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

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

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

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

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

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

Social workers and other helping professionals constantly face ethical issues and dilemmas requiring ethical decision making. Ethical practice in rural communities requires enhanced awareness of the special ethical considerations inherent to practice in closely-knit, isolated, tightly interdependent, small rural community settings. This workshop will focus on how the rural environment influences both the occurrence and the response to ethics conflicts. The course focuses on ethical decision-making and the utilization of codes of ethics while addressing the unique ethical needs of client populations in rural communities.