ONE MISSION: SOCIAL WORKERS UNITED FOR HOPE, HEALING AND ADVOCACY

November 4, 5 & 6, 2026

Madison Marriot West, 1313 John Q. Hammons Drive, Middleton, WI 53562

Presented by Debra Minsky-Kelly, MSW, LCSW

Social workers today face unprecedented challenges: a youth mental health crisis amid provider shortages, rapid advances in artificial intelligence, and shifting demographic and policy landscapes that strain the social safety net. This workshop will examine how these emerging issues intersect with social work ethics and boundaries. Together we will explore critical questions: How can we support youth mental health with declining resources? Is Artificial Intelligence a useful tool to increase productivity and efficiency or a new threat to youth and our profession? What is the role of social workers in responding to anti-DEI policies and other harms to vulnerable groups that our profession is committed to serving? Participants will leave with practical strategies for ethical decision-making and upholding professional boundaries in an era of uncertainty and change.

After completing this workshop, participants will understand:

• Demographic changes in the US/world and how this will impact the social service landscape
• The changing federal policy landscape and how this could impact social services and the social work profession
• The growing use of AI in many settings and the implications of this for social workers and those we serve
• The increasing prevalence of people seeking MH care from chatbots and the ethical implications of this for our profession
• The magnitude and potential causes of the current youth MH crisis
• The gender differences in mental health effects associated with technology
• The impact of the post - #MeToo era on boys and young men
• Ways a female-dominated field of social work can better address the MH needs of boys and men

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Presented by Kim Howard MSW, CAPSW

Social workers today live in a digital world balancing advocacy, education, and self-expression
online while also maintaining client confidentiality and professional integrity. But as more
professionals share content, case reflections, or advocacy posts, the line between storytelling
and a HIPAA violation can become dangerously thin.

This 4-hour workshop helps social workers navigate free speech, employer expectations, and
HIPAA confidentiality while using social media responsibly. Participants will explore the NASW
Code of Ethics, federal privacy laws, and workplace policies that guide online behavior. They’ll
leave with practical strategies to advocate, educate, and show up authentically without crossing
professional or legal boundaries.

4 Ethics and Boundaries Continuing Education Hours

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Cost:
Member - $85
Student or Retired Member - $65
Non-Member - $115

Presented by Nicholas, Smiar, PhD, ACSW, CISW

As a new technology, AI is rapidly expanding in scope and applications, especially in clinical social work, creating greater efficacy and efficiency in direct work with clients. However, we are running to catch up with the technology in regard to the ethical implications of the use of AI, especially in regard to informed consent, transparency, privacy safeguards, algorithmic fairness and bias, potential for misdiagnosis, and threats to autonomy. This workshop will lay out these implications and the ethical responses to them.

4 Ethics and Boundaries Continuing Education Hours

REGISTER

Cost:
Member - $85
Student or Retired Member - $65
Non-Member - $115

Presented by Jeanne Wagner, MSW, LCSW, ACSW

Statement of Rationale: The management of ethics, boundaries and confidentiality is especially critical for human service professionals and is in a constant state of change. This workshop will address the unique issues encountered during the provision of social services including the emergence of artificial intelligence, managed care, dramatic federal policy changes, workforce challenges, and the ethical implications.

Objectives, Content: Participants will gain increased awareness of the complicated nature of professional ethics and boundaries and will learn techniques for ethical decision-making. This program is designed to be interactive as participants share challenging ethical issues encountered while providing services both inside and outside the office setting. Ethical decision-making processes will be addressed in a variety of contexts using case examples and best practice models to identify and address complicated scenarios within human service organizations. Participants will learn how to utilize a professional Code of Ethics in managing ethical dilemmas in practice settings.

Learning Goals:

• Identify the range of ethical dilemmas and professional boundaries in human services
• Learn how artificial intelligence (AI) is impacting many aspects of social services today
• Discuss approaches to address the conflicts that have arisen from the recent changes to public policies and the conflict with ethical practice
• Discuss the impact of technology on clients and the ethical considerations and pros and cons of utilizing technology in practice settings
• Increase awareness of the complicated nature of professional boundaries
• Identify risks that may affect professional liability

4 Ethics and Boundaries Continuing Education Hours

REGISTER

Cost: