The NASW Code of Ethics leaves it to the best judgment of the social worker to determine whether to accept a gift from a client.  This can leave social workers uncertain about where their line is.  What goes into that determination? Is just setting a hard and fast "no gifts" policy the best course of action? After a brief presentation, participants will go into breakout rooms with ethical dilemma case scenarios to work through the ethical decision making process.

As a counselor working with teens and young adults, when you attempt to propose group counseling to your clients, are you met with “Tell all my problems to strangers? IRL (in real life)? Ew! No! Cringe!” If so, attend this session to hear research on generational differences of Gen Z clients, who may express visceral opposition to the idea of group counseling. Learn strategies for overcoming these objections from a presenter who runs well-attended, effective IRL groups at a university.

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.

Solution Focused Therapy is very effective when working with couples, because it breaks through typical couples’ patterns that cause problems between people. Solution Focused Therapy challenges the couple to share their vision for their future and then the clinician expertly amplifies these “solutions” in order to help the couple find their common ground.

Using an outlook of “informed not knowing”, in this workshop we will explore the history of the AAPI diaspora, how the “Asian American” identity has been shaped by systemic racism, and the impact of race-based traumatic stress. We will pay special attention to the intra-group differences within the AAPI label, and the intersections with other dimensions of identity. At the end of the workshop, participants will be equipped to explore the uniqueness and nuances of the individual experiences of AAPI community members, and ways to support the AAPI community on a micro, mezzo, and macro level. This workshop will equip participants with strategies for navigating ethics, especially with regards to cultural humility, cultural competence, and social justice.