2021 Continuing Education Offerings

Presented by Toscha J Wilkins, MSW, LCSW-A

2 Continuing Education Hours
 

Social workers are increasingly navigating high caseloads, complex client needs, and systemic pressures that contribute to overwhelm, decision fatigue, and diminished clinical clarity. Without intentional strategies, these challenges can impact ethical practice, professional sustainability, and the quality of care provided to at-risk populations. This interactive session explores practical, trauma-informed strategies to help social workers strengthen focus, establish effective boundaries, and make confident, values-aligned decisions in demanding practice environments. Participants will explore how cognitive overload and chronic stress influence attention, judgment, and professional effectiveness, and will learn actionable strategies to reset, refocus, and respond with greater clarity. Through guided reflection and skill-building exercises, attendees will identify patterns that contribute to overwhelm and develop tools to enhance both personal sustainability and clinical impact. This session aims to re-energize practitioners and equip them with practical approaches to support ethical, effective, and resilient social work practice.
Learning Objectives:

• Identify the impact of overwhelm and cognitive overload on clinical decision-making, boundaries, and overall effectiveness in social work practice.
• Apply practical, trauma-informed strategies to strengthen focus, manage competing demands, and maintain professional boundaries in high-demand environments. 
• Utilize approaches that support clinical clarity and values-aligned decision-making to enhance ethical, sustainable, and effective work with at-risk populations.

COST:
$50 Members
$40 Sudent or Retired Members
$70.00 Non-Mmebers

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 Navigating Unethical Conduct of Colleagues

Date: Friday, November 20, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm CT 

Presenter: NASW-IL Chapter Ethics Committee Member Vince Cieslak, MSW, LCSW, CADC, CDVP

Virtual Platform: Zoom Meeting

Cost: 1.0 Ethics CEU | $30 Nonmember | $10 IL/MO/WI Member | $17 Other NASW State Chapter Member

Register: 43030 11.20.26 Navigating Unethical Conduct

Presented by Greg Scheetz (he/him), LCSW

Target Audience: Mental Health Professionals, including LCSWs, LPCs, LMHCs, LMFTs, PsyDs, PhDs, and students/clinical interns.

Gender-affirming medical care has repeatedly been shown to be a safe and effective method for treating symptoms of Gender Dysphoria for transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) individuals. Despite this awareness, TGNC individuals continue to face many obstacles and restrictions with accessing this type of care. For individuals who are seeking gender-affirming surgery, one of these obstacles is to obtain a “letter of readiness” from a mental health professional. This training is designed to support mental health professionals who want to assist TGNC individuals by providing these letters and increasing access to life-saving care.

Presentation Goals:

1. Attendees will be able to describe several examples of gender-affirming care.
2. Attendees will gain an increased understanding of the process to obtain a gender-affirming surgery and the mental health professional’s role in this process.
3. Attendees will gain an increased understanding of the content included in a letter of support for gender-affirming surgery.
4. Attendees will discuss ideas for mental health professionals to better support transgender individuals who are seeking gender-affirming surgeries.

2 Continuing Education Hours

Cost:
Members - $50
Student or Retired Members - $40
Non-Members - $70

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Presented by Lessep Duncan, PhD, LCSW 

One Continuing Education Hour

A significant number of the US population experience issues of isolation and loneliness which is increasingly viewed as a public health crisis. Enhancing social connection (a crucial determinants of health) reduces the risk of social isolation and contributes to a positive and fulfilling life. Social and public health services practices need to apply effective approaches to address the needs of vulnerable or at risk populations facing limited or a lack of human connection.
This presentation aims to provide a forum to discuss the need to identify and address the presence and impact of social isolation and loneliness particularly on the elderly population.
Discussion will focus on:

• Acknowledging and addressing the existence and impact of social isolation and loneliness.
• The relationship between social, physical and mental health.
•  Identifying & examining risk factors that lead to or result from social isolation and loneliness
• Identifying best practices and services to address social isolation and loneliness.

Learning Objectives
After attending this workshop participants will:
1. Increase their awareness of and sensitivity to clients facing social isolation.
2. Recognize the impact on the emotional and physical health on clients dealing with social isolation and loneliness.
3. Learn and better understand the difference between social isolation and loneliness.
4. Understand the importance of human/social connection.
5. Enhance their interventions with individuals, or clients facing issues of social isolation and loneliness

COST:
Members - $25
Student & Retired Members - $20
Non-Members - $35

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Presented by Jeanne Wagner, LCSW MSW

4 Ethics & Boundaries CEHs

Statement of Rationale: The management of ethics, boundaries and confidentiality is especially critical for human service professionals. This workshop will address the unique needs and ethical challenges in work with older adults in healthcare and home settings as well as in the interactions with their family members.
 
Objectives, Content: Participants will increase awareness of the complicated nature of professional ethics and boundaries in their work with older adults 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 in multiple settings. Participants will also learn about the importance of assessing various aspects of their programs and related policies and procedures to protect clients and staff and reduce professional risk. 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. The NASW Code of Ethics will be utilized throughout this workshop as a guide in the ethical decision-making process.
 Learning Goals:

• Identify the unique ethical challenges in working with older adults and their families
• Identify how technology in practice has both benefits and risks
• Increase awareness of the complications in ethical decision making with older adults and the moral versus ethical dilemmas
• Identify risks that may affect our professional liability
• Identify what policies, procedures, and protocols are necessary to address the ethical and boundary concerns in your organization

COST:
Members - $85
Student & Retired Members - $65
Non-Mmebers - $115

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