is on the trauma of individuals who experience incarceration. 

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Time: 9 a.m. to noon
 
Modality: Zoom
 
Presenter: Craig Miner

Learning objectives:

• Identify and interpret an individual’s level of readiness for change.
• Articulate best practice interventions based on an individual’s stage of change and level of readiness for change.
• Design stage-based intervention-driven treatment plans. 

Course Description: This learning opportunity will provide a foundation of knowledge on which the clinician can align treatment intervention with an individual’s level of readiness for change. Participants will be moved from simply defining the stage of change to clinically utilizing this common model to develop treatment plans with stage-based, best-practice interventions. While didactic in nature, time will be spent integrating discussion around application throughout with targeted experiential activities for skill-building. 
 
Bio: Craig S. Miner is a licensed professional counselor, a Certified Reciprocal Advanced Alcohol Drug Counselor, a Certified Co-Occurring Disorders Professional - Diplomate and a Medication Awareness Recovery Specialist in Missouri.   
 
He has 30-plus years’ experience in the behavioral health field working with substance use and co-occurring disorder populations. Craig currently serves as the adult outpatient program manager at Places for People. In addition, he works as an adjunct professor at Saint Louis University, teaching courses in substance use disorder interventions and motivational interviewing. His true passion is to move Science to Service while assisting colleagues to become more comfortable and confident utilizing best- and evidence-based practices to help those we serve to achieve recovery and their meaningful “happy” life goals. 

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Time: 1 to 4 p.m.

Modality: Zoom

Presenter: Cassie E. Brown

Learning objectives:

• Describe the underlying theory and principles of motivational interviewing.
• Learn and integrate the basic skill set needed to practice MI with good fidelity.
• Analyze clinical scenarios to discern the appropriate application of MI theory, techniques, and skills. 

Course Description: Motivational interviewing is an intervention that has efficacy in a broad range of settings, including integrated behavioral health, substance use disorders treatment, and many stages of psychotherapy. This continuing education opportunity moves participants from no knowledge of motivational interviewing to an insightful grasp of the underlying theory of this evidence-based intervention. Participants will learn basic skills, apply them in scenarios, and even apply open-source tools to identify key markers of fidelity of this intervention. 
 
Bio: Cassie E. Brown is the executive director of NASW-MO.  
 
Cassie’s career in mental health includes in-home therapy with children and families, working at a public psychiatric hospital with adults with mental illness and substance use, and outpatient therapy at a substance use disorders clinic. Her social work has included adjunct teaching, program development, and evaluation. She has provided continuing education for over a decade on topics including self-care, compassion fatigue, supervision, LGBTQ+ clients, substance use disorders, and the stigma of mental illness. Her work with NASW-MO finds her advocating passionately for social work and those the calling serves.  

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Time: 9 a.m. to noon
 
Modality: Zoom
 
Presenter: Harly Blumhagen

*Meets Suicide Requirement, 3CEH

Learning objectives: 

• Explore the fundamental concepts of the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model of psychotherapy
• Describe three skills for integrating IFS into the treatment of suicidal clients.
• Engage in exercises for exploring personal parts that may be triggered when working with suicidal clients

Course Description: Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a non-pathologizing evidence-based psychotherapy that uses a systems approach to explore clients' internal worlds. The foundation of this model is rooted in the natural multiplicity of the mind, in which every individual is believed to be made up of an internal system of protective and wounded inner parts. Treatment involves guiding clients in accessing their inner Self, which is inherent to everyone and cannot be damaged. IFS has been used to treat individuals, couples, and families. This course will provide a brief introductory overview of the IFS model and will specifically explore working with internal parts who experience suicidal ideation or behaviors. Case examples will demonstrate how IFS can be used to provide compassionate care for these parts. Participants will have the opportunity to explore parts of themselves that may surface when working with clients experiencing suicidality, with the goal of increasing confidence and decreasing discomfort when working with these clients.
 
Bio: Harly Blumhagen is a PhD student in the School of Social Work at Saint Louis University. Harly has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for five years and has experience working in inpatient psychiatry and general healthcare hospitalization, outpatient community-based settings, and providing individual psychotherapy. Harly primarily treats clients with a trauma history and uses Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and somatic approaches 2 treatment

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Time: 1 to 4 p.m.
 
Modality: Zoom
 
Presenter: Harold Braswell, Ph.D.

*Meets Suicide and Ethics Requirements (1.5 CEH each)

Learning objectives: 

• Explore how disability rights advocates have discussed the possibility of legalized “medical aid-in-dying” vs. ethical issues related to suicide prevention.
• Consider strategies to identify and to treat suicidal ideation in terminally ill and/or chronically sick or disabled individuals.
• Assess how the social work profession via the NASW Code of Ethics in the United States has positioned itself on this topic, and how it might do so going forward.

Course Description: This CE course will explore the topic of “medical aid-in-dying” (MAID) from the perspective of suicide prevention. This topic is fraught with ethical complexity because there is vast disagreement about whether this should be considered “suicide,” as well as the circumstances under which it should or should not be prevented. We will consider these questions from three related perspectives: those of disability rights advocates, clinical psychotherapists, and the social work profession via the NASW Code of Ethics more broadly.  Attendees will apply these perspectives to ethical and clinical dilemmas that social workers and other clinical professionals face in working with clients at the end of life.
 
Bio: Harold Braswell, MSW, PhD is an Associate Professor of Health Care Ethics at Saint Louis University, and a social worker and psychotherapist at the Saint Louis Psychoanalytic Institute. He has been writing about MAID and disability rights for over ten years.

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Time: 9 a.m.-noon
 
Modality: in-person
 
Presenter: Brandy M. Fox, Ph.D.

*Meets Ethics and Suicide Requirements (1.5 CEH each)

Learning objectives: 

• Compare and contrast foundational characteristics of the medical model and the moral model for suicide prevention.
• Recognize the underlying ethical assumptions of the medical model for suicide prevention.
• Describe ways to improve current suicide prevention efforts for military veterans.

Course Description: This CE course will examine the ethics of suicide prevention from two perspectives: the medical model and the moral model. While the medical model is by far the most prominent, some opportunities to help suicidal individuals are missed when professionals view patients through a strictly medical lens. We will use these two models to examine current suicide prevention programs for military veterans and identify potential ways to improve these programs.
 
Bio: Brandy M. Fox has a Ph.D. and M.S. in health care ethics. She is currently a postdoctoral research fellow at the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics at Stanford School of Medicine. She is a SLU alumna and U.S. Army veteran.

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Time: 1 to 4 p.m.
 
Modality: in-person
 
Presenter: Jin Huang, Ph.D.

*Meets Diversity Requirements (3 CEH)

Learning objectives: 

• Assess the policy and practice development of Black reparations. 
• Explore the policy delivery mechanism of Black reparations.
• Describe the potential of asset-based policies as a policy delivery mechanism for Black reparations.

Course description: This session will discuss how to design policy vehicles for delivering Black reparations to support asset protection and asset growth for Black families. The session will discuss the recent development of Black reparations and will use empirical evidence to investigate the effective and sustainable policy options for the reparations goal.
 
Bio: Jin Huang, Ph.D., is professor at Saint Louis University School of Social Work and Research Professor at Center for Social Development, Washington University in St. Louis. He is interested in global social policies, with a particular focus on structural and institutional strategies to build financial capability and assets for all families to achieve financial inclusion and equity. Dr. Huang is one of the co-leads of the network to “Build financial capability and assets for all,” which is one of the 13 grand challenges for social work. He has published more than 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals, including JAMA Pediatrics, American Journal of Public Health, Social Science & Medicine, Social Science Research, and Social Service Review. Dr. Huang has collaborated with researchers on multiple international financial capability and asset-building and Child Development Account policy projects, including mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, Israel, and others. He is one of the co-editors of the book, “Inclusive Child Development Accounts: Toward Universality and Progressivity” (2020, Routledge).

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Time: 9 a.m. to noon
 
Modality: in-person
 
Presenter: Laurie Brockhaus

Learning objectives: 

• Discuss how trauma and chronic stress affect youth development and the specific benefits of mindfulness and somatic techniques toward encouraging mental and behavioral health. 
• Practice specific mindfulness techniques—such as breath work, meditation, and movement—that can be integrated into social work practice, in a trauma-sensitive manner.
• Learn to integrate yoga and mindfulness techniques practically and effectively into direct work with children and adolescents and for self and community care. 

Course description: Given currently high rates of mental health issues, youth need accessible tools that offer skills in managing the impact of chronic stress, trauma, anxiety, depression, and behavioral health issues. This CE course —intended for a broad range of clinical professionals who work with school-age youth in clinical, school, and community settings—introduces mindfulness practices as resources for children and adolescents in developing skills in emotional regulation, coping with stress, focus and concentration, and self-care. We will discuss how mindfulness and somatic practices address the impact of stress and trauma on physical, mental, and emotional development. You will have the opportunity to practice mindfulness techniques—such as breath work, meditation, and movement—and learn how to integrate these practices into social work practice with individuals and groups. This course will also introduce mindfulness practices that offer opportunities for practitioner self-care, self-observation and reflection, toward understanding biases and assumptions that may influence our behaviors and create the space to move toward intentional action.
 
Bio: Laurie Brockhaus joined the faculty of the School of Social Work as an assistant professor in 2024, after 15-plus years of social work practice. Laurie’s experiences include adjunct teaching, school and after-school social work practice, as well as clinical practice with children, teenagers, and adults in which she integrated mindfulness and somatic practices toward therapeutic outcomes. Laurie co-founded The Oxygen Project, a St. Louis-based nonprofit that brings yoga and mindfulness programming to schools and youth agencies, toward promotion of mental health and wellness. Her interests include utilizing mindfulness practices to improve health and mental health among youth and providers, trauma-informed care, and integration of somatic practices in clinical social work. 

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Time: 1 to 4 p.m.
 
Modality: in-person
 
Presenter: Jenny Deutsch

Learning objectives: 

• Learn the history of gambling in the US with focus on Missouri and Illinois
• Identify dynamics of gambling among specific subpopulations at risk
• Gain knowledge of assessment measures
• Understand the uniqueness of gambling as an addiction
• Develop clinical skills and referral considerations when assisting clients who gamble

Course description: This CE course will provide social workers and other clinical professionals with information intended to increase their confidence and ability to engage clients in a discussion about gambling and provide resources to assist compulsive gamblers and their families. Participants will explore the policy landscape related to gambling in the United States, with particular emphasis on the states of Missouri and Illinois and how gambling impacts various populations that may be affected or be at increased risk of developing gambling addictions. Finally, participants will learn about clinical skills and referral considerations that can be used to assess and to promote referrals to gambling supports, including the gambling hotlines. 
 
Bio: Jenny Deutsch is an adjunct clinical professor with Saint Louis University School of Social Work and a clinician with Behavioral Health Response.  She has 25 years of experience in the field of crisis intervention, suicide prevention, supporting loss survivors and community education.  

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Time: 9 a.m. to noon
 
Modality: in-person
 
Presenter: Monica Matthieu, Ph.D.

Learning objectives: 

• Use group facilitation skills to conduct Advance Care Planning Via Group Visits (ACP-GV), a patient-centered best practice intervention that can be delivered in health care and community-based settings
• Enhance basic motivational interviewing (MI) skills by exploring and eliciting health care preferences, values, and needs from participants using specific MI strategies
• Utilize tools (e.g., worksheets, video, pre-group checklists) and behavioral observation methods (e.g., clinician checklist) to ensure

Course description: Clinical professionals and Matthieu, SLU SSW faculty, recently implemented and evaluated a national best practice program in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that seeks to increase participation in Advance Care Planning (ACP) discussions to honor what matters most to all adults seeking health care, not just Veterans. This CE will provide an in-depth training on the best practice model, Advance Care Planning via Group Visits (ACP-GV) program that engages group participants in a discussion that elicits personal experiences and encourages participant to identify a ‘next step’ to take in the process for planning for future health and mental health care needs. ACP-GV utilizes Motivational Interviewing (MI) principles, skills, and techniques to increase motivation for change and empowerment to take charge of health and well-being by engaging in ACP discussions. In this CE, we will demo a video of a group, provide exemplars for how group facilitators apply the specific MI techniques to the group discussion with participants, and review a full scripted case example of a coded MI-concordant session of ACP-GV delivered with veterans in a healthcare setting. Finally, clinicians working in health care and community settings will prepare a pre-group checklist that will include public access to all needed materials so that they can add this module as a special topic in an ongoing group or offer this one session task group as a workshop upon completion of this CE
 
Bio: Monica Matthieu, Ph.D. is an associate professor in the School of Social Work at Saint Louis University and is a Research Social Worker for the Central Arkansas Veterans Health Care System, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  Matthieu is engaged in research and program evaluation related to VA’s national suicide prevention program, implementation of trauma treatment in the VA, and improving assessment, intervention, and referral to treatment for individuals at risk for suicide in social service and health care settings in the St Louis metro area

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Time: 1 to 4 p.m.
 
Modality: in-person
 
Presenter: Libby Trammell

Learning objectives: 

• Define harm reduction and provide 3 examples of harm reduction in the field of social work.
• Describe new ways to encourage self-determination in their clients/in their work.
• Apply the NASW Code of Ethics using case studies and discussing dilemmas with other   attendees

Course description: This CE course will describe two ethical decision-making frameworks and examine best practices for their use in harm reduction practices and for fostering client self-determination. First, the ethics of the two frameworks will be reviewed, compared, and contrasted. Second, this CE will use clinical case studies and ethical dilemmas to apply the frameworks to common situations clinical practitioners may face in direct practice settings. The selected cases will be drawn from topics and/or clinical practice settings that include substance use, human trafficking, intimate partner violence, and homelessness. 
 
Bio: Libby Trammell (she/her) is an adjunct instructor in the School of Social Work at Saint Louis University. She teaches 'Approaches to Trauma Care' for MSW students and 'Dismantling Oppression' to undergraduate students. She serves as the Volunteer Service Link Director at Healing Action Network, a non-profit dedicated to serving survivors of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. In her free time, you can find Libby volunteering at clinics to help injured wildlife or walking her corgi Watson.

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Time: 9 a.m. to noon
 
Modality: in-person
 
Presenter: Charvonne (Long) Sturdivant

*Meets Suicide and Diversity (1.5 CEH each) 

Learning objectives: 

• Describe cultural differences in suicidal ideation and existing prevention/intervention strategies. 
• Examine ways culturally relevant risk factors influence challenges to existing suicide prevention/intervention strategies.        
• Schematize methods to improve existing prevention/intervention frameworks to meet the needs of culturally diverse groups (i.e., African Americans, Hispanics, LGBTQ+, etc.)

Course description: This CE course will provide social workers, clinical professionals, and other social services, criminal justice, and education professionals with information to increase their knowledge of culturally adapted suicidal ideation. Participants will learn how to recognize factors that may influence suicidal ideation among culturally diverse groups (i.e., African Americans, Hispanics, LGBTQ+, etc.) and how existing prevention/interventions have been utilized in universal settings. Finally, participants will use a socio-cultural framework to consider new ways to apply existing suicide prevention/interventions for diverse groups, with special attention to social factors.  
 
Bio: Charvonne Sturdivant is the manager of research and evaluation with Illume: Center of Behavioral Health Excellence and a doctoral student at Saint Louis University School of Social Work. Charvonne has extensive experience with data analysis, and her research interests seek to integrate cultural competency into suicide prevention and youth mental health.

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Time: 1 to 4 p.m.
 
Modality: in-person

Presenter: Allison Gibson, Ph.D.

 *Meets Ethics Requirement (3 CEH)

Learning objectives:

• Analyze ethical dilemmas commonly encountered with individuals affected by Alzheimer's disease and other neurocognitive disorders.
• Apply ethical principles and problem-solving techniques to real world case studies and practical scenarios.
• Implement communication skills to effectively engage with individuals with Alzheimer's and their families. 

Course description: In this CE course, we will explore the intricate intersection of Alzheimer's disease and ethical practice within the realm of social work. We will delve into the multifaceted challenges faced by social workers in providing care and support to individuals affected by Alzheimer's and other neurocognitive disorders while navigating complex ethical dilemmas. From understanding the progression of the disease to upholding principles of autonomy, beneficence, and justice, we will examine the critical role of ethical decision-making in ensuring the well-being and dignity of those living with Alzheimer's and their families. Through case studies and practical applications, we will equip attendees with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to navigate these challenges with compassion, professionalism, and integrity. In promoting ethical communication, collaboration, and advocacy, we aim to empower social workers to make meaningful contributions to the lives of those impacted by Alzheimer's, fostering a culture of empathy, respect, and support within the community.

Bio: Allison Gibson, PhD, MSW is an Associate Professor at Saint Louis University (SLU), School of Social Work. She is academically trained as a gerontological clinical social worker which has prepared her to conduct intervention research with persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD). Dr. Gibson is faculty with the SLU Aging and Memory Clinic and the Gateway Geriatric Education Center. She currently serves as a board member for the Alzheimer’s Clinical Trials Consortium (ACTC) Participant Advisory Board, and she is the Program Chair for the International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART) Partnering with Participants Priority Interest Area. She is passionate about promoting clinically meaningful outcomes for people with ADRD research, as well as involving persons living with cognitive impairment in research design. Her current projects include an interdisciplinary intervention, Music Therapy and Social Work Telehealth for Older Adult Well-Being (Melo-SWell), to improve older adults’ mood and well-being. She is also testing an intervention for persons living alone with ADRD (Services to Age in Your Home; STAY Home).

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Time: 9 a.m. to noon
 
Modality: Zoom

*Meets Diversity Requirement (3 CEH) 

Presenter: Julia López Ph.D.

Learning objectives:

• Describe sexual and gender minority individuals in a gender-affirming and trauma-informed context
• Identify current social policies in the United States that specifically influence this key population
• Integrate new knowledge gained into advancing practice tools for professional growth as a social worker 

Course description: This CE course focuses on understanding the landscape among immigrants who identify as sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals (also commonly called LGBTQIA+).  Additionally, this course will identify and explore how health inequities impact SGM immigrants in their access to basic human rights and the role of gender-affirming and trauma-informed care delivery. Finally, this course will address how current social policies hinder adequate healthcare services within this population and discuss strategies and practice tools to assist SGM immigrants seeking clinical services. 

Bio: Julia López, Ph.D., is an adjunct professor in the School of Social Work as well as a public health researcher in the field of sexual health using public health and social work theories and frameworks. She has previous clinical experience in a community mental health center. Additional areas of focus for research and presentation include health and mental health with sexual and gender minority individuals, health equity, and HIV/STI care.

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Time: 1 to 4 p.m.
 
Modality: Zoom

*Meets Ethics Requirement (3 CEH) 

Presenter: Julia López Ph.D.

Learning objectives:

• Assess the ethical implications of how power differentials impact clinical care in the community focused on immigrant health
• Analyze practical examples of anti-oppressive practice in social work
• Using ethical decision-making and reflection in action skills, evaluate self in practice and discuss opportunities to be critically reflexive when working with immigrants

Course description: This CE course focuses on understanding the landscape among immigrants who identify as sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals (also commonly called LGBTQIA+).  Additionally, this course will identify and explore how health inequities impact SGM immigrants in their access to basic human rights and the role of gender-affirming and trauma-informed care delivery. Finally, this course will address how current social policies hinder adequate healthcare services within this population and discuss strategies and practice tools to assist SGM immigrants seeking clinical services. 

Bio: Julia López, Ph.D., is an adjunct professor in the School of Social Work as well as a public health researcher in the field of sexual health using public health and social work theories and frameworks. She has previous clinical experience in a community mental health center. Additional areas of focus for research and presentation include health and mental health with sexual and gender minority individuals, health equity, and HIV/STI care.

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Time: 9 a.m. to noon

Modality: in-person                

Presenter: Shannon Cooper-Sadlo, Ph.D.

*Meets Ethics Requirement (3 CEH)                                        

 Learning objectives:

• Apply the NASW Code of Ethics to common ethical dilemmas social workers face when working with children, youth, and families in a range of clinical and community practice settings.
• Discuss strategies to integrate ethical decision making within the school, child welfare, and family systems settings.
• Through group interaction and the presentation of case studies, evaluate the utility of various models for ethical decision making 

Course description: This CE course will use the NASW Code of Ethics and discuss how it pertains to common dilemmas social workers and other clinical professionals face related to confidentiality, mandatory reporting and working with children and adolescents and their families. The complexity of working ethically increases exponentially when working with two or more members of a system, such as a couple or family, which is often the case when working with children and youth. Consideration about the social workers’ responsibility within the interdisciplinary setting of the school, child welfare, and family systems will be explored. Participants will have the opportunity to compare and to contrast ethical decision-making models and then use them to guide potential decisions surrounding real-life case examples.

Bio: Shannon Cooper-Sadlo, Ph.D., is the associate dean of academic affairs and a clinical professor, who currently teaches B.S.S.W.-level practice courses and M.S.W. courses in the clinical concentration at Saint Louis University’s School of Social Work. Cooper-Sadlo is a graduate of the Saint Louis University B.S.S.W. program, the University of Denver M.S.W. program, and obtained her Ph.D. in family therapy from Saint Louis University. She has been in clinical practice with various populations and specializes in areas of family therapy, substance use, co-occurring disorders, and trauma. In these positions, she has had significant experience working with individuals and families in hospitals and community settings. She has also provided various community workshops for professionals in the areas of trauma, substance use and the impact on the family. 

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Time: 1 to 4 p.m.

Modality: In person                

Presenter: Beth S. Barrett

 *Meets Implicit Bias Requirements (3 CEH each)

Learning objectives: 

• Understand resilience as a professional skill
• Identify one’s own implicit biases as they impact professional practice
• Explore one’s experiences with oppression as well as resulting grief responses
• Develop strategies for building new skills for professional resilience

Course description: Professional resilience is a key to successful and balanced social work practice. One can develop their ability to manage or adapt to challenges, stressors, and change by deliberately building skills of resilience. This CE course will explore fostering one’s professional resiliency through the impact of one’s implicit biases, experiences of oppression, and related grief. Using activities of self-exploration and self-reflection, participants will consider the influence of their own social identities and lived experiences on the biases they may hold, losses or changes they may have experienced, and the resulting griefwork that they may need to address. In identifying and addressing these factors, one can implement new skills of resilience into their professional work.

Bio: Beth Barrett is an associate clinical professor and faculty field liaison for SLU’s School of Social Work.  She teaches courses in social work clinical skills, end-of-life, grief, and integrative practice seminar. Beth specializes in end of life and grief issues, change and loss across the life cycle, field education, and professional development for social workers. Her clinical experience includes working with children, adolescents, and adults facing life threatening illness, as well as their families, from diagnosis through death and bereavement. Beth holds the NCCJ St. Louis’ Certified Diversity FaciliTrainer certification and serves on the School’s DEI Committee.

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Time: 9 a.m. to noon

Modality: Zoom               

Presenter: Charles Franke

*Meets Implicit Bias and Ethics Requirements (1.5 CEH each)                         

 Learning objectives:

• Identify when implicit bias may be present when working with a client in a larger body and learn advocacy strategies for working with clients when sizeism and weight stigma are present.
• Apply ethical decision making and self -awareness skills to enhance therapeutic rapport and reduce the influence of their own implicit bias.
• Discuss strategies to address sizeism, weight stigma, and implicit bias in accord with the professional ethical standards for clinical professionals with particular attention on social workers.

Course description: Sizeism and weight stigma impact every facet in the lives of people in larger and marginalized bodies, especially in relation to healthcare outcomes and clinical interactions with helping professionals. As social workers, we are ethically obligated to ensure the dignity and worth of the individual, as a result, a call to action on sizeism and weight stigma is underway. For many social workers this first includes examining implicit biases related to our own response to being in the presence of larger bodies. The effect of sizeism and weight stigma impact all aspects of social work practice including clinical work, referral and discharge processes, goal setting, and communication styles. In this CE course, we will look deeply into the ethical issues and the implicit biases that can occur, develop strategies for ethical decision-making, reflection and self-awareness, and examine the history of sizeism and weight stigma that is pervasive in society. Case studies and group discussions of ethical dilemmas will be used to amplify opportunities for improvement while building individual awareness that can better serve our clients, understand how implicit bias impacts clinical care, and create safety for those we serve. 

Bio: Charles “Chaz” Franke is an adjunct professor in the School of Social Work is a therapist and clinical supervisor for Light Source, a small group practice in Belleville, Illinois, He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from McKendree University, and a Master of Social Work degree from SLU. Mr. Franke has been practicing therapy full time since 2007.  Since the beginning of his career as a therapist, he has worked with trauma and its long reaching effects. This work has included extensive work with all ages and all walks of life. He specializes in self-compassion and integrating Eastern thought and philosophy into the therapeutic process.  Chaz provides both clinical and reflective supervision to clinicians across many settings to help further their ability to find their voice in the field and maintain engagement in their work. 

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Time: 1 to 4 p.m.

Modality: Zoom

Presenter: Ping-I (Daniel) Lin, M.D., Ph.D.

*Meets Suicide Requirement   (3 CEH)

Learning Objectives: 

• Evaluate the Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on Suicide Risk: Critically assess evidence for the association between socioeconomic elements, such as income, education, employment status, and racial/ethnic background, and suicide risk.
• Examine the Interplay Between Socioeconomic Factors and Mental Health Conditions: Analyze how socioeconomic indicators may interact with mental health conditions to influence suicide risk.
• Design Targeted Interventions: Develop and propose strategies and interventions that can mitigate the impact of adverse socioeconomic conditions on suicide risk.

Course description: This CE course provides an in-depth analysis of the relationship between socioeconomic factors and suicide risk. Through a combination of lectures, case studies, and interactive discussions, participants will explore how elements such as income inequality, unemployment, education levels, and social support networks contribute to suicide risk. The course will cover theoretical frameworks, current research findings, and practical approaches to identify at-risk individuals and develop effective interventions. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to address socioeconomic determinants of suicide in their professional practice.

Bio: Ping-I (Daniel) Lin, M.D., Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at Saint Louis University’s School of Medicine. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health at the University of New South Wales, Australia, and a Senior Researcher at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA). Lin's area of expertise lies in the intersection of psychiatry, neuroscience, and public health, with a focus on psycho-socio-biological underpinnings for mental health outcomes, including suicide risk. His research aims to uncover the underlying mechanisms linking socioeconomic adversity to psychiatric disorders and to develop effective interventions for vulnerable populations.

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Time: 9 a.m. to noon

Modality: In-person               

Presenter: Wendy L. DuCassé                     

 Learning objectives:

• Coming soon

Course description:  Community violence. Car accident. Death of a staff member. What can school professionals do to support students and staff through losses such as these? Participants will review their setting's current procedures, explore culturally affirming and research-based best practices, and identify key strategies to consider when revising their crisis plan.

Bio: Wendy L. DuCassé

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Time: 1 to 4 p.m.

Modality: In-person

Presenter: Rachel Crowe and Lindsay Kyonka

Learning objectives: 

• Describe the key aspects of trauma and the impact on caring professionals.
• Identity the core principles of trauma informed care as critical for self-care & avoiding compassion fatigue/burnout.
• Apply the social work helping framework and trauma informed self-care principles in developing a plan for self-care practices for caring professionals.

Course description: This CE course will review the key impacts of trauma, particularly the physiological changes, how trauma changes the worldview, and relationships with others. Our focus will be on the vulnerabilities of helping professionals. We will start with a review of the literature, which notes a higher incidence of previous trauma exposure and ongoing risk of secondary and vicarious trauma from professions that care for others such as front-line workers and clinicians proving direct practice in a variety of health, education, and social care settings. The core principles of trauma informed care as critical for self-care & avoiding compassion fatigue/burnout will be reviewed and how these principles “embody" the principles of trauma informed care in our personal & professional lives. Finally, the social work helping and trauma informed self-care frameworks will be presented so that participants can apply the frameworks in relation to: engagement with self (e.g., being, mindfulness, and self-compassion), assessment and readiness for self-care (e.g., Motivational Interviewing, and stages of change), intervention (applying skills (e.g., Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) and implementing and evaluating the impact (e.g., noticing change non judgmentally, boundaries, savoring progress) of planning and completing their own self-care practices. 

Bio: Rachel Crowe was recently appointed as a full time assistant clinical professor and faculty field liaison, having served in this role as an adjunct Assistant Professor and Field Liaison for the BSSW program in SLU’s School of Social Work for 3 years. She formerly served as the Learning & Professional Development Director for the St. Louis Crisis Nursery, where she has worked for over 23 years 

Lindsay Kyonka is a licensed clinical social worker currently serving as program quality and evaluation director at the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery. She earned her Master of Social Work degree with a concentration in Family Practice from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and holds a Graduate Certificate in Violence and Injury Prevention from the Brown School at Washington University. Lindsey has more than 15 years of professional experience working with vulnerable children and families, including specific training and expertise in program development, program evaluation, trauma informed care, evidence-informed interventions for families facing risk factors for child abuse and neglect, and interventions for children with problematic sexual behaviors.

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Time: 9 a.m. to noon

Modality: Zoom               

Presenter: Aaron M. Laxton

*Meets Ethics Requirements (3 CEH)                    

 Learning objectives:

• Understand the ethical considerations and professional standards for using AI technology in social work practice, in alignment with NASW's Code of Ethics.
• Critically evaluate AI tools and technologies to ensure they are evidence-based, effective, and ethical for use in diagnosis and treatment planning.
• Develop practical and ethical decision-making skills for incorporating AI technology into the assessment process, including identifying appropriate AI tools, interpreting AI-generated data, and integrating these insights into comprehensive treatment plans.

Course description: This 3-hour CE course is designed to equip social workers and clinical professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to incorporate AI technology into diagnosis and treatment planning. Participants will learn how to leverage AI tools to enhance clinical decision-making, improve client outcomes, and maintain ethical standards in practice. The course will cover the fundamentals of AI technology, its application in social work, and practical strategies for integrating these tools into everyday practice. Emphasis will be placed on aligning these practices with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) core competencies, ensuring a holistic, ethical, and client-centered approach.

Bio: Aaron M. Laxton is the executive director of the Assisted Recovery Center of America, where he has successfully integrated AI technology into the practice, collaborating with over 95 interdisciplinary professionals. He earned his Master of Social Work from Saint Louis University and is currently in his third year of a Ph.D. program, focusing on addiction research. Aaron is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the State of Missouri. With over thirteen years of experience in social services within Missouri, he has devoted his career to assisting individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) and substance use disorder (SUD), as well as their families. Aaron's personal lived experience with addiction is his most asset, allowing him to bring deep empathy and insight to his professional work. 

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Time: 1 to 4 p.m.

Modality: Zoom

Presenter: Stacy Meers

Learning objectives: 

• Discuss the history of psychedelics - discovery, early treatment research, politics & government regulation.
• Outline public policy, public awareness/education, and other factors that have contributed to the rise in interest in psychedelic and interventional techniques.
• Review the research and evidence base for psychedelic-assisted therapy interventional approaches that may be used in the treatment of mental disorders including treatment-resistant depression, end-of-life anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance use disorders.
• Evaluate factors that may impact the provision of psychedelics and interventions including stigma, settings, culture, and professional ethics.

Course description: This CE course will provide social workers and other clinical professionals with an in-depth understanding of the history of interventions, current research, and evidence for the use of psychedelics in treating mental disorders. Additionally, the course will delve into the public awareness, education, and policy implications of using psychedelics to treat conditions such as traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and substance use. We will explore the ethical considerations associated with psychedelics, focusing on the current and future ethical considerations related to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) guidelines. Legal and practical considerations will be addressed to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations. Finally, this course will highlight how this knowledge can assist clinicians in their day-to-day practice in supporting their client’s overall health and wellness outcomes.

Bio: Stacy Meers has over 20 years of professional experience in information systems design and development, resource navigation, change management, and leadership.  Stacy is an advocate for psychedelic-assisted therapy and the importance of public education and research.  Completing an MSW degree from SLU in May of 2025 focused on Communities & Organizations, she currently works with veteran and community-based organizations to support collaboration, research, policy development, and education. 

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