Continuing Education Workshops

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The objective of the workshops is to acquaint/re-familiarize participants with the NASW Code of Ethics, identify typical ethical dilemmas or legal issues that social workers face and provide tools for resolving ethical dilemmas. While the basic format of the workshops remains the same, each workshop is customized to the needs of the participants because participants are asked to bring their own ethical dilemmas with them to the workshop. Discussions can include and/or focus on such topics as cultural competency, health management or organizational ethics, macro practice or practice in a specific setting, such as school social workers. In addition to the personal ethical issue that each participant is asked to bring to the work shop, work shop presenters will work with branch or agency sponsors to tailor the training to the interests and skill levels of those social workers who will be or are likely to attend.

Sally Sutton, MA MSSW, Senior Policy Analyst, Muskie School of Public Service, Board Member NASW Maine Chapter and member of NASW Maine Chapter Ethics Committee

Psychosocial Assessment is a basic introduction to the content, reliability, use, risks and benefits of systematic identification of the strengths and challenges of individuals as they relate to status and functioning within the social environment. The course will also include discussion of the importance of maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of the information, the need to obtain prior consent for assessment, and the responsibility that the information obtained will only be used for benefit of the individual.

Participant will develop skills to conduct a comprehensive psychosocial assessment, enhance their understanding of the use of the psychosocial assessment, and learn how to structure a psychosocial assessment to ensure that the information is reliable, that the needs are identified and that cultural and spiritual components are included.

Gail A. Wright, LCSW, began her social work career in the Department of Public Welfare in 1967. She has professional social work experience with the elderly, young children and families, persons with developmental disabilities, mental health and substance abuse, physical disabilities, and chronic medical conditions. She has worked in both the public and private sector. For the last 5 years she has been employed by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and Togus Medical Center. She is responsible for coordinating the implementation of home telehealth services for veterans enrolled in the VA system. She earned her MSW in 1992 from Boston College. She is the former Chair of Branch B of the Maine Chapter of NASW.

Clients who are low-income often receive a multitude of governmental benefits, some of which are interconnected. This workshop will introduce and address the various governmental programs that are available to our low-income clients to help them meet their basic needs. Using specific examples throughout the lecture and allowing for a question and answer exchange will provide practical direction in establishing 1)when a client is eligible for public benefits, 2) when legal action must and/or can be taken; 3) how that process works, and 4) how to engage in a collaborative practice with attorneys specializing in laws designed to protect the low-income community in Maine.

Participants will learn about the purpose, requirements, and sanctions of governmental programs that provide benefits to low-income Mainers, focusing specifically on subsidized housing, TANF/ASPIRE, Food Stamps, MaineCare, General Assistance and SSI. Participants will learn about a client’s right to appeal a denial, reduction or termination of public benefits to which they are entitled. Participants will learn about Maine’s housing laws for tenants and when a court action is needed (by either the landlord or the tenant). Participants will learn about legal services programs available throughout Maine that can assist the low-income client community.

Sara Meerse is the directing attorney of KIDS Legal, a statewide project at Pine Tree Legal Assistance, and represents children and their families in educational, housing, health, and safety matters, provides consultations and trainings to community professionals within Maine who are working with low-income children and youth as well as conducting trainings to youth and parents.

Using lecture with Q & A throughout, along with small group breakouts, this workshop will explain the two laws that address the rights of children with disabilities in school: Section 504 and IDEA. A particular emphasis will be placed on school-age students with behavioral issues: are they ED? OHI? Autistic? Multi-Disabled? Learn the answers to these questions: who qualifies? what services are required? What is the least restrictive environment? And what happens when a student is removed for behaviors? Advocacy tips will be discussed so as to allow participants the chance to be more fully prepared for IEP Team and 504 Team meetings when discussing their child clients’ needs in the school setting.

Participants will learn how to distinguish Section 504 cases from special education cases under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). Participants will learn about the recent changes to the Maine Unified Special Education Regulations. Participants will identify effective ways to advocate for their child clients to ensure their clients with disabilities receive a free appropriate public education. Participants will enhance their understanding of how to effectively utilize KIDS LEGAL when advocating for their clients in the school setting by understanding when to make referrals and why, as well as for enhancement of participants’ own advocacy skills.

Sara Meerse is the directing attorney of KIDS Legal, a statewide project at Pine Tree Legal Assistance, and represents children and their families in educational, housing, health, and safety matters, provides consultations and trainings to community professionals within Maine who are working with low-income children and youth as well as conducting trainings to youth and parents.

Group work provides several important steps that help break isolation often experienced by a consumer. This workshop will provide information on the issues and treatment of special populations through the use of support groups in treatment. We will also explore the issues of assessment, interaction, group norms and various forms of support for the consumer. Participants in this workshop will explore how to accurately assess potential group members, and how to support group members. The role of the group leader will be addressed in detail, with discussion including: presence, varying types of roles, dialogue techniques, and modeling empathy.

Understanding the effectiveness of groups in different areas, describing the goals and themes for a group, understanding the model of stages of change for group work, understanding and anticipating potential pitfalls as a group leader for varied populations, and understanding the consumers’ reactions to groups and the effects those reactions have on the group as a whole.

Stephen R. Andrew, MSW, LADC, CGP, is a consultant/trainer who is the Chief Energizing Officer of the Health Education and Training Institute; cofounder of the Men’s Resource Center of Southern Maine; Clinical Facilitator of InnerEdge, an outpatient treatment program located in Portland; consultant of several psychiatric and youth-oriented agencies in the greater Portland area; and enjoys being a dad of Sebastian. He is also the creator of Spirit Wind audio tapes on issues about personal recovery.

This workshop is intended to shift your thinking about how to work with challenging young people and their families and will provide you with practical tools. It is geared for professionals who are interested in “what works” with chemically dependent adolescents in outpatient, residential and private practice settings. It is also appropriate for educators, probation officers, and case managers.

Participants will identify forms of resistance, coping strategies and negative scripts. Participants will develop strategies for fostering self-esteem, motivation, and cooperation while lessening resistant behaviors. Participants will learn how to utilize non-confrontational interventions. Participants will also learn how to set realistic expectations and goals based on the individuality of each young person and promote self-discipline. Participants will obtain strategies to treat young people through individual and family work.

Stephen R. Andrew, MSW, LADC, CGP, is a consultant/trainer who is the Chief Energizing Officer of the Health Education and Training Institute; cofounder of the Men’s Resource Center of Southern Maine; Clinical Facilitator of InnerEdge, an outpatient treatment program located in Portland; consultant of several psychiatric and youth-oriented agencies in the greater Portland area; and enjoys being a dad of Sebastian. He is also the creator of Spirit Wind audio tapes on issues about personal recovery.

This workshop explores how GAL’s and family therapists can work together to bring about accord and healing in the process of the legal resolution of family issues during and after divorce. Tight collaboration between these two professionals can greatly reduce parental conflict and help parents toward the healing of wounds and the collaboration necessary for the best interests of children.

Participants will develop skills to work more productively with divorcing families in the court system. Participants will enhance their understanding of conflict in the family during the divorce process. Participants will learn to think holistically about the family during divorce and about the kinds of stands they need to take with families in this type of situation.

Phoebe Prosky, LCSW, and Toby Hollander, Esq. have worked together in this way for several years and bring the fruits of their experience to this workshop. Terry Hayes Guardian ad litem for Maine’s District and Probate Courts since 1985, Trained initially to advocate for children in child protection matters, Terry expanded her practice to include children of separation and divorce in 1990. She has worked with more than 500 families to date, specializing in helping high conflict co-parents negotiate and implement parenting plans for their children. Terry served on the committee that wrote Maine’s GAL Rules and Standards and she has served on the faculty of the Maine Judicial Branch’s annual GAL training since it was first offered in 1999. Hayes & Associates, LLC is the only agency in Maine which offers peer supervision and business support for professional guardians ad litem.

The purpose of this workshop is to provide social workers the tools they need to recognize and resolve ethical issues in their day-to-day practice and organizational settings. Through the analysis of ethical dilemmas and several case scenarios, including a personal, professional or organizational dilemma, participants will gain a better understanding of common legal and ethical dilemmas and learn to apply a framework and principles for ethical decision-making. Participants will also become familiar with procedures, such as ethics committees and consultations, which their organization might develop to establish a systematic approach to the resolution of organizational dilemmas. Participants are asked to bring a resolved personal, professional or organizational ethical issue for discussion.

Participants will develop and enhance their skills to recognize ethical issues in their practice and clarify their own values and ethical aspirations. Participants will enhance their understanding of common legal and ethical dilemmas affecting social work practice, conflicts between laws and ethics, the NASW Code of Ethics and the NASW Standards for Cultural Competence, and what guidelines professionals can draw on when their ethical duties and responsibilities conflict. Participants will learn to apply a framework and principles for ethical decision-making through the analysis of several case scenarios. Participants will become familiar with procedures for how an organization might approach ethical dilemmas.

Sally Sutton, MA, MSSW, has her masters’ degree in both social work and public policy and administration. Her experience includes serving for eighteen years as the director of the Maine Civil Liberties Union. She has served on the executive committee of the National Coalition for Patient Rights. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of NASW Maine Chapter.

Women’s growth and development is different, where independence and having a high degree of relatedness are important. Healthy connections have always been of high value in the field of social work, where the critical role relationships play is recognized in our clinical work with women. But how do we resolve this tension-the need to promote independence and separateness of our female clients with the need for relationships and connections? When is a relationship a healthy connection versus an unhealthy dependence? This seminar will review the latest findings in the neurology of attachment and the female brain, as well as the Stone Center’s Relational Cultural Therapy, and the communication between social worker and client through metaphor. Case examples will be given to illustrate the concepts presented.

Participants will develop professional skills to assess the health of the social worker-client relationship, as well as the ability to recognize when the client’s personal relationships are healthy. Participants will increase their knowledge of the neurology of attachment, as well as unique neurological characteristics of the female brain that involve connecting with others. Participants will enhance their understanding of the theories of feminist psychologists, and their ideas about he most effective ways to help female clients.

Laura Zegel, LCSW, has trained and worked as a clinical social worker in a variety of systems and settings, including large inner city hospitals and small mental health centers. She has had a private practice in psychotherapy since 1994 where she has worked with children, adolescents and adults with a variety of behavior and mental health conditions, as well as providing clinical supervision.