September 21
September 21, 9:00 AM- 10:30 AM EST
Trauma-Informed Care Across the Generations
Description: 2020 started out like any other year, but by mid-March the COVID-19 health crisis brought stay-at-home orders, the switch from in-person to online teletherapy. It impacted our personal lives, the lives of our clients, our communities and the world. Add to this, the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and ongoing racial tensions, trauma is clearly present and impacts us all. A trauma-informed approach is a perspective that acknowledges the pervasive influence and impact of trauma on an individual, their provider and the organization. This presentation will highlight effective communication strategies and how to incorporate trauma-informed care into practice. By realizing the prevalence of trauma, staff within an organization can recognize how trauma affects all individuals involved in the system, including its own workforce. Trauma-informed care is a way to provide services that recognize the prevalence of adversity in clients’ lives. Our opening plenary will: Increase your awareness of trauma and trauma-informed care; Highlight communication strategies; Provide information on how to incorporate trauma-informed care in practice – in the classroom, with families, older adults and across generations; and Increase understanding of Adverse Childhood Experience (ACES)
September 21, 10:45 AM- 11:45 AM EST
Bridging the Gap: Social Workers in Law Enforcement Agencies
Description: Attendees of this session will hear from The Lake County Sheriff’s Police Assisted Recovery Initiative Task Force. The task force is made up of a first generation of Social Worker paired with a senior detective, and embedded within the Lake County Sheriff’s Department. This session will explain the vision and mission when creating this task force to assist the people we serve. This session will discuss the unique opportunities and challenges of beginning Social Work programs within a law enforcement agency. The presenters will share statistics pertaining to program success and will discuss trends as well as future goals of the growing program. The importance of internal buy-in and community partnerships will be addressed as well. Attendees will leave the session with an increased knowledge about how Social Work programs can complement the mission of law enforcement agencies and improve the lives of those who are involved with the criminal justice system.
September 21, 10:45 AM- 11:45 AM EST
Professional and Personal Growth Model for Clinicians Working with Death and Dying
Description: The topic of Death and Dying is much more commonly discussed within clinical settings today than in the past. It is important to understand the dimensions of grief and mourning and to implement interventions that help dying individuals and their family member cope. Clinicians must have the necessary knowledge base and skills to develop effective interventions with clients/patients and family members. As a part of effective social work education and training, social workers are challenged to be constantly aware of how their personal beliefs and experiences impact their professional interactions. This presentation will take the question and turn it on its head. How does what we learn, believe and experience professionally about death, dying and grief impact our personal beliefs and how we live? Is it possible to develop and experience “vicarious resilience”? These questions will be explored through a professional “Growth Model”. It will seek to help practitioners facilitate personal and professional growth as well as implement effective self-care strategies.
September 21, 12:30 PM- 1:30 PM EST
Gender Dysphoria: Distinguishing Facts from Misconceptions
Description: Clinicians working with gender-diverse youth need to be aware of the various narratives about these youth. Recent media attention has focused on two harmful narratives about gender-diverse individuals, “desistence” and “rapid onset gender dysphoria.” These narratives are often used to suggest that youth are coming out as transgender due to a social contagion effect, that youth are not capable of understanding their own gender, and/or that gender-affirming care can be tantamount to medical misconduct or even abuse. Using a combination of academic literature, popular media accounts, and case studies, this session explores the controversies related to these narratives, their origins, the harms they cause, and ways to combat them. The session will focus on actions that can be taken within social work practice to mitigate the risks posed by the attention these harmful narratives receive and ways to enhance the lives of individuals who suffer as a result of it.
September 21, 12:30 PM- 1:30 PM EST
Care Transitions: Spotlight on Caregivers
Description: Social workers have been collaborating and performing care transitions for years through varying roles and levels of care. They encounter individuals at every setting and at each state in transition of care. They know very well the challenges that caregivers face when trying to coordinate care and advocate for the person they are caring for. Focusing time on caregivers in these scenarios is something that is a fairly new concept in healthcare, so as we move through Generations in social work it will be important for all to shift focus onto caregivers in our changing healthcare society. This session will equip social workers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to partner with caregivers to ensure safe transitions from one level of care to the next. Understanding the evolution and importance of family caregivers over the years through generations of social workers will only help ease the collaboration and care transition process moving forward.
September 21, 1:45 PM- 2:45 PM EST
Medicaid for the Elderly
Description: Qualifying for Medicaid involves certain asset and income limits as well as a look-back period. With the high costs of long-term care, most patients will eventually need the assistance of Medicaid. This presentation will help you understand the legal, financial and ethical aspects to consider.
September 21, 1:45 PM- 2:45 PM EST
From Color-Blind to Color-Conscience: An Examination of Color-Blindness in Clinical Social Work Practice in Indiana
Description: LCSWs provide a majority of the mental health care services in the United States. Additionally, LCSWs provide the highest percentage of mental health services to minority clients. A study was conducted to determine if LCSWs providing said services follow in the pattern of other mental health practicers, mainly approaching clients of color, their presenting issue, and their treatment through a color blind lens.
September 21, 3:00 PM- 4:30 PM EST
Addiction Impact and Treatment: Families and Interprofessional Collaboration
Description: Addiction is a condition that impacts all generations and all family members, not just the individual suffering from substance misuse disorders. Recent reports have sighted an increase in substance use disorders as the pandemic and resulting stay-at-home orders have impacted communities across the country. This session will look at the impact of substance use disorders on the individual suffering from substance misuse disorder as well as other family members. In addition, it will provide information on working with medical interventions, medication-assisted treatment and include information on how social workers can work with physicians. This plenary session will: Recognize the impact of drug use and addiction on families; Provide culturally relevant formal and informal education to raise awareness and support the recovery process; Identify the components of MAT and how they combine to improve patient health outcomes; and Discuss interprofessional education and collaboration concepts.
September 22
September 22, 9:00 AM- 10:30 AM EST
Racism: The Intersection with Social Work at the Micro, Mezzo and Macro Level
Description: Recognizing that Racism is pervasive across the United States, the big question is how to address racism and create an anti-racist profession and support an anti-racist society. During this session panelists will identify key areas where racism and social work intersect looking at our history, current affairs, and helping to identify opportunities for change. There is no easy answer and no one size fits all solution –there are a myriad of things that we all can do and should do. The session will provide opportunities for information sharing and education and discussion on: – The NASW Code of Ethics and implications when faced with racism in direct service, educational settings (as a student/faculty or guest) and other professional settings. -The challenges that racism creates for social workers, social work students and the clients we serve. – Identifying opportunities for change – at the micro, mezzo and macro levels. Objectives: – Increase understanding of the NASW Code of Ethics and implications when faced with racism in direct service, educational settings and other professional settings. – Increase understanding of challenges that racism creates for social workers, social work students and the clients we serve. – Identify opportunities for change – at the micro, mezzo and macro levels
September 22, 10:45 AM- 11:45 AM EST
State Public Policy for Children and How You Can Get Involved
Description: What is really going on inside the state capitol? Come and get answers to these questions: What is the role of each branch of state government and how do they work together? What laws have passed recently that impact my work or the kids I serve? How do I turn an idea into a law or policy to help more kids and families? Learn how the sausage gets made and leave with information and ideas for getting involved in the process. Participants will receive a list of laws passed in 2020 that affect children and families.
September 22, 10:45 AM- 11:45 AM EST
Developing Best Practices in Community Re-Entry: The CareSource Model for the Formerly Incarcerated
Description: CareSource’s mission “To make a lasting difference in our member’s lives through improving their health and well-being.” CareSource’s re-entry team in the Indiana Market are able to provide a continuum of care from pre-release up to 90 days post discharge. Throughout the continuum of care, the re-entry team is making both internal and external referrals to link the re-entry member to additional services for on-going support beyond the 90 days post discharge. Internal supports include our Care Management program, Life Services/JobConnect, and Transitions program. Along with directly assisting re-entry members, the re-entry team makes partnerships with community organizations who are able to assist individuals upon their return. These partnerships can include health centers, religious organizations, legal aid groups, and so much more. Since our team covers all ninety-two counties across Indiana, these partnerships go a long way in helping the justice involved better integrate back into their communities. The strongest predictors of recidivism, such as homelessness and criminal history, appear in people with and without mental illness. The focus of evidence based practices must be expanded beyond linkage with mental health treatment to target other risk factors including; anti-social thinking, addiction, stress, housing, employment, and education needs. Leah Pope, Kim Hopper, Chelsea Davis, and David Cloud. Vera Institute of Justice, “First-Episode Incarceration. Creating a Recovery-Informed Framework for Integrated Mental Health and Criminal Justice Responses.” January of 2016. Pages 1-20.
September 22, 12:30 PM- 1:30 PM EST
Building a Comrehensive Early Childhood System: Utilizing Learn the Signs, Act Early to Create a Common Language
Description: Indiana is working to build a comprehensive early childhood system to help parents celebrate their young child’s strengths and connect to resources early when red flags present themselves. Through this interactive workshop you will learn about a quality improvement initiative that aims to link and coordinate multi-sector professionals, how social workers in a variety of environments impact the system and play a vital role in that system succeeding. Facilitators will provide a framework and free toolkit utilizing the CDC Learn the Signs, Act Early materials that will assist social workers in supporting parents and caregivers in promoting developmental monitoring. This toolkit provides a common language for providers and parents and is being utilized in the Indianapolis Public Libraries, physician offices, WIC clinics, and childcare centers.
September 22, 12:30 PM- 1:30 PM EST
The Role of Social Work in Supporting Caregivers: Learning from Oncology Caregivers
Description: While prior studies addressed areas of psychosocial needs for oncology patients and their caregivers, gaps remain in understanding this group. Caregivers for advanced cancer patients have needs in several life areas, yet interventions fail to effectively address burden. Additionally, residence in rural areas can further complicate caregiving due to isolation, lacking resources, and fewer qualified healthcare providers. This study used qualitative inquiry to explore experiences, stressors, and growth from caregiving. Semi-structured interviews were used with fifteen participants, primarily from rural areas. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Developed codes built grounded theory based in experiences of participants. Caregivers experienced personal growth, including themes of the importance of caregiving, having awareness to support others, and development of appreciation. Caregivers discussed impacts of the rural setting. The themes of the study include: multi-faceted experience of loss, medicine as foreign language, significant impact of caregiving on quality of life, unexpected strength in community, and balance of forced mindfulness versus anticipating grief and loss. The results concluded with presentation of theory, indicating use of negative social comparisons to cope with circumstances in the tone of “it could be worse.” Caregiving impacts on quality of life, affecting patient status. Perceptions of ideal resources help us better support caregivers, including the need to network with other caregivers and access navigation services. Stigma surrounding advanced cancer and death continues, causing gaps in addressing end-of-life supported by the patient/caregiver dyad and medical team. The capacity of medical social workers to address these issues is significant and will improve experiences.
September 22, 1:45 PM- 2:45 PM EST
Project Affirm Beyond the Rainbow: Advocacy for LGBTQ+ Populations in Rural Environments
Description: In 2016, Terre Haute, was included for the first time in the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index, a ranking of a cities inclusiveness and resources for LGBTQ+ individuals. The city received a final score of 35 points out of a possible 100, ranking last of the nine Indiana cities surveyed. Three years later some improvement has been noted, with Terre Haute scoring a 42, but even with this 7-point gain, the community is still 30 points below the state average (HRC, 2019). There are no identified health and human agencies that specifically service the LGBTQ+ population in Terre Haute. Additionally, the current sex education curriculum in the Vigo County is not inclusive of LGBTQ+ youth. To address these concerns, the Indiana State University Department of Social Work created an internship for three undergraduate students to collaborate with a faculty member to help conduct a needs assessment survey for the LGBTQ+ population. Students participated in advocating for policy changes to be implemented in the Vigo County School Corporation to be more inclusive of LGBTQ+ students. Advocacy efforts led by this group included speaking to the school board, which was featured in the local newspaper, the Tribune Star and training for health and human service professionals in the community. This presentation will disseminate needs assessment development and best practice methods for macro level interventions in rural community organizing with LGBTQ+ populations. Themes emerged out of these advocacy efforts that will be discussed, including the importance of relationship building in rural practice.
September 22, 1:45 PM- 2:45 PM EST
Advanced Strategies in Engagement, Assessment, and Intervention with Clients Via Telehealth
Description: The objectives of this session are:
1. Ways to engage clients and keep them engaged through teletherapy
2. Assessments using teletherapy and determining if teletherapy is an appropriate setting for this client?
3. Identifying appropriate interventions using teletherapy
September 22, 3:00 PM- 4:30 PM EST
Critical Self-Reflection in Social Work Practice - Reflection Is Reflection … Isn't It?!
Description: Ready to take yourself on?! This workshop leads participants into the application of critical self-reflection and its impact on clinical social work practice and supervision. Through experiential activities and the presenters’ personal experiences, participants will learn how to use critical self-reflection as a continuing professional development tool. Reviewing highlights from the presenters’ phenomenological research study exploring the definition and application of critical self-reflection, participants are encouraged to heighten awareness of the impact of self in their respective practices. Introducing critical incident questionnaires, participants will have some creative fun making social work stronger for generations to come.
