Annual Social Work Conference

Dawn Brown, M.S.W.

Dawn Brown is the Executive Director for the National Association of Social Workers Florida and Virgin Islands Chapters. She received her BA in Human Development from Boston College and her MSW degree from the University of South Florida. Dawn has worked in Child Welfare and Oncology Social Work. Most recently she served as the Chair of the Online MSW Program at the University of South Florida for five years. While at USF Dawn participated as a mentor in the USF Black Faculty and Staff Association’s Mentor Program.   

Although Dawn values all levels of social work practice, her passion resides in macro practice, in particularly legislation and policy advocacy. Prior to becoming the Executive Director of the National Association of Social Workers for the Florida and Virgin Islands Chapter she was the National Association of Social Worker Florida Chapter (NASW-FL) Legislative Committee Chair. As the NASW-FL Legislative Committee Chair, she led 14 Legislative Unit Chairs from across Florida and also Special Interest Chairs (Child Welfare, Veterans and Military Families, Social Work Licensure, School Social Work and Behavioral Health). Dawn serves on the NASW-FL PACE (Political Action for Candidate Election) Committee and is part of the NASW National Delegate Assembly, which helps inform policy statements in Social Work Speaks and the Code of Ethics. Dawn was honored as the 2020 NASW Florida Chapter Social Work Educator of the Year.

Donald L. Dixon, Ph.D., M.S.W.

Dr. Donald L. Dixon has been the Florida Divisional Social Services Director for the Salvation Army since 2014.  He is a social worker and has an extensive background in public social services, financing strategies, mental health and child welfare, spanning more than 35 years.  He was an adjunct professor in the School of Social Work at the University of South Florida for 13 years where he taught primarily social welfare policy. Dr. Dixon is married, the proud father of two children, grandfather of five and great grandfather of one.

Joyce Hamilton, Ph.D., M.S.W.

Joyce Hamilton is the Director of Statewide Initiatives at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida and is based in the Tampa office.

She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Relations from the University of Connecticut, a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work, and a doctorate degree in Social Policy from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University.

She has been employed by the ACLU of Florida for the past 14 years and has worked in the areas of policy, advocacy, and development. She has worked with local, state, and national organizations to address a range of civil liberties and civil rights issues including felon enfranchisement, voting rights, immigrant rights, LGBT rights, juvenile justice, criminal justice, racial justice, and police practices.

Dr. Hamilton was a psychiatric social worker at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Connecticut. She was the Director of the Office of Multicultural Programs at the University of Hartford. In that capacity, she developed and implemented programs to assist with the recruitment and retention of students of color and addressed broader issues of diversity and inclusion on the campus. She was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Hartford for 20 years where she taught in African American Studies and in the Departments of Sociology and Psychology. Her areas of expertise include race and ethnic relations, Caribbean immigrants, voting rights, and civic engagement.

She is published in the field of social work and has presented regionally, nationally, and internationally on a range of topics. She is the author of No One Asked Us: The Under-representation of African Americans and Latinos on Local Boards and Commissions and has co-authored several papers on West Indian immigrants.

Dr. Hamilton is an activist for racial and social justice, works tirelessly to amplify the voices of underrepresented and marginalized groups, and encourages involvement in the civic and political process.

Lisa Rapp-McCall, Ph.D.

Dr. Lisa Rapp-McCall is a Professor of Social Work at Saint Leo University. She holds a BA in Psychology from Le Moyne College. She received her MSW degree in Social Work from the University of Buffalo and worked as a Psychiatric Social Worker in the areas of Domestic Violence, Children and Adolescent psychiatric inpatient and outpatient services, Crisis Counseling, and in the Juvenile Justice system. She earned her PhD in Social Welfare at the University of Buffalo and has taught for 24 years at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, the University of South Florida and currently at Saint Leo University.

She has received funding from state and local entities and has conducted program evaluations for government and non-profits including Florida Department of juvenile justice, Nevada Department of Child and Family Services, Pasco Sheriff’s Office, Prodigy, and Pinellas County Crossover program. Her research expertise focuses on: violence prevention, child abuse, school violence, human trafficking, as well as program evaluation. She was awarded the 2021 Sol Gothard Lifetime Achievement award from the National Organization of Forensic Social Work and is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Social Workers’ Desk Reference, 4^th edition.

Keynote Follow Up

Dawn Brown, M.S.W.

Keynote Follow Up

Joyce Hamilton, Ph.D., M.S.W.

Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy: Innovations in Practice and Policy

Elizabeth Ruegg

This presentation will examine the mechanisms of effectiveness in animal-assisted interventions through the lens of attachment theory and demonstrate how interventions with animals can be included as therapeutic objectives in psychotherapy treatment plans. Next, issues impacting the inclusion of animal-assisted interventions in clinical practice will be examined, including the resources needed to engage in this work successfully. Contraindications and cultural considerations will be explored. Finally, the need for practice standards for social workers involved in animal-assisted interventions will be examined. NASW has yet to endorse practice competencies for social workers providing animal-assisted interventions, and the “time is right” to develop social work-specific practice standards for animal-assisted interventions.

Law Enforcement and Social Workers: A Behavioral Health System for Stabilization and Treatment Rather Than the Criminal Justice System

Debra Mimms and Charlotte Braziel

Join Virtual Presentation

Passcode: 117069

Civil unrest and the COVID pandemic have exacerbated mental instability for many individuals. Police encounter individuals with mental health problems, developmental disabilities, homelessness, and substance abuse problems on a regular basis. The truth is, every officer will routinely interact with mentally ill and emotionally disturbed citizens, whether they want to or not. 90% of officers on patrol have an average of six encounters with individuals in crisis each month, and 7% to 10% of all police encounters involve people affected by mental illness. One out of 10 individuals encounter police in the pathway to mental health care, and one out of 100 police dispatches and encounters involve people with mental disorders. The magnitudes of these types of societal issues have far exceeded what law enforcement and mental health providers can effectively address alone. These instances trap individuals in the revolving criminal justice cycle of arrest, incarceration, release, and re-engagement with police. Because the police are on the frontlines, they have inherited social and economic responsibilities they may not be adequately trained or possess the skills to address. Policing must be more than crime fighting to address order maintenance, social services, and general assistant duties. Working closely with police, agencies have incorporated trained police officers, medical personnel, social workers, and therapy dog teams when responding to mental health, family disturbances, and substance abuse calls. Embedded social workers have become a bridge to conventional caseworkers, collaborating with the police to assist and respond to people with mental illness. They assess, often on the scene, the needs of the person in crisis. Their expertise helps them quickly connect the person to receiving the best help, specific to the person's needs. It's often proving more effective than an officer making a general referral to a caseworker far removed from the initial incident. The earlier the intervention, the increased likelihood that criminalization will be reduced. Police officers engaging with social workers and mental health care providers on the street offer an opportunity to deter an individual's first engagement and cycling through the criminal justice process. Social work is a very important aspect of emergency services, but it's not a one-stop solution for everything. Due to the complexity of these responses and the safety risks to both those in crisis and the responders, it is unlikely law enforcement will be removed from the equation. The relationships of all agencies working together have to be developed through trust, good communication, and a common goal for the community. The efforts to bring a unified team of professionals together to handle each situation will provide a better service to those experiencing a crisis and, hopefully, a better outcome. 

Emotions of a Child: Rethinking Anger, Grief, and Anxiety

Erica Wortherly

Are we Doing Everything to Address Hurt? When a child becomes frustrated and angry, what actions are taken? After a loved one, neighbor, or member of the community has died, how do you explain it to the children? If there are significant changes in a home or at school and a child appears fearful, what words do you use to support them? It is important to have open conversations with children about difficult emotions in a way that normalizes them as a part of life and the emotions are experienced by everyone in various ways. Participants will exchange ideas about how to work with children and adults when emotional regulation appears to be the primary concern.

Ex-Military Saint Leo University MSW Students Panel Discussion on Becoming Change Agents in a National and International Theatre

Patricia Senger, Libra Joseph, Kaitlin Marquez, Miranda Oddo Gullett, and Christopher Horn

MSW social workers are at the forefront of leading dynamic change for our nation and for our world. This panel of current MSW students who have also retired from the United States military will discuss their prior related work experiences working in this field, which will prove to be an eye-opening and thought provoking experience for participants who attend this panel discussion. Their collective backgrounds include military experience in international and national locales, working with sexual assault, domestic violence, and addiction issues. Each of these current MSW students have become profoundly impacted by what they have experienced and will discuss in a panel discussion format their experiences working without an MSW degree and also how they plan to utilize their (future) MSW degrees, incorporating both their experiences and their graduate education. Social workers help veterans, active service members and their families work through mental health and emotional challenges, providing therapy, risk assessments, and counseling and manage veterans programs for issues including but not limited to suicide prevention, polytrauma rehabilitation and spinal cord injuries. In addition, social workers provide evidence-based therapy to veterans who have PTSD, depression, and substance abuse issues. Trauma-informed social work requires social workers to recognize the signs of trauma, acknowledge the impact of trauma, identify paths to address the effects of trauma experience, and provide interventions aimed at the prevention of further trauma. Participants will have the opportunity ask our panel members and their professor questions about how to both enter military social work which has one of the highest entry salaries in the US today, both with and without prior military experience, to become dynamic leaders for profound change. Social workers have been serving veterans since 1926, however as a profession clinically trained social workers can become transformational leaders for change.

Best Practices for Improved Outcomes with Opioid Use Disorders

Michael Campbell

The opioid epidemic has devastated communities and families in profound ways. Evidence-based treatments are emerging, and they require practitioners know the scope of the issues related to Opioid Use Disorders (OUD) and opportunities to partner with families to promote healthy change. This presentation outlines this dynamic and highlights the opportunity for care providers to forge coalitions with families impacted by OUD to create lasting outcomes. We will discuss the challenges of health promotion and efforts to encourage behavior change through a collaborative dialogue on best practices with implementation.

Treating Complex Trauma in Human Trafficking Survivors: From Crisis to Long-term Aftercare

Lisa Rapp-McCall and Kristen Bracy, MA, MSW

Join Virtual Presentation

Passcode: 117069

According to Polaris (Polarisproject.org, 2022) there are over 25 million victims of human trafficking worldwide, supplying a $150 billion dollar industry (International Law Office, 2017). The Polaris project (2022) has noted increases in Human Trafficking cases every year since its inception. Within the past few years, online recruitment has increased, particularly via social media. Vulnerable groups such as: early adolescents, homeless youth, refugees, and women are especially at-risk. Human trafficking includes forced Labor, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, among others and is found throughout the world and in every state of the United States. Both urban and rural areas have trafficking issues which often go undetected. The state of Florida is a hotspot for trafficking in the U.S., and studies indicate that more and more victims are reaching out for help, however it often goes unnoticed by professionals (Doran et al., 2014). Studies have noted significant trauma to victim/survivors physically, psychologically, socially, and spiritually (Hopper et al., 2018) and their needs are different than survivors of other types of trauma. Many times, this complex trauma is further exacerbated by addiction issues, forced criminal behavior, language barriers, and housing and employment instability. In order to effectively assess and provide effective long-term treatment for survivors, social work professionals need to be fully informed. This presentation will provide updated, evidence supported information including: a brief review of human trafficking definitions, forms, recruiting and grooming tactics, types of trauma human trafficking survivors experience, therapeutic needs at distinct phases of treatment, and long-term treatment goals for effective rehabilitation of survivors.

Building Social Worker's Capacity to Advocate in Uncertain Times

Robert Lucio, Melanie Birken, and Lenny Mujika

This presentation will assist social workers in building the capacity to advocate for the profession and the students, families, schools, and communities we serve. Beyond the basics of advocacy, participants will be guided through an application of the advocacy process to strengthen the skills needed to be an effective agents of change. Now more than ever, social workers are critical advocates for the social injustices our clients are facing. We will also explore how to analyze legislation and develop effective talking points.

Culturally Responsive Trauma-Informed Approaches in Schools

Jasmine Haynes, Khalilah Louis Caines, and Itunu Ilesanmi

As schools increasingly strive to incorporate trauma-informed approaches to meet the needs of students impacted by trauma, such approaches lacking racial equity can be a source of harm for racially/ethnically diverse students. A primary tenet of trauma-informed care includes an awareness of the racial and cultural needs of vulnerable groups. Therefore, there is a need to acknowledge the impact of racial trauma on school climate. Culturally responsive trauma-informed care is one approach for schools to support the needs of racially/ethnically diverse students. This workshop will provide practical approaches to incorporate culturally responsive trauma-informed approaches to support students in school settings.

The Human-Animal Bond in Social Work Practice: A Call to Action

Debra Mimms and Nancy Wood

Research on the effects of the human-animal bond as a facilitator of healthy change in individual’s lives has long been acknowledged. Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) in the field of Social Work can help bridge the connection and help to foster trust between a social worker and a client. Animal Assisted Social Work is an evolving therapeutic practice for skilled practitioners looking for new, innovative strategies with which to connect and incorporate into a social work practice, particularly with children as social work clients. Many social workers are unaware of the social, physical, and psychological benefits of companion animals or are not including AAI in their interventions with clients. AAI can be a useful tool for social workers to impart socialization skills and enhance physical health. Animals have been used across many spectrums to help comfort those who have been victims of trauma, support military veterans with PTSD, uplift those fighting depression, anxiety and those will physical or mental disabilities; in hospices to improve quality of end-of-life care for patients, and in work with children of disabilities.  Social workers are involved with people experiencing all levels of crisis, from homelessness, domestic violence and mental illness. Incorporating questions about animals during client intake can help distinguish links between animal abuse and child abuse, domestic violence, elderly abuse, and criminal behavior. The human-animal bond (HAB) and the practice of AAI in the profession of social work have shown to have potential benefits in the lives of individuals, families and communities as a whole. Social workers are in a position to help address situations in which individuals can no longer financially care for their animals or where individuals find themselves in circumstances such as domestic violence, housing, animal hoarding or medical issues. Understanding the relevance in which animal assisted interventions and the human-animal relationship can assist social workers in responding to and supporting client’s needs.

Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy: Innovations in Practice and Policy

Elizabeth Ruegg

Join Virtual Presentation

Passcode: 117069

This presentation will examine the mechanisms of effectiveness in animal-assisted interventions through the lens of attachment theory and demonstrate how interventions with animals can be included as therapeutic objectives in psychotherapy treatment plans. Next, issues impacting the inclusion of animal-assisted interventions in clinical practice will be examined, including the resources needed to engage in this work successfully. Contraindications and cultural considerations will be explored. Finally, the need for practice standards for social workers involved in animal-assisted interventions will be examined. NASW has yet to endorse practice competencies for social workers providing animal-assisted interventions, and the “time is right” to develop social work-specific practice standards for animal-assisted interventions.

The Prism Practice: How Micro, Mezzo, and Macro Practice Can Support Civic Engagement

Christina Cazanave, Sha’leda Mirra, and Ebony N. Perez

In this session we will discuss the importance of civic engagement as a critical function of social work by providing tools for practitioners to implement within their own practice.

Treating Complex Trauma in Human Trafficking Survivors: From Crisis to Long-term Aftercare

Lisa Rapp-McCall and Kristen Bracy, MA, MSW

According to Polaris (Polarisproject.org, 2022) there are over 25 million victims of human trafficking worldwide, supplying a $150 billion dollar industry (International Law Office, 2017). The Polaris project (2022) has noted increases in Human Trafficking cases every year since its inception. Within the past few years, online recruitment has increased, particularly via social media. Vulnerable groups such as: early adolescents, homeless youth, refugees, and women are especially at-risk. Human trafficking includes forced Labor, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, among others and is found throughout the world and in every state of the United States. Both urban and rural areas have trafficking issues which often go undetected. The state of Florida is a hotspot for trafficking in the U.S., and studies indicate that more and more victims are reaching out for help, however it often goes unnoticed by professionals (Doran et al., 2014). Studies have noted significant trauma to victim/survivors physically, psychologically, socially, and spiritually (Hopper et al., 2018) and their needs are different than survivors of other types of trauma. Many times, this complex trauma is further exacerbated by addiction issues, forced criminal behavior, language barriers, and housing and employment instability. In order to effectively assess and provide effective long-term treatment for survivors, social work professionals need to be fully informed. This presentation will provide updated, evidence supported information including: a brief review of human trafficking definitions, forms, recruiting and grooming tactics, types of trauma human trafficking survivors experience, therapeutic needs at distinct phases of treatment, and long-term treatment goals for effective rehabilitation of survivors. 

Law Enforcement and Social Workers: A Behavioral Health System for Stabilization and Treatment Rather Than the Criminal Justice System

Debra Mimms and Charlotte Braziel

Civil unrest and the COVID pandemic have exacerbated mental instability for many individuals. Police encounter individuals with mental health problems, developmental disabilities, homelessness, and substance abuse problems on a regular basis. The truth is, every officer will routinely interact with mentally ill and emotionally disturbed citizens, whether they want to or not. 90% of officers on patrol have an average of six encounters with individuals in crisis each month, and 7% to 10% of all police encounters involve people affected by mental illness. One out of 10 individuals encounter police in the pathway to mental health care, and one out of 100 police dispatches and encounters involve people with mental disorders. The magnitudes of these types of societal issues have far exceeded what law enforcement and mental health providers can effectively address alone. These instances trap individuals in the revolving criminal justice cycle of arrest, incarceration, release, and re-engagement with police. Because the police are on the frontlines, they have inherited social and economic responsibilities they may not be adequately trained or possess the skills to address. Policing must be more than crime fighting to address order maintenance, social services, and general assistant duties. Working closely with police, agencies have incorporated trained police officers, medical personnel, social workers, and therapy dog teams when responding to mental health, family disturbances, and substance abuse calls. Embedded social workers have become a bridge to conventional caseworkers, collaborating with the police to assist and respond to people with mental illness. They assess, often on the scene, the needs of the person in crisis. Their expertise helps them quickly connect the person to receiving the best help, specific to the person's needs. It's often proving more effective than an officer making a general referral to a caseworker far removed from the initial incident. The earlier the intervention, the increased likelihood that criminalization will be reduced. Police officers engaging with social workers and mental health care providers on the street offer an opportunity to deter an individual's first engagement and cycling through the criminal justice process. Social work is a very important aspect of emergency services, but it's not a one-stop solution for everything. Due to the complexity of these responses and the safety risks to both those in crisis and the responders, it is unlikely law enforcement will be removed from the equation. The relationships of all agencies working together have to be developed through trust, good communication, and a common goal for the community. The efforts to bring a unified team of professionals together to handle each situation will provide a better service to those experiencing a crisis and, hopefully, a better outcome.

Leveraging Pandemic Interventions to Provide Trauma-Informed Crisis Response in the School System

Courtney Wiest and Amanda Medina

Since 2019 Teen suicide rates have increased drastically. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC, n.d.), there has been a 23 percent spike in ER visits for teen suicide attempts. Even more troubling is the 50 percent increase in suicide attempts among female adolescents. With the increase in isolation and stress during the Covid Pandemic, the nation's youth are impacted significantly. Traumatology research has shown a wide range of traumatic events in similar ways. The typical responses include traumatic responses, post-traumatic stress responses, and post-traumatic stress disorder, which often leads to increased suicide risk factors (Black et al., 2012, and Suarez et al., 2012). During the pandemic, local school districts leveraged technology and team-based approaches to serve students in the rapidly changing environment. In order to meet this growing concern, school districts are responding with a blend of pandemic interventions such as crisis zoom sessions, telehealth family sessions, and zoom mental health assessments. The presentation will examine the implementation of pandemic interventions to provide trauma-informed services for children and families in the school system. Furthermore, the presentation will explore the continued use and benefits of these tools, resources, and the role of the interdisciplinary team in providing comprehensive crisis interventions in the school system.

Best Practices for Improved Outcomes with Opioid Use Disorders

Michael Campbell

Join Virtual Presentation

Passcode: 117069

The opioid epidemic has devastated communities and families in profound ways.  Evidence based treatments are emerging and they require practitioners know the scope of the issues related to Opioid Use Disorders (OUD) and opportunities to partner with families to promote healthy change. This presentation outlines this dynamic and highlights the opportunity for care providers to forge coalitions with families impacted by OUD to create lasting outcomes.  We will discuss the challenges of health promotion and efforts to encourage behavior change through a collaborative dialogue on best practices with implementation.