Jennifer Berton, PhD, LICSW, CADC-II
Friday, November 1, 2024
In-person
9:30 am – 4 pm
5 CECs

Registration Fee: $125
10% discount for UConn SSW Alumni and Current SSW Field Instructors

The Mental Status Exam has long been used as a vital tool in the assessment and diagnosis of clients, yet how to administer this tool effectively is often not learned during the masters level education in the helping professions.

This training will break down each section of this tool, explore exactly what you are assessing, and the best questions to ask to get the needed information.

• Explore all of the assessment areas of the Mental Status Exam
• Collect useful questions and methods of assessing each area
• Practice using the Mental Status Exam tool with clinical examples through vignettes

Jennifer Berton, PhD, LICSW, CADC-II
Friday, September 13, 2024
In-person
9:30 am – 4:30 pm
5 CECs

Registration Fee: $125
10% discount for UConn SSW Alumni and Current SSW Field Instructors

Clinicians are faced with significant strains on the boundaries of the clinical relationship in this politically charged, post-pandemic climate. Exhausted and pressured, clinicians need support and tools to navigate these unique stressors on clinical practice.

This training explores how clinician burnout has changed under the unique pressures we face today, and offers tools we need to address them.

Learning Objectives:

• Explore the ethical strains on the clinical relationship due to the politically charged climate among health care clinicians
• Examine the concept of power, what it is and how to build it in oneself and in the workplace
• Investigate passion for work and how to reignite it when under pressure
• Connect the concept of values-based purpose with job satisfaction

Qur-an Webb, MSW
Thursday, August 22, 2024
Live Webinar
2 pm – 4 pm
2 CECs

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

This training addresses a critical concern in today’s society by focusing on the protection of the elderly from abuse and neglect. Participants will examine the various forms of mistreatment that older individuals may face and explore strategies for prevention, detection, and intervention. The webinar will emphasize the importance of creating safe environments and nurturing a culture of respect and dignity for the elderly. In this interactive training, participants will learn skills to identify signs of abuse and neglect, report incidents appropriately, and work collaboratively with relevant authorities. This training aims to equip individuals with the knowledge and tools needed to champion the rights and well-being of the elderly and foster a society that values and safeguards its senior members.

Participants in this webinar will:

• become familiar with mandatory reporting procedures and increase their knowledge of elders’ rights to self-determination
• examine the role of staff when working with the elderly population to better understand their unique needs and challenges
• learn about available resources and effective strategies tailored to address the specific needs of the elderly population

Yoko Kawai, PhD
Lecturer, Yale School of Architecture
Mon, November 18, 2024
9 am – 12 pm, In-person
3 CECs

This workshop will be recorded. The camera will focus on the presenter, not participants.

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

The pandemic has significantly impacted the wellbeing of social workers and other practitioners with increased anxiety, depression, and isolation due to demanding caseloads and the shift to telehealth. This workshop will empower you to create a supportive work environment that nourishes your mental health and enhances your professional capacity. By prioritizing self-care as a foundational step to providing optimal client care, you’ll learn how to design a “healthy spatial journey” for your work-from-home space. Discover research-backed strategies to transform your environment into a sanctuary that fosters both personal renewal and professional effectiveness.

Participants are encouraged to bring photos (on your phones) of your work-from-home spaces. These photos can serve as reminders of your typical work environments. Sharing your photos is entirely optional. The photos should ideally capture spaces you frequent or move through during your workday. This could include your home office, kitchen, bathroom, living room, backyard, or even neighborhood parks and cafes. The workshop will include a 1 hour lecture and 2 hours of experiential learning.

By attending this workshop, you will:

• understand how your work environment can impact your mental wellbeing.
• discover a six-step process for creating a supportive work-from-home space.
• apply the first steps of this process through interactive exercises.
• develop a personalized plan for improving your work-from-home environment.

Shauna Figueroa, LCSW
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
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.

C. Michael White, Pharm.D., FCP, FCCP, FASHP
Distinguished Professor and Chair, Pharmacy Practice, UConn School of Pharmacy
Wed, Sept 25, 2024 – Live Webinar
10 am – 11:30 am
1.5 CECs

Registration Fee: $37.50
10% discount for UConn SSW Alumni and Current SSW Field Instructors

C. Michael White, Distinguished Professor and Chair, Pharmacy Practice at the UConn School of Pharmacy, will discuss the clinical evidence behind psychedelic treatments for mental health disorders. While more research is needed on the effectiveness of psychedelics in the treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, and other mental health disorders, Dr. White will discuss and clarify their potential therapeutic benefits and risks.

At the conclusion of this lecture, the participants will be able to:

• Describe the similarities of common mental health disorders and the mechanisms of action for current pharmacologic treatment options and psychedelics.
• Describe the pooled impact of psychedelics on mental health disorders and the strength of evidence for benefit.
• Describe the potential implications for treating patients with psychedelics for mental health disorders and what are the risks (including risks of self-medicating with illicit products)
• Describe the unique role of social workers when dealing with patients who have mental health disorders if psychedelics are a treatment option
• Describe what legal hurdles need to be overcome

Anthony Gay
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Live Webinar
6 pm – 8 pm
2 CECs – this program provides at least 1 hour of content on cultural competency

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

In this training we will look at the psychological and social factors that contribute to gangs and their historical roots and evolution in America to gain an understanding of the socio-economic factors that fuel their existence. We will examine the alarming intersection between gangs and Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST), shedding light on the complex dynamics that perpetuate exploitation. We will analyze the pervasive influence of media on gang culture, from its portrayal in movies to the role of music in shaping perceptions and recruitment. Finally, we will explore effective strategies and solutions aimed at addressing gangs, encompassing community-based interventions, law enforcement approaches, and preventative measures to create safer societies.

Participants in this webinar will:

• understand the historical roots and evolution of gangs and the socio-economic factors that impact their existence
• explore the psychological and social factors that contribute to the formation of gangs
• examine the intersection between gangs and Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST)
• explore a range of strategies aimed at addressing gang-related issues

Ruth Pearlman, LCSW, LICSW, MEd
Wed, June 5, 2024
10 am – 12 pm
2 CECs

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

Webinar link will be emailed when your registration is complete.

Even before COVID children were grieving losses that were not largely recognized or understood. COVID has magnified the grief experience of children on multiple levels.
This webinar will explore children’s concepts of death and non-death losses from a developmental perspective. We will apply Piaget’s Cognitive Theory to understand how
children conceptualize loss at each stage of development.

In this webinar, we will:

• review Piaget’s Cognitive Theory and apply it to children’s understanding of loss
• identify a spectrum of non-death losses in childhood
• examine the role of magical thinking in children’s developmental understanding of loss
• identify modern grief terminology
• specifically examine the loss and grief trajectory in the lives of children in foster/alternative care

Jennifer Berton, PhD, LICSW, CADC-II
Live Webinar
Tues, July 9, 16, and 23
10 am – 12 pm
6 CECs – participants must attend all 3 sessions to earn CECs

Registration Fee: $150
10% discount for UConn SSW Alumni and Current SSW Field Instructors

Webinar link will be emailed when your registration is complete.

Welcome to the Building a Private Practice Series. This training is not only for people who are thinking about starting a practice, but also for those who have an existing practice. It’s never too late to make some adjustments to your practice that will help it grow more effectively. This training relates to direct practice as it aims to help the clinician build a practice that will benefit the clients it serves and ensure their practice adheres to the strictest of ethical principles. Participants will learn how to build a private practice that meet the needs of the clients they serve and strengthens both the client’s treatment experience and the profession as a whole.

This training is split into 3 consecutive Thursday webinars. Participants must attend all 3 sessions to earn CECs.

PART I covers the top mistakes people make in private practice, and begins to layout the framework for building a better one. We will explore the nuts and bolts of who, why,  where, and when to open a private practice. Then we will dive into how to set up your practice with your own policies and procedures.

PART II begins with ironing out all the financial aspects of your private practice, including how to set a fee schedule, how and why to work with insurances, how and why to work with private pay options, bank accounts, insurances, and taxes. We will then lay out all the clinical paperwork you need to safeguard your practice the right way.

PART III begins with a discussion of how to market your business, where you should focus and what you should ignore. We then round out the series by exploring how to develop your practice, how to effectively close your practice, and how to troubleshoot your practice when it isn’t growing as you would like it to grow.