Vaccine Confidence Training for Social Workers

A centerpiece of the Connect to End COVID-19 initiative is providing accurate information to social workers about COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccines, including vaccine safety and effectiveness, barriers to vaccination (e.g., mis/disinformation, logistical challenges, psychosocial and social care considerations, etc.), and the role of social workers in supporting clients in informed decision making regarding COVID-19 vaccination.

Key to the initiative are national, interactive trainings on the use of Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and other evidence-based, culturally competent, public health and social work informed frameworks for helping clients process decisions regarding their health. A primary focus is on populations with low vaccination rates and greater vulnerability to severe forms of infection.

Upcoming Complimentary Webinar and CEUs: Register Today!

COVID-19 Year 5: Are We Prepared for the Next Pandemic?

May 8, 2024, 1:00 PM-2:30 PM (EST) – 1.5 CEUs

Please join us for a free fireside chat with acclaimed epidemiologist Dr. Michael Osterholm, author of the upcoming book The Big One: How to Prepare for World-Altering Pandemics to Come.

As we enter the fifth year of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed over 1.1 million American lives to date (most of them unvaccinated), social workers are understandably eager to put this public health crisis in the rearview mirror. But as experts on the traumatic impacts of these disasters, and the complex psychosocial and related factors in disaster response, social workers have a unique professional obligation to consider: How can we best prepare for the next pandemic?

Dr. Osterholm, founding Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy and advisor to the Biden Administration on COVID-19 response, will discuss lessons learned from current and prior pandemics, and the hard truths about what it will take to prevent a catastrophe worse than COVID-19. Importantly, he will discuss the crucial leadership role of social workers in pandemic preparedness and response. What do these trends this mean for our preparedness—as a profession and as a society—for the next pandemic? How can social workers continue to play a leadership role in preventing further harms and losses due to COVID-19?

Learning Objectives:

1. Provide an update on the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic, now in Year 5; 
2. Discuss the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for preparedness for the next pandemic; and,
3. Identify opportunities for leadership and action by micro-, mezzo- and macro-level social workers.

Speakers:

• Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH, Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota
• Anna C. Mangum, MSW, MPH, Senior Health Strategist, with the Health Behavior Research and Training Institute at the University of Texas/Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work
• Moderator: Gwen Bouie-Haynes, PhD, LMSW, Connect to End COVID-19, Special Populations Coordinator

Register for complimentary webinar, “COVID-19 Year 5: Are We Prepared for the Next Pandemic?”

This project and webinar presentation are supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $3.3 million with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Past Webinars: Register For Complimentary Self-Study

Mental Health of Social Workers during COVID-19: Best Practices for Future Pandemics

November 29, 1:00-2:30 PM (EST) – 1.5 CEUs

It is well established that secondary traumatic stress (STS) is an occupational hazard of social work practice with traumatized populations. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unprecedented challenges for social workers that increased their risk of STS and other mental health issues. Throughout practice settings, they have often encountered stressful situations, including challenging conversations with clients about vaccine hesitancy. This webinar will introduce attendees to the constructs of, risk and protective factors for, and interactions between, STS, moral distress, and shared trauma. In addition, participants will be introduced to guiding principles for individual professionals as well as the organizations within which they work to reduce the occurrence and impact of STS.

Speakers:

• Brian E. Bride, Ph.D., M.S.W., M.P.H., Distinguished University Professor in the School of Social Work at Georgia State University
• Barbara Bedney, PhD, MSW, NASW Chief of Programs, and Connect to End COVID-19 Principal Investigator
• Moderator: Gwen Bouie-Haynes, PhD, LMSW, Connect to End COVID-19, Special Populations Coordinator

Register for complimentary self-study webinar, “Mental Health of Social Workers during COVID-19: Best Practices for Future Pandemics”

Extreme Inequities in Maternal Care: The Impact of COVID-19 on Maternal Health Outcomes

August 16, 2023, 1:00-2:30 PM (EST) – 1.5 Complimentary CEUs

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, inequities in maternal health outcomes were a result of a variety of systemic, social, and community factors. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated those glaring inequities. Now, three years after the height of the pandemic, communities, specifically Black women are continuing to feel the impact of the pandemic, compounded with the systemic, social, and community factors. As maternal health outcomes are addressed, the COVID-19 impact must be included in the discussion.

Learning objectives:

To describe the early COVID-19 data, guidelines, and information from the PRIORITY Study and workshop presenter’s role on the CERISH Community Advisory Board.

• To understand the intersection between COVID-19 during pregnancy and mental health, lack of resources, and lack of access to necessary health service.
• To identify a pathway forward to addressing inequities and lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To identify strategies for vaccine confidence among pregnant women from a community-based perspective.

Speakers:

• Dr. Nakeitra Burse, Owner / Principal Strategist, Six Dimensions, LLC
• Barbara Bedney, PhD, MSW, NASW Chief of Programs, and Connect to End COVID-19 Principal Investigator
• Moderator: Gwen Bouie-Haynes, PhD, LMSW, Connect to End COVID-19, Special Populations Coordinator

Webinar materials include:

• Extreme Inequities in Maternal Care: The Impact of COVID-19 on Maternal Health Outcomes

Register for complimentary self-study webinar, "Extreme Inequities in Maternal Care: The Impact of COVID-19 on Maternal Health Outcomes"

COVID-19: New Vaccines, Updated Boosters, and Living with a (Controlled) Pandemic

September 29, 2022 - 1.5 Complimentary CEUs

Interactive webinar, offered through NASW’s Connect to End COVID-19 initiative, includes the following discussion and topics:

• New COVID-19 vaccines
• Updated booster formulations
• What we’re learning about Long COVID
• Living with a controlled (versus an urgent) pandemic
• Special considerations for mental and behavioral health providers
• Constructively navigating uncertainty

Speakers:

• Mona Gahunia, D.O., Associate Medical Director, Operational Excellence, Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group (MAPMG)
• Anna C. Mangum, MSW, MPH, Senior Policy and Practice Consultant

Webinar materials include:

• COVID-19: New Vaccines, Boosters and Living With a (Controlled) Pandemic

Register for complimentary self-study webinar, “COVID-19: New Vaccines, Updated Boosters and Living with a (Controlled) Pandemic”

What’s Next in the Pandemic, Through a Social Work Lens

February 24, 2022 - 1.5 Complimentary CEUS

At this webinar, hear from social work and infectious disease experts about the evolving COVID-19 landscape, what’s on the horizon, and how social workers can continue to play a role in vaccine uptake, especially among special populations. This is the third in a three-part series offered through the Connect to End COVID-19 initiative in which NASW is partnering with the University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work.

Speakers:

• Mona K. Gahunia, D.O., Associate Medical Director, Infectious Diseases/Internal Medicine, Kaiser Permanente
• Anna Mangum, MSW, MPH, Deputy Director of Programs, National Association of Social Workers
• Angelo McClain, PhD, LICSW, Chief Executive Officer, National Association of Social Workers

Webinar materials include:

• COVID-19 Update for NASW, Mona K. Gahunia, D.O., Associate Medical Director, Infectious Diseases/Internal Medicine, Kaiser Permanente
• COVID-19 Vaccination Through a Social Work Lens: Current Landscape and Special Populations, Anna Mangum, MSW, MPH

Register for complimentary self-study webinar, "What's Next in the Pandemic Through a Social Work Lens"

COVID-19 Vaccines Through a Social Work Lens: Supporting Informed Client Vaccine Decision Making Through Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)

January 12, 2022 – 2 Clinical Complimentary CEUs

At this interactive event, participants learned how to apply MI and SBIRT frameworks in supporting clients in their decision making around the COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. The complimentary webinar and CEUs are available for self-study.

This webinar is the second in a series of three webinars that are part of NASW’s Connect to End COVID-19 initiative, undertaken in partnership with The University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work and funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The third webinar in the series, “Supporting Special Populations in Vaccine Decision Making,” will be conducted February 24, 2022.

Speakers:

• Angelo McClain, PhD, LICSW – CEO, National Association of Social Workers
• Anna Mangum, MSW, MPH – Deputy Director of Programs, National Association of Social Workers
• Leslie Sirrianni, LCSW-S – Senior Research Program and Training Coordinator, Steve Hicks School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin
• Stéphanie Wahab, PhD, MSW – Professor, School of Social Work, Portland State University

Webinar materials include:

• Covid-19 Vaccination Through a Social Work Lens: Motivational Interviewing and SBIRT, Anna Mangum, MSW, MPH
• Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) – Adapted for COVID-19 Vaccine Conversations, Leslie Sirrianni, LCSW-S
• Motivational Interviewing for Brief Conversations about COVID-19 Vaccination, Stéphanie Wahab, PhD, MSW

Register for complimentary self-study webinar, "Supporting Informed Client Vaccine Decision Making"

COVID-19 Vaccination Through the Social Work Lens: Myths and Facts

November 9, 2021 – 1.5 Complimentary CEUs

As part of the NASW 2021 Virtual Forum: Reimagining Social Work In Health, a complimentary webinar, COVID-19 Vaccination through a Social Work Lens: Myths and Facts, was offered. The complimentary webinar and CEUs are available for self-study.

Millions of people are becoming partially or fully vaccinated each day. However, there are many others who have not gotten vaccinated, despite the demonstrated safety of the vaccines and their high degree of effectiveness in preventing severe illness and death. At this webinar, learn more about the vaccines, including myths and facts, and special considerations for social workers.

Webinar materials include:

• COVID-19 Vaccination Through a Social Work Lens: Myths and Facts, Anna Mangum, MSW, MPH, NASW Deputy Director, Programs and Lee Westgate, MBA, MSW, LCSW-C, NASW Manager of Policy and Advocacy
• COVID-19 Vaccines by Mona K. Gahunia, D.O., Associate Medical Director, Infectious Diseases/Internal Medicine, Kaiser Permanente

Register for complimentary self-study webinar, “Covid-19 Vaccination through a Social Work Lens: Myths and Facts”