Continuing Education Lifelong Learning Doctorate Social Work Conference

Doctorate Social Work Conference

National Conference on DSW Education and Social Work

April 25, 2025

DSW at the Helm: Leading Social Work Through Today's Uncharted Waters.

Workshop Overview

Welcome to the fourth national conference dedicated to DSW education and social work! This year’s conference will take place virtually on April 25, 2025, via Zoom hosted by The University of Alabama. The conference is designed for prospective, current, and graduated DSW students as well as doctoral faculty and program directors. There will be discussions on the current landscape of DSW education, the career trajectories of DSW graduates, and networking opportunities for DSW students.

Available DatesApril 25, 2025
Time9:30 a.m.- 5:15 p.m. CST
LocationThis workshop will be entirely virtual. The Zoom link will be sent out one week before the workshop’s start.
Workshop FeeStudents – $15
Professionals – $25.

Request for Award Nominees

The following is a link to a survey that describes each award in detail. You can then nominate those who are most deserving. The deadline for Award Nomination is April 11, 2025.

Schedule at a Glance

Please note that all times are in the Central time zone.

DSW 2025
TimeSessionTopic
9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.Keynote Address: Dr. Carmen Reese Foster
10:30 – 10:45 a.m.Break
10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.Concurrent Sessions(Choose One)
Oral Presentation 1
Equity in Health Care
Do you have that in Black? Considering Patient-Provider Racial Concordance in Social Work, a call to action
Taking on the Grand Challenge of Health Gap Closure: DSWs Working to Prevent Preventable Deaths
Empowering Social Workers to Close the Health Gap: Advancing Perinatal Mental Health Education in Social Work Programs
Oral Presentation 2
Professional Development and Challenges
Breaking Barriers in Social Work Licensure: Challenges, Equity, and Reform. A Look at Alabama Licensure Processes and ASWB Examination
Leading Social Workers to Navigate the Uncharted Ethical Waters of Quiet Quitting
Bridging the Gap: Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for BIPOC Men in Social Work
Oral Presentation 3
SW Education and Student Support
Empowering Generation Z in Social Work Education: Strengths-Based Strategies to Enhance Motivation, Attention, and Self-Belief
Integrating Social Justice into the BSW Curriculum: Challenges and Opportunities
Gatekeeping in Social Work Education: How Students with Mental Health Needs are Impacted
Community, Curiosity, and Fun: Educator and students share their unique journey of discovery from a master’s level course on the DSM 5 TR
12:15 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.Break
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.Concurrent Sessions(Choose One)
Oral Presentation 4
DSW Education and Leadership
A Scoping Review of Capstone Requirements for DSW Programs
“Navigating the Publication Journey: A Guide for Early-Career Social Work Academics.”
Preparing DSW students to become scholar-practitioner leaders of the future social work profession
Charting a Course for Connection: Strategies to Humanize Online DSW Education
Oral Presentation 5
SW Education and Anti-Racism
Transforming Competencies in Anti-Racism, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: A Relational-Cultural Theory Approach in Social Work Education and Continuing Education
Cultivating Liberatory Classrooms: Strategies for Relational, Anti-racist Teaching in Social Work Education
Preparing Social Workers to Address Racial Injury
School social work and anti-racist practices
Oral Presentation 6
Trauma-Informed Approaches
Healing Wounds in Cross-Cultural Therapy: An Integrative Approach for Adolescent Relational Trauma
End Of Sentence (EOS)-Trauma Doesn’t Have to be Life Without Parole: Can incorporating trauma-informed care for incarcerated or formerly incarcerated individuals create pathways for healing and success?
Social Workers’ Perspectives of the Effectiveness of EMDR in Telehealth for PTSD Patients
Trauma Exposure: Are Social Workers Prepared?
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.Poster Sessions:How Do Child Protective Service (CPS) Policies Keep Employees Safe: A Caseworker’s Perspective
Addressing Mental and Behavioral Health Issues Among the Youth
Bariatric Education and Wellness (B.E. Well): An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Based Postoperative Bariatric Psycho-Behavioral Intervention
Changing the Narrative: Evaluating the Impact of an Age-Positive Training Program in Healthcare
Engaging Undocumented Parents in Their Children’s Educational Career Through Trauma-Informed Expressive Arts
Social Workers’ Utilization of Wellness Plans to Reduce Readmissions
Child Sexual Abuse and Eating Disorders
Empowering Social Work Students for Leadership: Building Bridges Between Education and Practice
Wellness Base Approach to Treatment: Just Practice Framework
Charting Progress: Measurement-Based Care for Leadership, Accountability, and Improved Outcomes
Sexual Healing in Social Work Education
Combatting Social Isolation in Uniform: Creating Connection with Design Thinking
Framework Analysis: Integrating Illness Management and Recovery to Improve Employment Outcomes in Outpatient Mental Health Care
Families Grow: Decreasing Barriers for Autism Spectrum Disorder Evaluations In Children Under Three Years To Expedite Early Interventions
Charting a Course Through the Fog: Defining Secondary Traumatic Stress, Compassion and Empathy Fatigue, Vicarious Trauma, and Burnout in Trauma-Exposed Work for Mental Health Professionals
Healing Together: Navigating Shared Trauma, Self-Care, and Supervision for QTPOC Clinicians
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.Concurrent Sessions(Choose One)
Oral Presentations 7
LGBTQ+ and Gender Studies
Mental Health Outcomes for GBTQ Men: A Determinants Approach
LGBTQIA+ Spaces: Moving Past Performative Allyship and Into Affirming Social Work Practices
Building Inclusive Seminars: Centering the Needs of LGBTQIA+ Social Work Students
Masculine Change Theory (MCT): A Framework for Transforming Masculinity in Social Work Education and Practice
Oral Presentations 8
Innovation in Practice
Piloting Equine- and Nature-Assisted Learning in Social Work Education: Advancing Non-Verbal, Experiential and Somatic Competencies
9B. Earth-Centered Theory: Challenge to Conceptualization of Environment and the Earth in Social Work
9C. Can Libraries Be Liberatory Spaces? Compassionate Crisis Intervention and Re-Imagining Security in the Public Library
9D. Enhancing Social Interaction, Inclusion, and Equity: The Role of Assistance Dogs and Addressing the Impact of Loss
Oral Presentations 9
SW Education | Approaches to Teaching Social Justice
“Social Justice and the Role of Social Work Educators: Inspiring the Next Generation”
10B. Integrating Afrocentric Theatre and Storytelling into Social Work Education for Empowerment and Social Justice
10C. Professor-in-Environment: Ethics, Advocacy, and Anti-Racist Practices in Social Work Education
10D. Integrating Social Justice into the BSW Curriculum: Challenges and Opportunities
3:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.Concurrent Sessions(Choose One)
Oral Presentations 10
Expanding Access to MH Care
Unpacking the Layers: The Adultification of Black Girls and Its Impact on Access to Education and Mental Health Services
11B. Supporting Staff and the Community Following Mass Tragedy
11C. Conceptualizing Substance Abuse Treatment for Those with Mild and Borderline Intellectual Disabilities
Oral Presentations 11
SW Education- Wellness and Self-Care Approaches
Establishing A Foundation of Holistic Wellness: A Feasibility Study of Self-Care Practices & Self-Compassion Among BSW Practicum Students
12B. Prioritizing Innovative Self-Care in Social Work Education
12C. Gatekeeping in Social Work Education: How Students with Mental Health Needs are Impacted
12D. Upholding JEDI Practices by Applying Trauma-Informed Supervision in Social Work Practicum Education
Oral Presentations 12
Cultural Competency and Service
This Ain’t Cupcake Island: Navigating False Hopes and Social Work’s Role with Undocumented Latinx Immigrants
13B. “Breaking Barriers: Tackling Cultural and Systemic Challenges in Latinx Mental Health Access”
13C. Colorless Care: The Role of Cultural Competence in Social Work
13D. The Role of Social Workers in Addressing Social Work Grand Challenges through Culturally Adaptive Parenting for Black Families

Registration

The student registration fee is $15 and the professional registration fee is $25.

Special Accommodation Requests

The University of Alabama is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Requests for accommodation of physical and/or dietary needs should be made at least 30 calendar days in advance of the program date. Please email your request to professionaldevelopment@ua.edu.

Need our STAARS Vendor Number? Please use VC000118827 for UA Office of Teaching Innovation and Digital Education.

A portion of the invoice amount for this program will go to the Capstone Lifelong Learning Foundation to support activities of The University of Alabama and the Office of Teaching Innovation and Digital Education.

Cancellation Policy

A cancellation charge of 100% of the registration fee will be assessed on cancellations occurring within seven (7) days of the start of this session. Refunds will not be granted after the program has begun. The University of Alabama reserves the right to cancel, postpone, or combine class sections, to limit registration, or to change instructors. Contact the Registration Services department at 205-348-3000 or registration_services@ua.edu to cancel your registration. View the OTIDE Cancellation Policy.

Sponsorship Opportunities

As a sponsor or exhibitor of the CTF Grantee Training, your business will reach a targeted and engaged audience interested in learning and developing their toolbox. Select the option that best fits your needs.

Individual Sponsorship Options
  • Participant contact list: $100
  • Logo on conference materials: $150
  • Virtual conference booth: $250

Sponsorship Packages

Silver Sponsorship: $200 ($50 savings)
  • Participant contact list
  • Logo on conference materials
Gold Sponsorship: $300 ($200 savings)
  • Participant contact list
  • Logo on conference materials
  • Virtual conference booth

Thank You, Conference Sponsors!

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors


Questions about the event?

Contact Amanda Bergeron for more information.