NASW Indiana 2021 Virtual Annual ConferenceSocial Workers Are Essential

There is mounting evidence on racial health disparities among racial and ethnic groups in the United States in mental health care. In particular, there is still a widened gap in Indiana in addressing health inequalities within the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) community. The BIPOC community continues to face historical and current discrimination in accessing culturally relevant mental health services, which impacts their overall health status. Still, this marginalized population has unaddressed societal trauma that contributes to the continued rise of mental health disorders. The lack of access to appropriate mental health services remains problematic and continues to serve as a barrier to improve the BIPOC community’s overall well-being. This session will provide further awareness into the social problem of the lack of access to BIPOC mental health professionals and educators and will provide recommendations on how to achieve health equity.

Monique Johnson, MSW, LCSW; Marcus Brown, MSW, LCSW; Kendra Johnson, MSW, LCSW

This presentation directly addresses the social work contribution to hospice interdisciplinary teams, organizations, and to patients and families that they serve. This presentation is informed directly by the lived experiences of 19 hospice social workers currently practicing in rural counties across Indiana. These social workers spoke to general misunderstanding of the social worker role, need for advocacy and elevation of the social worker to operate and practice at the top of their license, and benefits and challenges to the interdisciplinary team within the context of the medical model in rural Indiana. 

Jessica Curd, LCSW, ACHP-SW, APHSW-C

Crisis Intervention Team (CIT): Partnership with Social Workers and Law Enforcement

Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) related experiences and training outcomes in a local community in Indiana will be examined in order to further explore this type of macro level social work intervention. Specifically, the presenters will explore core elements of CIT; collaboration with first responders (including police officers); and officer trainings. CIT trainings that have occurred within the presenter’s community will be discussed, and the workshop will end with an interactive activity that encourages participants to consider how the CIT training could be made available in their own communities. 

Jennifer Todd, DHSc, MSW, LCSW; Jill Garland, MSW; Elizabeth Smith; MSW

Imposter Syndrome: Social Workers Are Essential, But Try Telling Us That

Social workers are experts at empowering others. We use catch phrases like, “Fake it till you make it” in our teaching, our work, and sometimes as the not so clinical approach to treatment with our clients. Meanwhile, many professionals are hiding their own lack of confidence in their abilities, fearing they will be “unmasked” and discovered for the fraud they feel they are. Research shows Imposter Syndrome is a common barrier for highly educated professionals who remain in the shadows for fear they don’t have the ability to reach higher goals. As social workers, those with Imposter Syndrome may choose to remain quiet on topics of social justice and social advocacy for the same fear of being under-qualified to speak up and speak out. As a social worker, the practice of self-care is highly discussed, as is compassion fatigue and burnout, but how does Imposter Syndrome impact those? Imposter Syndrome has a disproportionate impact on diverse cultures. For different minority groups, frequent microaggressions increase the changes for someone to experience Imposter Syndrome as well as a person’s own negative self-talk. This presentation will focus on recognizing signs of Imposter Syndrome and help professionals learn how to overcome barriers that impact our ability to take active roles advocating for social change and social justice. In addition, this presentation will discuss the relationship of Imposter Syndrome and burnout on the work of a social worker. Finally, this presentation will identify tips to overcoming Imposter Syndrome. 

Hailee Lauritzen, D.H.Sc.c, MSW, LSW

Working with Gender-Diverse Youth: Meeting Family Needs and Confronting Misinformation

Clinicians working with gender-diverse youth need to be aware of the needs of family members as well as common misinformation. By knowing the common needs, clinicians will be better prepared to address these needs by having information ready and knowing the best places to refer family members to for additional information. Clinicians also need to be aware of misinformation regarding gender diversity and the ways in which this impacts gender-diverse youth and their families. Using a combination of research findings, academic literature, popular media accounts, and case studies, this session reviews the information needs of family members of gender-diverse youth and explores common misinformation and harmful narratives and ways to combat them. The session will focus on actions that can be taken within social work practice to assist family members of gender-diverse youth and mitigate the risks posed by misinformation and harmful narratives. 

Richard Brandon-Friedman, PhD, LCSW, LCAC

To increase awareness and better inform social workers, we have developed a workshop to explore options for adherence to the multiple mandates advocating for interprofessional education and collaboration (IPEC). This workshop focuses on increasing awareness of IPEC training in higher learning and healthcare settings. By sharing recent research results on interprofessional attitudes, presenters identify important sub-constructs that translate to areas where social workers can lead IPEC efforts. The workshop will also offer attendees opportunities to strategize to implement similar strategies to address the duplication of healthcare services in their healthcare employment settings through IPEC. Attendees will be broken into groups to explore how they feel they could take the strategies presented or identify additional applicable approaches in addressing their challenges with IPEC. A facilitated discussion will culminate in sharing ideas to generate more active responses to the mandates to implement IPE in our communities of education and healthcare. 

Marcia Mount French, MSW, LCSW, CPP; Joseph Bartholomew, MSW, LCSW, LCAC

What Every Social Worker Should Know About Social Security Retirement Benefits

Learn the entitlement factors for retirement, spouse, ex-spouse, and survivor benefits in this interactive workshop. Also, gain an understanding of the options to start benefits at various ages and the effect of wages on them. Enhance your experience, have your Social Security statement with you by getting it at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

Charo Boyd, MS

NASW Code of Ethics Updates (Effective June 1st, 2021)

Join us for a review of the updates to the NASW Code of Ethics – addition of “self-care” to one of the Ethical Principles and changing Ethical Standard 1.05 to Cultural Competence. Objectives include: 1) Increase knowledge and understanding of the changes to The NASW Code of Ethics;
2) Identify how the changes impact the practice of social worker; and 3) Explore challenges to engaging in self-care and cultural competence and develop strategies for success.

Beryl Cohen, MSW

Social Workers serve a diverse population group which includes Veterans. Even if you are not working in a Veteran-specific facility, you will encounter a Veteran through any area in the field. A Veteran or family member may proudly speak of their military experience. There are some experiences that Veterans may not be comfortable discussing and it is important to understand the culture. This presentation will highlight the military culture and provide an understanding of the essentials in working with Veterans, caregivers and families. The presentation will highlight resources for working with Veterans so you have the necessary tools to work with this unique population. 

Lori Paris, LCSW, BCD, LCAC

Finding the Pulse: Where Are Indiana Providers with Trauma-Informed Care and Disability Services?

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities are disproportionately impacted by trauma, yet continue to be left out of the trauma narrative and social work dialogue. Informed by an exploratory study on trauma and trauma-informed care among disability providers in Indiana, this presentation prompts critical dialogue on shifting toward trauma-informed disability services. Social workers play an essential role in supporting the well-being of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and can engage in advocacy within and beyond their organizations to promote trauma-informed services. 

Jade Presnell, MSW, LSW; John Keesler, PhD, LMSW; Jen Thomas-Giyer, MSW

Telehealth Law and Ethics

As we focus on how “Social Workers are Essential” to the fabric of society, we know that telehealth and other technologies are equally essential as tools that can increase access, affordability, and quality as we serve marginalized communities. Leveraging these tools within legal and ethical boundaries is a critical component of our efforts. This workshop will prepare those in private practice, as well as community-based behavioral health settings for a new era of technology-enhanced service delivery. Participants will come away with an understanding of common ethical dilemmas related to technology in social work, and a framework for navigating whatever legal and ethical concerns may arise. A question and answer period will follow the presentation, and participants will learn about additional resources to support them as they make decisions moving forward.

Steve Monte, LCSW; Jennifer Parga, MSW

Leaving an abusive relationship and getting back on one’s feet is a complicated journey with many steps along the way—making a plan to safely leave the relationship, finding safe housing, perhaps changing or finding a job, maybe going back to school, navigating the relevant social service systems that can help—all while recovering from the emotional and physical toll of the abusive relationship. For parents leaving with their kids, they must navigate this while managing the challenges of parenting. These steps are harder and even sometimes seem impossible due to the effects of brain injuries. Yet brain injury is rarely assessed, recognized, or addressed by many domestic violence service providers. Even if recognized, many service providers don’t know what to do to help. Given that survivors of IPV are at much greater risk of having a history of one or more brain injuries, this information is especially relevant for social workers in IPV services settings. This presentation will provide an overview of brain injury, the research into the relationship between intimate partner violence and brain injury, and the treatment, services, and supports available for survivors who have experienced brain injury. Attendees will learn to recognize possible brain injury-related impairments, tips to improve effectiveness of services, and the evidence-based brain injury therapies and services that are available to assist survivors who have experienced brain injuries. 

Jean Capler, MSW, LCSW, CBIS; Penny Torma, LSW, CBIS; Wendy Waldman, BSW, CBIST

Closing the Gap between Schools and Community Resources: An Assessment of Indianapolis Schools

This workshop shares findings from a needs assessment process facilitated by a partnership between IUPUI’s Office of Community Engagement, the Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY), and various school partners, specifically MSD Decatur Township, MSD Warren Township, and Indianapolis Public Schools. Sharing our process, attendees will be able to connect primary data from the needs assessment methods to existing research and trends in community schools, while applying similar assessment methods to their own communities. Findings from the assessment will allow attendees to identify opportunities for stronger school-community partnerships while examining models, strategies, and programs aimed at closing the gap between families and community resources.

Kate Roelecke, MPH, CHW; TBD

An Introduction to the Benefits of Harm Reduction

Often misunderstood, harm reduction is an evidence-based practice and strategy for reducing the harmful or negative effects from substance use disorder – a medical condition affecting more than 20 million Americans. In this workshop you will learn the benefits of harm reduction and how strategies can be applied to reduce harm and further complications from drug use and reduce the harm and risks to the community. The session will dispel some common myths of harm reduction and illustrate where it fits within the continuum of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery and how it may be applied in social work practice. Participants will gain an understanding of harm reduction principles and services and will be able to define what it means to “practice” harm reduction. Note: The presentation is a subset of a 3.0 CE course developed with contribution from partners at the National Harm Reduction Coalition, serving as subject matter experts. 

Kourtnaye Sturgeon, BA

Live meeting with Katrina Norris and Beryl Cohen