2023 Fall Virtual Forum - Day 1

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2023 Fall Virtual Forum - Day 1

  • (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? 

    Lisa Patel, MD , MESc, FAAP

    Executive Director

    Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health

  • 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.

    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

  • 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.

    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

  • (Cross Cultural CE)

    International social work or global social work deals with universal problems experienced by people around the world. What skills do you need to have to be an international social worker? In this session we will address what international environmental justice causes social workers should be focused on, how we can address these problems in our everyday lives, and what we do once we are in the field. Cultural competence is of the utmost importance when working with clients and organizations from other countries. As social workers – where do we start?

    Michael Cronin, PhD, LCSW

    Associate Professor

    Monmouth University School of Social Work

  • (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.

    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

  • (Clinical Social Work CE)

    The American Psychology Association (APA) describes eco-anxiety as “the chronic fear of environmental cataclysm that comes from observing the seemingly irrevocable impact of climate change and the associated concern for one's future and that of next generations” Climate anxiety is a fast-growing term used to describe a collection of symptoms triggered by long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns. climate anxiety is characterized by a chronic fear of environmental doom that’s often paralyzing and debilitating, and it can sometimes be exacerbated by existing anxiety disorders. This session will discuss this growing issue and outline processes to address it.

    Nicole Hill, MPH

    Research and Marketing Manager

    ecoAmerica

  • (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. 

    Leah Prussia, DSW, MSW, LICSW

    Founder

    Natural Connections, LLC

  • (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? 

    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

  • 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

    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