CE credit attainable subject to change. Earn up to 13 Live CE Contact Hours through the live event and access recorded sessions after the event to claim an additional 12 on-demand CEUs.

Wednesday, November 1st

Wed, Nov 1 at 10:00 am EDT
Welcome & Opening Keynote

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Overview

10:00am – 10:15am (EST)

WELCOME & Introduction

Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C
CEO
National Association of Social Workers

PARTICIPANT ENGAGEMENT 

Raffaele Vitelli, CAE
Vice President
Professional Education and Product Development
National Association of Social Worker

10:15am – 11:15am


OPENING KEYNOTE PRESENTATION (Social Work CE)

Ecosocial Work: An Overview

Rachel Forbes, MSW
Associate Professor
University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work

Kelly Smith, DSW
Professor/Director
Institute for Social Work and Ecological Justice

Since the earliest days of social work practice, social workers have dealt with environmental issues, advocating alongside diverse populations to address disproportionate environmental impacts on systemically marginalized populations including those living in poverty, populations of color, persons with disabilities, and women. In the face of the accelerating climate crisis, social workers must proactively engage with clients and communities and respond to the growing impacts of environmental injustices. This opening keynote presentation will share with attendees how meeting the historical aims of the profession advances the values and ethical mandates social workers abide by.

Speaker(s)

Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C, CEO, National Association of Social Workers

Raffaele Vitelli, CAE, Vice President, Professional Education and Product Development, National Association of Social Workers

Rachel Forbes, MSW, Associate Professor, University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work

Kelly Smith, DSW, Professor/Director, Institute for Social Work and Ecological Justice

Wed, Nov 1 at 11:15 am EDT
Break

Wed, Nov 1 at 11:30 am EDT
Plenary Session 1: Social Work Perspectives on Environmental Racism

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Overview

Social Work Perspectives on Environmental Racism (Macro Social Work CE)

Environmental racism continuously oppresses minoritized populations throughout the country and the world. Social workers can play a key role in the fight for environmental justice.  They can advocate for policies and practices that can create sustainable communities and limit damage to the environment. The social work profession and practitioners, alike, have powerful holistic skill sets, knowledge bases, and resources to advance goals set by communities suffering from these injustices.

Speaker(s)

Natalie Moore-Bembry, Ed.D, MSW, LCSW, Assistant Professor and BASW Program Director, Rutgers School of Social Work

Christine Morales, MSW, Assistant Dean, Rutgers School of Social Work

Mariann Bischoff, MSW, MS, LCSW, Assistant Professor, Rutgers School of Social Work

Wed, Nov 1 at 1:00 pm EDT
Break

Wed, Nov 1 at 1:15 pm EDT
Breakout 1A: Connecting Internationally – A Macros Social Work Perspective

Unfortunately, this session has been cancelled.  Please choose one of the other sessions for this timeslot.

Wed, Nov 1 at 1:15 pm EDT
Breakout 1B: Grand Challenges – Social Responses to a Changing Environment

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Overview

(Macro Social Work CE)

Environmental changes threaten human health and well-being in communities worldwide. population growth continues to be significant, and extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and severity. Environmental threats are a social justice issue: social, economic, and environmental inequities are deeply intertwined. People in poverty, children, older adults, members of racial or ethnic minority groups, and people with a history of mental health problems are especially vulnerable to the harmful impacts of environmental change.

Speaker(s)

Amy Krings, PhD, MSW, Associate Professor, Ohio State University College of Social Work

John Mathias, PhD, MSW, Assistant Professor, Florida State University College of Social Work

Wed, Nov 1 at 1:15 pm EDT
Breakout 1C: Addressing Mental Health and Climate Anxiety

Unfortunately, this session has been cancelled.  Please choose one of the other sessions for this timeslot.

Wed, Nov 1 at 2:45 pm EDT
Break

Wed, Nov 1 at 3:15 pm EDT
Breakout 2A: Addressing Toxins in Our Schools, Workplaces, and Homes

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Overview

(Social Work CE)

Lead, Mercury, Pesticides, Formaldehyde, Asbestos, and Benzene are all toxins that have been found in high-poverty schools across the country. How can social workers keep our children safe when they themselves are at risk? What do we do when these same substances are found in our homes? How do we know our rights when mold is found in the workplace? These threats to our everyday environment require emphatic responses from social workers on all levels. 

Speaker(s)

Leah Prussia, DSW, MSW, LICSW, Founder, Natural Connections, LLC

Wed, Nov 1 at 3:15 pm EDT
Breakout 2B: Food and Water Insecurity

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Overview

(Macro Social Work CE)

From Flint Michigan to Newark New Jersey, to Central Africa, food and water insecurity continues to be a major threat to human life. Unsafe drinking water and lack of access to sanitation are threats to indigenous persons’ health. Little miss flint, now 16, has spent most of her childhood fighting for safe water. Many communities who face unsafe drinking water also do not have access to sufficient food, or food of an adequate quality. Where did food deserts come from and how can the social work community address them? How do these larger problems affect our everyday clients? 

Speaker(s)

Andrew Lee, Interim General Manager and CEO, Seattle Public Utilities

Maryam Mason, Utility Discount Program Manager, Seattle Public Utilities

Tess Honan, Environmental Justice Advisor, Seattle Public Utilities

Liz Fikejs, Senior Waste Prevention Program Manager, Seattle Public Utilities

Tracy Tackett, GSI Expansion Infrastructure Initiative Manager, Seattle Public Utilities

Wed, Nov 1 at 3:15 pm EDT
Breakout 2C: Environmental Health Effects in Health Care Settings

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Overview

(Social Work CE)

Health care settings are a major contributor to harmful waste and emissions that can affect individuals and the environment at large. In this session we will identify what waste in the healthcare sector looks like, what a green healthcare sector would look like, and where the harmful emissions are coming from. What is the duty of Health Care Social Workers, if there is any responsibility at all? 

Speaker(s)

Lisa Patel, MD , MESc, FAAP, Executive Director, Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health

Wed, Nov 1 at 4:45 pm EDT
Break

Wed, Nov 1 at 5:00 pm EDT
Plenary Session 2 & Day 1 Closing Remarks

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Overview

5:00pm – 6:00pm (EST)

PLENARY SESSION 2 

Environmental Justice and Social Work Ethics (Ethics CE)

The NASW Code of Ethics is a set of standards that guide the professional conduct of social workers. In this session we will apply the code of ethics core principles of service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence to determine how to remain an ethical social worker when faced with environmental injustices. 

6:00pm – 6:15pm


CLOSING REMARKS - ADJOURN DAY ONE

Speaker(s)

Frederic G. Reamer, PhD, Professor Emeritus, School of Social Work, Rhode Island College

Yvonne Elder Chase, PhD, LCSW, ACSW, President, National Association of Social Workers, Associate Professor, University of Alaska

Thursday, November 2nd

Thu, Nov 2 at 10:00 am EDT
Day 2 Welcome & Plenary Session 3

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Overview

10:00am – 10:15am (EST)

WELCOME - DAY TWO

Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C
CEO
National Association of Social Workers

PARTICIPANT ENGAGEMENT
Raffaele Vitelli, CAE

Vice President
Professional Education and Product Development
National Association of Social Workers

10:15am – 11:45am


PLENARY SESSION 3 (Macro Social Work CE)

Public Policy and Advocacy Engagement

Justin D. Hodge, MSW
Clinical Assistant Professor of Social Work
University of Michigan School of Social Work

The social work profession was founded in social change. Throughout the profession’s history, social workers have sought to ensure that all people have equal access to the resources and opportunities that allow them to meet their basic needs. That effort is needed now as much as it ever has been. Health and medical experts agree — climate change is one of the greatest threats to human health, mental health and societal well-being that the world has ever faced. The toll on our health and economy will continue to rise if we delay action. This plenary session will address the public policy challenges and opportunities that the social work community has to make a difference in the legislative arena.

Speaker(s)

Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C, CEO

Raffaele Vitelli, CAE, Vice President, Professional Education and Product Development

Justin D. Hodge, MSW, Clinical Assistant Professor of Social Work

Thu, Nov 2 at 11:45 am EDT
Break

Thu, Nov 2 at 12:00 pm EDT
Breakout 3A: Population Displacement/Ecological Refugees

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Overview

(Social Work CE)

Environmental migrants, climate refugees, and ecological refugees have left their homes due to changes in the environmental area them. They are forced to leave their home because of the effects of climate change and global warming. What is the relationship between social workers and refugee service users? How can social workers be adequality prepared to work with this population and how can we advocate for them on a larger scale? 

Speaker(s)

Altaf Husain, PhD, MSW, Associate Professor

Thu, Nov 2 at 12:00 pm EDT
Breakout 3B: Community Organizing to Impact Environmental Justice

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Overview

(Macro Social Work CE)

Community organizing is a specialized field of social work that is devoted to restoring democracy at the grassroots level. A community organizer seeks to empower their community members through mobilizing efforts but is there a right way to organize for Environmental Justice? How can social workers ensure that their efforts are met with action? Picketing, fundraising, coalition building, canvassing, boycotting, sit-ins, petitioning, and electoral politics are ways in which a social worker can work toward meaningful change. Understanding what community organizing is can be aided by understanding what community organizing is not. 

Speaker(s)

Ben Fulgencio-Turner, MPP,

Thu, Nov 2 at 12:00 pm EDT
Breakout 3C: The Role of Education in Addressing Climate Change

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Overview

(Social Work CE)

Every social worker’s main goal is to help. We may want to help our fellow human beings, we may want to help animals, and we may want to help mother earth. Before we can help with anything, we must fully be educated on the issues. Why should we teach environmental justice and how do we get started? In this session we will identify resources on environmental educational programming and identify ways we can incorporate them in social work literature. 

Speaker(s)

Ande Nesmith, PhD, MSW, Professor

Thu, Nov 2 at 1:30 pm EDT
Break

Thu, Nov 2 at 2:00 pm EDT
Breakout 4A: Opportunities for Social Work Jobs in Climate Justice Work

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Overview

(Social Work CE)

At times, it feels impossible to find the perfect role in today’s job market. Many times, we do not know where to start. We feel like our past work experience will exclude us from getting into a new field of practice. In this session, we will deliver tools and approaches on how to build your resume around the role you want. What job titles and descriptions should we be looking into to become a climate justice social worker? 

Speaker(s)

Sojourner White, MSW (she/her/ella), Remote Social Worker

Bailey Fullwiler, MSSA, LSW, Eco Social Worker

Thu, Nov 2 at 2:00 pm EDT
Breakout 4B: Extreme Weather Disasters – No Community is Immune

Unfortunately, this session has been cancelled.  Please choose one of the other sessions for this timeslot.

Thu, Nov 2 at 2:00 pm EDT
Breakout 4C: Climate Change: Social Work Tools for Resilience

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Overview

(Social Work CE)

In this session we will take a lot on how Climate Change affects social workers and the profession. A social workers focus is supporting the most vulnerable, but what happens when we are all vulnerable to the changing environment? Social workers can address the impacts of climate change on both individuals and communities. 

Speaker(s)

Christina Erickson, PhD, MSW, Professor & Chair

Thu, Nov 2 at 3:30 pm EDT
Break

Thu, Nov 2 at 3:45 pm EDT
Plenary Session 4: Environmental Justice and Health Disparities

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Overview

(Social Work CE)

Air and water quality are fundamental determinants of our well-being. There are many factors that lead to disease and health disparities when where we live, learn, and work are plagued with social inequities. Redlining has caused Black and Brown communities to have less access to adequate education. This injustice only went further when it caused increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, and early mortality due to heart disease. Evidence shows that the suppression of education has suppressed economic opportunity and human capital. What role do social workers play in addressing a national wide crisis? 

Speaker(s)

Lacey Sloan, PhD, MSSW, Associate Professor

Susan Cashwell, PhD, LMSW BSW, Program Director

Christa C. Gilliam, PhD, MSW, Associate Professor

Thu, Nov 2 at 4:45 pm EDT
Break

Thu, Nov 2 at 5:00 pm EDT
Closing Keynote and Closing Remarks

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Overview

5:00pm – 6:00pm (EST)

CLOSING KEYNOTE PRESENTATION (Social Work CE)

Social Work Leadership: A Call to Action

The effects of climate change are evidenced both in the disasters prompted by extreme weather and in adverse health and mental health impacts on individuals and society. Social workers are uniquely positioned to play a substantive role in battling the core issue and address the acute and chronic health and behavioral health conditions brought about by climate change. This presentation will highlight the important leadership roles that social workers can play in environmental justice and resilience efforts. 

6:00pm – 6:15pm


CLOSING REMARKS/ADJOURNMENT

Speaker(s)

Hilary Weaver, DSW, Professor Emeritus of Social Work

Yvonne Elder Chase, PhD, LCSW, ACSW, President, National Association of Social Workers