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
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Cost:
Friday, March 20th, 2026, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Presented by Sheng Lee Yang, MSW, LCSW, PMH-C
Social workers often face tough choices when professional values and legal duties collide. How do you protect confidentiality, respect each person’s dignity, promote fairness, and support self-determination while also following laws on mandatory reporting, duty to warn, or emergency detentions? These gray areas can be stressful, especially when quick decisions are required.
This training offers practical tools to handle these challenges across different settings and age groups. Participants will learn how to use the NASW Code of Ethics, Wisconsin’s MPSW 20 rules, and Reamer’s Seven-Step Ethical Decision-Making Model to guide their work. Real case examples will explore the balance between client autonomy and safety, the limits of confidentiality, and how documentation and decision-making can affect power and trust.
Through discussion and case studies with children, teens, adults, and vulnerable adults, participants will build skills to make thoughtful, defensible choices while keeping clients at the center. By the end of the session, attendees will leave with more confidence and clear strategies for staying true to professional values, even when the best path forward isn’t obvious.
1. Identify key principles of the NASW Code of Ethics and Wisconsin’s MPSW 20 rules that guide decision-making in challenging situations.
2. Analyze case examples to recognize conflicts between confidentiality, safety, self-determination, and legal reporting requirements.
3. Apply Reamer’s Seven-Step Ethical Decision-Making Model to work through real-world ethical dilemmas across different age groups and settings.
4. Demonstrate strategies to explain, document, and justify ethical decisions in a way that protects clients’ dignity and supports sound professional practice.
4 Ethics and Boundaries Continuing Education Hours
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Cost:
Members - $85
Student and Retired Members - $65
Non-Mmebers - $115
Thursday, February 12th, 2026, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM CST
Presented by Brenda J. Stueber, MSSW
“Bridging the Generational Divide: Ethical Practice in Social Work Across Generations” is a four-hour interactive webinar designed to help social workers understand how generational differences shape values, communication styles, work expectations, and help-seeking behaviors. Through case studies, small-group discussion, and reflection, participants will explore how age-based assumptions and biases can impact engagement, assessment, and intervention. Grounded in the NASW Code of Ethics, this session will focus on practical strategies to build generational intelligence, strengthen cross-generational collaboration, and promote ethical, culturally responsive practice with clients, colleagues, and communities of all ages.
4 Ethics and Boundaries Continuing Education Hours
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Cost:
Members - $85
Student or Retired Members - $65
Non-Members - $115
Wednesday, February 25th, 2026, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CST
Presented by Lisa S. Panisch, PHD, MSW and Bryan G. Victor, PHD, MSW
This webinar will discuss the topic of betrayal trauma and its relevance to the child welfare-involved youth and families. We will define Betrayal Trauma Theory and discuss specific forms of betrayal trauma, including Institutional Betrayal Trauma and Cultural Betrayal Trauma, providing examples of each in the context of child welfare. The impact of betrayal trauma will be explored from an intergenerational perspective, along with strategies for identifying betrayal trauma and its consequences. The webinar will conclude with a discussion of considerations for strengths-based, trauma-informed treatment planning and relational healing.
One Continuing Education Hour
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Cost:
Members - $25
Student or Retired Members - $20
Non-Members - $35