Social Work Practice with Young Children and Their Families
An Erikson Professional Development Learning Series for mental health, school social work, medical social work, and child welfare professionals
Have you earned the credits you need for social work certification renewal? This five-session series will help you fulfill the mandated continuing education requirements while developing your skill set through training that is relevant to your practice. Each workshop focuses on a key subject matter area identified by the Social Work Examining and Disciplinary Board.
Whether you register for all or only one of the workshops, the continuing education units you earn will expand and strengthen your professional knowledge and skills.
Recently completed workshops in this series:
W664 Ethical Considerations in Clinical Work with Young Children
Saturday, October 22
All clinicians are confronted with ethical dilemmas in their work, but working with young children introduces unique complexities — from reporting abuse and neglect to informed consent and confidentiality. These complexities often give rise to concerns of competing interests and questions about the best course of action. This workshop will introduce an ethical framework, informed by the NASW Code of Ethics, that can be used to discuss situations that give thoughtful clinicians pause. The workshop is designed for social workers and other professionals working with young children in a variety of settings.
W665 Addressing Social/Emotional Needs in the Preschool Setting
Saturday, November 19
Preschool-age children are struggling to gain inner control. They want to establish themselves as separate from their parents yet they often fear separation from them and other important people. These are challenging years for the child, parent, and early childhood professional! This workshop will focus on the development of three- and four-year-olds, how to recognize when development may be derailed, and ways to engage parents and caregivers in working to get things back on track. The session will utilize video, case vignettes, and participants' own work experiences.
W666 Understanding Parent-Child Relationships Among Refugee Populations
Saturday, December 3
Being a refugee can tax parent-child relationships, including by increasing parent and child toxic stress, disrupting relationships, and introducing mental health issues for both parties. This workshop will provide an introduction to the refugee experience and its effects on families. We will then explore the importance of cultural understanding and culturally competent practice when working with parenting behaviors among refugee populations. The workshop concludes with strategies for engaging refugee parents and supporting positive parent behaviors. This workshop is designed for clinical and non-clinical professionals working with refugee families with young children.
W667 Helping Young Children and Families in the Face of Trauma and Loss
Thursday, January 12
Early childhood trauma and loss call for intervention strategies that are specifically designed to address the effects on the development of children birth to five. In this workshop, you will learn how trauma and loss can alter the caregiver-child relationship and how to utilize the relationship as a source of healing. We will review case studies and reflect on our own practice and the families with whom we work.
W668 Bilingualism and Social Development
Saturday, February 11; 9 a.m. – Noon
Bilingualism can affect the pace of social development. This workshop will focus on the unique challenges and strategies for assuring the healthy social-emotional and academic developmental of the bilingual child. Mental health, school social work, medical social work, and child welfare practitioners will leave the workshop with a greater understanding of the social-emotional development of bilingual children birth to five.