2025 Program Schedule

Social Work Leadership: The Past is Prologue (1 Macro CE)
For 70 years, NASW has been at the forefront of advancing the social work profession and championing justice, equity, and human dignity. As we open the 2025 NASW National Conference, we take a moment to honor the legacy of social work, from the groundbreaking efforts of pioneers like Jane Addams in Chicago to the transformative policies and advocacy that have shaped our field. But history is more than a reflection, it is a foundation. This powerful opening session will explore how the lessons of the past fuel our leadership today and prepare us for the challenges and opportunities ahead. With the future of social work at a crossroad facing workforce shortages, political and social shifts, and the evolving role of technology, how do we harness our collective strength to move forward?

Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C
Chief Executive Officer
National Association of Social Workers

Kathryn Wehrmann, PhD, MSW
Chair
Steering Committee for the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance
Past President, NASW

Justin Harty, PhD, MSW, LCSW
Assistant Professor
Arizona State University School of Social Work

Lauri Goldkind, PhD, MSW
Professor
Graduate School of Social Science
Fordham University
Editor in Chief, Journal of Technology in Human Services

Eric Rice, PhD, MA
Professor
USC Susan Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Founding Co-Director, USC Center for AI in Society

Jamie Sundvall, PhD, PsyD, LCSW
Assistant Provost of Artificial Intelligence
Touro University
Assistant Dean and Director of Distance Education and Online Programs in the Graduate School of Social Work

Juan Rios, DSW, LCSW
Professor
Seton Hall University
Chair of the Department of Social Work and Public Administration

Rachael Dietkus, LCSW
Founder, Social Workers Who Design
Public Interest Technologist & Ethicist

• Unseen Leaders: The Truths Behind Social Workers in Political Power – All Roads Lead Back to Macro Practice
  (Macro Social Work CE)
  Kimberly Warmsley, MSW, LCSW; Ja'Bree Harris, MSW
  
  
• Contemporary Child Welfare Under Siege, Under Pressure, Under Scrutiny: A Case of Urban Sankofa
  (Social Work CE)
  Sheryl Brissett Chapman, EdD, LHD, ACSW; Krystal Holland, CRCCPA, CEC; Kameko Johnson-Styles, LICSW, LCSW-C
  
  
• Addressing Workplace Stress and Institutional Barriers Among Black Women Social Workers: Strategies for Health, Equity, and Organizational Change
  (Cross Cultural CE)
  Collina Cooke, PhD, MSW, LCSW-C; Julia Hastings, PhD, MSW
  
  
• Trauma as a Root Driver of Recidivism
  (Social Work CE)
  Bianca Roberts, LCSW; Deborah Goldfarb, LICSW; Ashley Dor, LCSW; Christopher Rivera
  
  
• Bridging the Gap: Leveraging Higher Education to Address Emerging Challenges in Social Work Practice
  (Social Work CE)
  Elsa Candelario, DSW, MSSW, LCSW; Chris Ward; Rebecca Bohner, DSW, LCSW; Shakita B. Jones, DSW
  
  
• Empowering Parents and Combating Anxiety: Implementing Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) in School Communities
  (Clinical Social Work CE)
  Stephanie Reynolds, LCSW-C; Jennifer Katzen Vining, LCSW-C; La Tanya Robinson, LCSW-C
  
  
• Breaking Down Barriers: Enhancing Engagament In Mental Health Care for African American Veterans with PTSD
  (Cross Cultural CE)
  Kristin Holloway, DSW, MSW, LMSW
  
  Navigating Ethical Skies: Social Work Without the Title
  (Cross Cultural CE)
  John Carlson, LICSW
  
  
• Reimagining Crisis Intervention
  (Social Work CE)
  Tori Daniels, DSW, LCSW
  
  A Modern Social Worker’s Survival Toolkit for Challenging Times
  (Social Work CE)
  Sarah Buino, LCSW, CADC
  
  
• Micro Effort, Macro Change: Advocacy for Everyday Social Workers
  (Macro Social Work CE)
  Kristin Rubbelke, LSW
  
  Critical Theory Perspectives on Evidence-Based Practices in Rural School Settings
  (Macro Social Work CE)
  Taylor Johnson, DSW, MEd, LMSW-C
  
  
• Adapting Services, Leading Change: Collaborative Intimate Partner Intervention Strategies for Older Adult Women
  (Domestic Violence CE)
  Renee Garbe, PhD, LMSW
  
  Social Workers are Key to Address Sibling Aggression and Abuse as Widespread Public Health Problems
  (Domestic Violence CE)
  Corinna Tucker, PhD, CFLE; Tanya Rouleau Whitworth, PhD; Nathan H. Perkins, PhD, MSW, MS

• Using My Individual Voice to Make Collective Change: How One Social Worker Fought to Change Policy in Chicago
  (Social Work CE)
  Anjanette Young, MSW, LCSW
  
  
• "Ain't I a Woman?": Unveiling the Legacy of Violence Against Black Women
  (Cross Cultural CE)
  Jasmine Smith, DSW, LCSW
  
  
• Family Secrets: Supporting Individuals and Families Through Unexpected Direct-to-Consumer DNA Discovery Challenges in Social Work Practice
  (Clinical Social Work CE)
  Michele Grethel, PhD, LCSW
  
  
• The Influential Power of Mainstream Media: A Study on Its Psychological Impact on Black and African American Communities
  (Cross Cultural CE)
  Michael Sullivan-Tibbs, PsyD, DSW, MSW
  
  
• Decriminalize Sex Work for Ethical, Progressive Practice
  (Social Work CE)
  Crystal DeBoise, LCSW
  
  
• Advocating for Neurodiversity: Building Inclusive Networks of Support
  (Social Work CE)
  Marya Wright, DSW, MSW, BSW

• Equine and Nature Assisted Services as a Model for Social Work in the Environment
  (Social Work CE)
  Dana Spett, DSW; Bonnie Lavoie, MSW, LSW
  
  
• Empowering Social Workers: An Action plan to Career Advancement, Resiliency, and Legacy
  (Social Work CE)
  Jennifer Luna, MSSW, CSWM; Cindy Snell, MEd; Michelle Woods, LMSW
  
  
• Publishing in Social Work Journals: A Conversation with the Editors-in-Chief of NASW Press Journals
  (Social Work CE)
  Kevin Tan, PhD, MSW; Lisa de Saxe Zerden, PhD, MSW; Patricia Saleeby, PhD, MSSA; Julie Gutin, BA
  
  
• Social Work-Centered Community Interventions That Promote Health Equity and Align with the Health Care System
  (Social Work CE)
  Padraic Stanley, MSW, LCSW; Daniela Mitchem, MSW, LCSW, CHES; Mary Granados, MSW, LSW
  
  
• A Call for Guidance on Library Social Work Practice: Past, Present, and Future Possibilities
  (Macro Social Work CE)
  Leah Topek-Walker, DSW, LCSW-R; Margaret Ann Paauw, PhD, LCSW
  
  
• The Importance of Social Work-Specific Standards of Care for Suicide Prevention to Save Lives
  (Clinical Social Work CE)
  Michelle Scott, PhD, MSW; Maureen Underwood, LCSW
  
  
• School Crisis Response Amidst Ongoing Traumatic Stress and Grief
  (Clinical Social Work CE)
  Laura Danna, LCSW
  
  Celebrating Neurodiversity in School-Based Health
  (Clinical Social Work CE)
  Caitlin Rossman, LMSW
• Parents Under Stress: A Social Work Response to a National Health Crisis
  (Social Work CE)
  Craig Knippenberg, LCSW, MDiv
  
  Between the Rows of Corn: Supporting Grieving Children in Rural America
  (Social Work CE)
  Kris Fulkerson, DSW, LCSW
  
  
• Harnessing Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health Care: A Transformative Approach
  (Social Work CE)
  Samuel Budyszewick, LCSW
  
  Transforming Social Work Practice with Artificial Intelligence: Smarter, Faster, Better Solutions
  (Social Work CE)
  Renetta Weaver, MSW, LICSW, CAIC

• Barriers to Mental Health Care Access for Military Personnel and Veterans
  (Social Work CE)
  Dionne Brooks, LCSW
  
  
• Bridging Legacy and Innovation: Integrating Technology in Social Work Practice
  (Social Work CE)
  La'Tesha Sampson, PhD, DSW, LCSW
• When the Therapist and Client Don't Share the Same Political Landscape
  (Clinical Social Work CE)
  Jane Boumgarden, MSW, LCSW, ACSW
  
  
• Historically Black Community Based Organizations (HBCBOs)
  (Cross Cultural CE)
  Donald Dew, MSW
  
  
• Connecting Legacies: Intergenerational Mentorship for a Stronger Social Work Tomorrow
  (Social Work CE)
  Natalie Moore-Bembry, EdD, MSW, LCSW; Gina L. Sharpe, MSW, LCSW

The Growing Role of Social Media: Implications for Social Work (1.5 Social Work CEs)

Social media continues to evolve and be a significant force in numerous aspects of our lives. For many people, using social media is a daily routine. It has proven to influence decision-making and related outcomes. It opens up channels for more personal communications. This session will discuss the impact social media is having on social work and how we can harness it as a useful and productive tool.

Jonathan Singer, PhD, LCSW
Professor of Social Work
Loyola University Chicago

The Therapist’s Use of Self: Being the Catalyst for Change with Therapy Veteran Clients (1 Clinical CE)

Working with therapy veteran clients can be a therapist’s worst nightmare. Often, the clients present with severe DSM-V diagnoses, extensive treatment histories, are crisis-prone, present with risky and provocative behaviors, may have trauma backgrounds, and come from families with multiple symptom-bearers. In this hands-on practice-oriented presentation, participants will learn several effective therapeutic tools and strategies for fostering strong therapeutic alliances and therapeutic breakthroughs when feeling stuck with therapy-veteran clients. Some of the therapeutic tools and strategies presented are: listening and looking for client anomalies to seize; the use of respectful curiosity; extraordinary presence; the use of humor; absurdity; and playfulness; the use of metaphorical questions; the imaginary Time Machine; and strategic use of confusion and incompetence. Finally, will cover ways to expand one’s therapeutic range and style by bringing in ideas from art, film, theater, literature, history, philosophy, nature, and science and technology.

Matthew Selekman, MSW, LCSW
Founder/Director
Partners for Collaborative Solutions

• Is It Legal? Is It Ethical? Contemporary Dilemmas in Social Work Practice
  (Ethics CE)
  Andrea Murray, MSW, LICSW; Ashlee Fox, JD, MSW
  
  
• Legacy in Motion: NASW Pioneers Connecting Social Work's Past, Present, and Future
  (Social Work CE)
  Kathryn Wehrmann, PhD, LCSW; Kerri Criswell, LMSW
  
  
• Social Workers as Public Health Practitioners: Deploying Screening, Brief Intervention and Treatment (SBIRT) to Address Substance Use During Pregnancy and Vaccine Confidence
  (Social Work CE)
  Anna Mangum, MSW, MPH; Mary Velasquez, PhD; Diana Ling, MA
  
  
• Veterinary Social Work Career Pathways: Higher Education, Field Work, and Direct Practice
  (Social Work CE)
  Claire Johnson, MSW, LSW; Lisa Wiborg, LISW-S; Bethanie A. Poe, PhD, LMSW; Laurie F. Maxwell, LCSW
  
  
• Harm Reduction: From Theory to Social Work Practice
  (Substance Use Disorders CE)
  Chelsea Laliberte Barnes, LCSW; Tanya R. Sorrell, PhD, PMHNP-BC, FAANP
  
  
• Beyond Prayer: Encouraging Minority Communities to Embrace Mental Health Services
  (Clinical Social Work CE)
  Charise Breeden-Balaam, EdD, LSW
  
  Post-Traumatic Growth and Healing: How to Put Yourself First and Practice Radical Self-Care
  (Clinical Social Work CE)
  Erica Priscilla Sandoval, LCSW
  
  
• Trans-Inclusive Couples: Developing Future Clinical Guidelines to Support Couples in Transition
  (Cross Cultural CE)
  Nomi Ostrander, PhD, MPH, LICSW
  
  Self-Love and the Gay Journey
  (Cross Cultural CE)
  Thomas (aka Karlyle) Nixon (aka Tomms), LCSW
  
  
• The Ethical Obligations of Housing Policy
  (Social Work CE)
  Emily Harris-Shears, MSW
  
  Homelessness and Housing in View of the Migrant Crisis
  (Social Work CE)
  Sunita Dhawan, MS

• The Next Generation: Mentoring and Supporting New Social Workers
  (Social Work CE)
  Tara Wallace, EdD, MSW, LSCSW
  
  
• Puppets, Guitars, Drumsticks, Stories, and Games! An Exploration of Creative Interventions in Social Work
  (Clinical Social Work CE)
  Michael Romero, LCSW-S
  
  
• The Future of Holistic Care: The Biopsychosocial-Digital Model as a New Assessment Framework
  (Clinical Social Work CE)
  Alexis Speck Glennon, DSW, LCSW-R, LICSW
  
  
• Lost in Translation: The Cultural and Psychological Trauma of Immigration
  (Cross Cultural CE)
  Joanna De La Cruz- Romero, LCSW, CSSW
  
  
• Social Workers and the Retiring Older Adult: Applying the Resource-Based Dynamic Model to Enhance Outcomes
  (Social Work CE)
  Kathryn Roosevelt, PhD, MSW, LCSW
  
  
• Research, Practices and Actions to Develop Interdisciplinary Violence Prevention Strategies
  (Social Work CE)
  Caleb Kim, PhD, MSW, MDiv; Michelle Kavoosi, JD; Abha Rai, PhD, MSW; Patricia Findley, DrPH, MSW, LCSW

Putting It All Together: Where Are We Headed? (1.5 Social Work CEs)
A futures lens and "foresight" practice are a globally recognized transdisciplinary set of ideas, tools and practices intended to help people use the idea of the future to make better decisions in the present. This session will introduce a critical and participatory foresight perspective to assist social workers in making sense of the rapid changes around them, use imagination and foresight tools to better anticipate new challenges and opportunities - all in concert with upholding the values and ethics of the profession. What does the future most "need from social work?" How can social workers care for themselves, each other, and the communities we ally with to best meet the challenges ahead? How will technology, climate, political fracturing, health advances and disparities - all charged by racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia and more - all evolve in the direction of human rights and liberation - or away from it? Let's wrestle with the idea of "future shock" for social work - and encourage our own positive evolution - individually and collectively to meet the call.

Aaron Mallory, MSW, LCSW
Founder and CEO, GRO Community

• Social Workers, Social Justice, and Politics: Celebrating Our Legacy | Developing the Future
  (Macro Social Work CE)
  Victor Manalo, PhD, MSW; Marla Blunt-Carter, MSW; Valerie Arendt, MSW, MPP
  
  
• Climate Change and Health Equity: Resources for Local Action and Community Engagement
  (Social Work CE)
  Amanda Li, MPH, APHA; Sheetal Khedkar Rao, MD; Ben Fulgencio-Turner, MPP, CPH
  
  
• Social Care for the Invisible Workforce: Caregiver Interventions for Lasting Change
  (Social Work CE)
  Danika Mills, MSW, LCSW, MPS; Amanda Santiago, LMSW
  
  
• “Whose Got Next?”: Succession Mentorship: Cultivating Black Leaders
  (Cross Cultural CE)
  Tatyana Kitchen, DSW, LMSW; Kiana Debo-Armstrong, DSW, MSW, LMSW; Catherine R. Gayle, PhD, LCSW, LCDAC
  
  
• Rebranding Research: How to Increase Engagement Among Practitioners and Students
  (Social Work CE)
  JessAnn Smith, MSW; Christine Vyshedsky, PhD, LCSW
  
  
• Navigating Advocacy and Addiction Treatment: The Critical Role of Social Work
  (Substance Use Disorders CE)
  Abby Blackwell, LISW-CP; Ashley King, MSW; Evelyn Ballew, LMSW
  
  
• The Loneliness Epidemic: Understanding the Problem and Sourcing Solutions Across the Field of Social Work
  (Social Work CE)
  Lauren Gil Hayes, LCSW, LISW
  
  Grief and Ambiguous Loss in Clinical Social Work: Cultivating Resilience Through Mindfulness-Based Practices
  (Social Work CE)
  Kristen Esposito Brendel, PhD, LCSW, PEL:SSW
  
  
• Addressing Health Disparities and Advancing Equity: A Social Work Perspective
  (Social Work CE)
  Dedrick Perkins, LCSW
  
  
• Supporting Immigrants with Forensic Mental Health Evaluations
  (Social Work CE)
  Athena Viscusi, LCSW, LICSW
  
  Crossing Boundaries: Social Workers as Boundary Spanners in Interdisciplinary Community Solutions
  (Social Work CE)
  Amml Hussein, EdD, MSW

• Fostering Resilience in Youth Aging Out of Foster Care
  (Social Work CE)
  Teauania Charles, DSW, LCSW-S
  
  
• War of the Roses! The Collateral Damage of High-Conflict Divorce: An Empirical Analysis of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Divorce Trauma Responses in Parental Litigation and Custodial Disputes
  (Social Work CE)
  Camille Jones, DSW, LMSW, CEAP
  
  
• NeuroSpicy Leadership; Embracing Diverse Minds for Long Term Success
  (Social Work CE)
  Sandra Crespo, LICSW
  
  
• The Tinder Talk
  (Social Work CE)
  Deanie Barrion, MSW
  
  
• Proposing, Writing, and Publishing Your Social Work Book
  (Social Work CE)
  Rachel Meyers, BS
  
  
• Are Social Workers Prepared to Support Clients in Polyamorous and Non-Monogamous Relationships?
  (Cross Cultural CE)
  Margaret Ann Paauw, PhD, LCSW; Roberto Jose Frausto, Jr, LLMSW

• Silent Beauty
  CEs: 2 Social Work
  
  This film from director Jasmin Lara Lopez, looks at sexual abuse in families and how it is hidden. Her father, a Baptist minister, abused her and other young people, but her family denied it or blamed the victims. As an adult, she confronts her grandfather as a way to heal from the past abuse. The film also looks at how sexual abuse is treated in the Latin American community.



• I Didn’t See You There
  CEs: 2 Social Work
  
  Filmmaker Reid Davenport lives with a disability and uses a wheelchair. This film looks at how he must navigate the world and how ableism discriminates against people living with a disability. A circus was also put up within eyeshot of his home, and Davenport looks at how historically people with disabilities have been exploited and ostracized.



• A Woman on the Outside
  CEs: 2 Social Work
  
  Kristal, a social worker in Philadelphia, helps families stay connected with relatives who are incarcerated. But when her own father and brother come home from prison, can she help them reunite successfully with the family they left behind?