Marina Badillo-Diaz, DSW, LCSW
Tuesday, December 1, 2026
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (ET)
Virtual
2 CECs

Registration Fee: $50
10% discount for UConn SSW Alumni and current SSW Practicum Instructors

This virtual workshop builds on foundational knowledge by moving from understanding artificial intelligence (AI) to actively applying specialized tools within their specific practice settings, including case management, foster care, schools, and clinical environments. The session focuses on exploring purpose-built AI technologies that are emerging across the profession, such as child  welfare platforms like Binti for case management and placement coordination, AI-supported education tools like Magic School AI used in school settings to assist with IEP documentation,  behavior planning, and student support, and clinical AI scribes such as Upheal and Berries AI that help streamline progress notes, treatment documentation, and session summaries. Through demonstrations and case-based examples, the workshop will highlight how AI can support practice while emphasizing critical evaluation of these tools for appropriateness, bias, and data privacy, as well as understanding how to integrate them within agency policies. Participants will leave with concrete strategies and real-world examples of how to responsibly use specialized AI tools across human services settings.

• Understand how to identify and evaluate Specialized AI tools that support human services practice across micro, mezzo, and macro levels.
• Apply critical thinking to assess AI-generated outputs for accuracy, bias, and cultural responsiveness in alignment with ethical standards.
• Explore strategies for integrating Specialized AI tools into individual practice while maintaining ethical and professional integrity.

Marina Badillo-Diaz, DSW, LCSW
Tuesday, November 17, 2026
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (ET)
Virtual
2 CECs

Registration Fee: $50
10% discount for UConn SSW Alumni and current SSW Practicum Instructors

This virtual workshop is designed for social work professionals to explore the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in practice. The session will introduce the
fundamental principles of AI technology, highlighting its applications, benefits, and potential risks across micro, mezzo, and macro levels of practice. Participants will gain an understanding of AI’s  capabilities, with a focus on how AI can enhance efficiency, save time, and improve service delivery and client outcomes. The workshop will address critical ethical considerations, including privacy concerns, bias, and decision-making transparency, ensuring alignment with the code of ethics and the core values of the profession. Participants will engage in a live demonstration
of AI tools such as Co-Pilot and ChatGPT. Each participant will also receive a complimentary prompting guidebook tailored for social workers. This guidebook serves as a valuable resource to
support continuous learning and responsible integration of AI in daily practice.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the basic functions and potential uses of AI in school social work, enhancing capabilities to improve efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery for social work tasks.
• Identify and discuss the ethical challenges associated with AI use in school environments, with strategies for navigating these issues responsibly.
• Experience live demonstrations of AI tools like Co-Pilot and ChatGPT, equipping participants with the skills to integrate these technologies into their practices while adhering to social work
  ethics.

Shauna Figueroa, LCSW
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
6 pm – 8 pm
Live Webinar
2 CECs – this program provides 2 hours of content on cultural competency

Registration Fee: $50
10% discount for UConn SSW Alumni and Current SSW Field Instructors

The Challenging Stereotypes of the Black Women training is an engaging and thought-provoking exploration of the stereotypes and realities surrounding the Black Woman narrative. This training series seeks to unpack the historical roots, societal impact, and contemporary implications of this harmful stereotype, while fostering understanding, empathy, and allyship among participants.

Learning Objectives:

• Explore the origins and perpetuation of the Black Woman stereotype, examining its portrayal in media, literature, and popular culture, and its impact on the lived experiences of Black women.
• Discuss the intersectional nature of identity and oppression, emphasizing how race, gender, class, sexuality, and other factors intersect to shape individuals’ experiences and perceptions within society.
• Empower participants to become allies and advocates for racial and gender equity, fostering inclusive environments where all voices are valued and respected.
• Develop strategies for challenging stereotypes, disrupting bias, and promoting positive representations of Black women in their personal and professional spheres.

Jennifer Berton, PhD, LICSW, CADC-II
Virtual
Monday, December 7, 2026
9 am – 12 pm
3 CECs

Description and Learning Objectives Coming Soon

Welcome 2 Reality
Virtual
Tuesday, November 17, 2026
6 pm – 8 pm

Registration Fee: $50
10% discount for UConn SSW Alumni and current SSW Practicum Instructors

The training on the impact of vaping is designed to provide child welfare agency professionals with essential knowledge about the effects of vaping on both children and adults. With the increasing popularity of vaping and the potential risks associated with it, it is crucial for child welfare professionals to be well-informed and equipped to address this emerging issue within their work. Training will delve into the various aspects of vaping, including the different devices used, the chemicals involved, and the potential health implications. Participants will gain an understanding of the impact of vaping on physical and mental health, particularly focusing on the vulnerable population of children and the impact on adults, including secondhand exposure and the potential for nicotine addiction. Strategies to address vaping-related concerns within families and provide appropriate support and resources will be discussed.

Learning Objectives

• Discuss the prevalence, devices, and chemicals involved in vaping, enhancing their understanding of this emerging trend.
• Explore the impact of vaping on children and adults, including the potential for nicotine addiction and the consequences of secondhand exposure, to help professionals address related concerns within families effectively.
• Foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing among agencies, professionals, enabling them to develop approaches to address vaping-related issues within their respective roles.

Patricia Parks, LCSW
Virtual
Tuesday, December 8, 2026
10 am – 12 pm
2 CECs

Registration Fee: $50
10% discount for UConn SSW Alumni and current SSW Practicum Instructors

Medically complex pregnancies and neonatal intensive care experiences can significantly impact maternal mental health. Despite this, many healthcare providers receive limited training in recognizing and responding to the psychological needs of mothers navigating high-risk pregnancies, NICU hospitalization, and pregnancy after loss.

This training is intended for mental health clinicians and healthcare providers working with pregnant and postpartum populations. The webinar provides an overview of the emotional and psychological experiences associated with medically complex pregnancies and introduces trauma-informed approaches that providers can use to support maternal mental health in clinical and healthcare settings.

Participants will be able to:

1. Identify common psychological responses associated with high-risk pregnancy and NICU hospitalization, including anxiety and loss of control.

2. Describe how medically complex pregnancy can impact maternal mental health and the transition to motherhood.

3. Apply trauma-informed strategies, including validation and collaborative communication, when supporting mothers navigating medically complex pregnancies and postpartum care.

4. Recognize the role of healthcare providers in supporting maternal mental health and identify opportunities for early intervention and referral when appropriate.

 

 

Emily Carveth, LCSW, Veterinary Social Worker
Monday, November 16
10 am – 12 pm
Virtual
2 CECs

Registration Fee: $50
10% discount for UConn SSW Alumni and Current SSW Field Instructors

Veterinary Social Work, an emerging field of social work study and practice, offers a new lens for
conceptualizing clients, access to care, and social determinants of health. As Veterinary Social Work grows in popularity, an
intersectional lens is needed to understand the implications and benefits of utilizing this model
at all levels (micro, mezzo and macro) of social work and clinical practice.

Participants in this webinar will:

• Learn the 4 Pillars of Veterinary Social Work (Intentional Wellbeing, Animal-Related Grief and
  Bereavement, Animal-Assisted Interventions, and The Link Between Human and Animal Violence)
• Explore settings where Veterinary Social Work can be implemented, and their implications for
  practice
• Understand applications of Veterinary Social Work in micro, mezzo and macro systems
• Learn about current Veterinary Social Workers and their practice models
• Identify resources for further learning about Veterinary Social Work, including information on
  continuing education programs

Angela Pascale, LCSW
Thursday, October 29, 2026
10 am – 12 pm (ET)
2 CECs

Registration Fee: $50
UConn SSW Alumni and Current Field Instructors receive a 10% discount

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based practice which can be used in various settings and with a variety of client problems. This webinar will cover what DBT is and what populations can benefit from its use. Participants will learn about the essential components of DBT, including the 4 skills modules (i.e., mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness) and how they can be applied in practice.

Participants will receive resources to incorporate DBT techniques into their therapeutic toolbox.

At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will:

• Gain an understanding of Dialectical Behavior Therapy
• Learn about the 4 skills modules and their purpose and application
• Become familiar with skills within each module and how they are used with clients

Robin P. McHaelen, MSW
Friday, October 16, 2026
9 am – 12 pm
Virtual
3 CECs

Registration Fee: $75
10% discount for UConn SSW Alumni and Current SSW Field Instructors

This program provides 3 hours of content on cultural competency.

LGBTQ+ people —transgender and non-binary people in particular — are navigating an increasingly hostile policy environment. Since early 2025, a series of federal executive orders, agency guidance changes, and enforcement actions have targeted gender-affirming care access, military service, federal identity documents, and civil rights protections for transgender people, while dozens of states have independently enacted restrictions on healthcare, school participation, and legal recognition. For LGBTQ+ individuals, their families, and the clinicians, educators, and caregivers who support them, this is a period of significant and compounding stress.

This 3-hour webinar equips participants with two complementary, evidence-based frameworks for understanding and responding to this moment. Ilan Meyer’s Minority Stress Model provides a theoretical foundation for understanding how stigma, discrimination, and anticipated rejection translate into measurable mental health disparities for sexual and gender minorities — and how distal stressors (like policy and legislation) interact with proximal, internalized stress processes. Caitlyn Ryan’s Family Acceptance Project (FAP) framework offers a practical, research-based model for helping social workers and clinicians move family and caregiver behavior along the acceptance-rejection continuum, even when starting from a place of ambivalence or discomfort.

Building on these frameworks, the webinar devotes focused attention to the current federal and state policy landscape affecting transgender and non-binary people specifically — including restrictions on gender-affirming care, military service, federal documentation, and Title IX protections, alongside the record volume of state-level legislation — and translates this landscape into practical clinical and caregiving guidance. Participants will leave with concrete language, screening considerations, and support strategies for working with LGBTQ+ clients and their families during a period of acute, ongoing systemic stress.

This webinar is designed for mental health clinicians, social workers, school counselors, healthcare providers, case managers, and other professionals who work with LGBTQ+ individuals and families. It is grounded in current, evolving policy conditions; because this is a fast-moving area, participants are encouraged to treat the specific legal/policy examples as illustrative of a broader pattern rather than a final or exhaustive accounting.

By the end of this seminar, participants will be able to:

• Explain the core components of Meyer’s Minority Sexual/Gender Minority Stress Model.
• Identify how current federal and state policy actions function as distal minority stressors, describe their documented associations with anxiety, depression, and other mental health outcomes and identify potential interventions
• Describe the Family Acceptance Project’s continuum of caregiver behaviors, using an intersectional lens to distinguish specific accepting and rejecting behaviors and their impact on outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth and adults.
• Apply FAP-informed communication strategies to help ambivalent, uncertain, or struggling caregivers move toward more accepting behaviors, even when they hold personal, cultural, or religious reservations.
• Assess for signs of minority stress, hypervigilance, and policy-related anticipatory anxiety in LGBTQ+ clients, with particular attention to the compounded burden on transgender and non-binary clients navigating an active and changing legal landscape.
• Recognize the importance of remaining current on the fast-changing federal and state policy landscape and identify reliable sources (e.g., legal advocacy organizations, medical associations, state-specific trackers) for ongoing monitoring beyond the seminar.