Conference Schedule

Explore evidence-based approaches to implementing trauma-informed care in under-resourced rural communities. Learn practical strategies for assessing trauma, building safety, and fostering resilience when resources are limited.

A comprehensive review of recent changes to North Carolina child welfare legislation and federal Family First Prevention Services Act implementation. Discuss advocacy strategies for social workers to influence policy at state and local levels.

Learn about the unique cultural considerations when working with the Lumbee Tribe and other Native American communities in the Southeast. Examine historical trauma, tribal sovereignty, and culturally-responsive interventions.

Explore effective school-based mental health programs and early intervention strategies for students experiencing anxiety, depression, and behavioral challenges. Case studies from Robeson County Schools.

Examine the rapid expansion of telehealth services in rural areas, including ethical considerations, technology platforms, and strategies to overcome barriers to access. Discussion of reimbursement policies and licensure requirements.

Critical examination of systemic racism in social work education and practice. Participants will engage in dialogue about dismantling oppressive structures and centering racial justice in their work.

Overview of harm reduction approaches to substance use disorders, including syringe service programs, medication-assisted treatment, and overdose prevention. Addressing stigma and moral frameworks in treatment.

Learn practical strategies for community organizing and mobilizing residents to address local issues. Case examples from successful campaigns in rural North Carolina.

Examine challenges facing aging adults in rural communities, including social isolation, healthcare access, and caregiver support. Explore programs that enable seniors to age in place with dignity.

Explore the unique challenges facing immigrant and refugee families in the Southeast, including legal barriers, language access, cultural adjustment, and trauma histories. Best practices for bilingual service delivery.

Navigate complex ethical dilemmas that arise when practicing in small, rural communities where dual relationships are often unavoidable. Case-based discussion of boundary management and professional standards.

Examine the role of social workers in criminal justice reform, including diversion programs, reentry support, and addressing the school-to-prison pipeline. Focus on racial disparities in incarceration.

Evidence-based practices for identifying and supporting survivors of domestic violence. Learn danger assessment tools, safety planning strategies, and trauma-informed advocacy approaches.

Explore how poverty, food insecurity, transportation barriers, and lack of healthcare access impact health outcomes in rural communities. Cross-sector collaboration strategies to address root causes.

Introduction to Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for treating PTSD and complex trauma. Review research evidence and clinical protocols for implementation.

Understanding the unique needs of veterans and military families, including PTSD, moral injury, transition challenges, and accessing VA benefits. Culturally competent practice with military populations.

Explore the critical role of medical social workers in acute care settings, including discharge planning, advance directives, palliative care, and navigating complex healthcare systems for vulnerable patients.

Examine how climate change disproportionately impacts low-income and marginalized communities. Social work responses to natural disasters, climate migration, and environmental racism.

Explore international social work practice, refugee resettlement programs, and global approaches to addressing poverty, human rights, and humanitarian crises. Cross-cultural practice considerations.

Strategies for integrating DEI principles throughout social work curricula, addressing microaggressions in the classroom, and preparing culturally competent practitioners.

Best practices for clinical supervision, including models of supervision, ethical considerations, evaluation methods, and supporting supervisee professional development.

Multi-faceted approach to addressing opioid use disorder in rural areas, including prevention, treatment access, naloxone distribution, and supporting families affected by addiction.

Explore compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout in social work. Practical strategies for self-care, organizational support systems, and sustaining long-term practice.

Address root causes of housing instability, eviction prevention programs, rapid rehousing models, and coordinated entry systems for homeless services.

Creating affirming and safe school environments for LGBTQ+ students. Address bullying, family acceptance, mental health disparities, and advocacy for inclusive policies.

Interactive case-based workshop exploring complex ethical dilemmas in social work practice. Apply ethical frameworks and the NASW Code of Ethics to real-world scenarios.

Explore integrated behavioral health models that embed social workers in primary care settings. Evidence for collaborative care and strategies for implementation.

Unique challenges in child protective services in rural areas, including limited resources, staff retention, kinship care, and engaging families with multiple barriers.

Bridging the gap between research and practice. Learn strategies for identifying, evaluating, and implementing evidence-based interventions in community settings.

A panel of experienced social workers from diverse practice settings share stories, lessons learned, and advice for emerging professionals. Q&A session to follow.