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.

(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?

(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.

(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.

(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. 

(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? 

(Social Work CE)

Social work’s readiness to respond when a disaster occurs is more important than ever. The past year has demonstrated that no community can be considered immune to disasters. A record number of billion-dollar weather-related disasters, including hurricanes, tornados, flooding, and wildfires, have occurred during 2023. Social workers in every community should be prepared for the possibility that their skill, knowledge and experience may needed on micro, mezzo and macro levels. This session will explore the various roles social workers are capable of assuming when responding to a devastating disaster.