Preferred registration deadline: April 24th

3 CEs

Social work is inherently political. Clients’ lives are shaped by systems of power that influence access, opportunity, and well-being—and often perpetuate inequities. As social workers and helping professionals, we are ethically called to understand, challenge, and transform these systems in partnership with those most affected. Yet, confronting systemic injustice can lead to compassion fatigue, moral distress, and burnout.

This interactive workshop offers space for reflection, renewal, and skill-building. Participants will explore how political and organizational systems influence their practice, clarify the distinction between institutional compliance and the profession’s social justice mission, and identify strategies to sustain empathy and advocacy in the face of systemic barriers. Using case examples and discussion, attendees will practice applying anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approaches while developing tools to support both client care and practitioner well-being.

This is an in-person workshop that will be held on Washington University’s Danforth Campus. The exact location and directions will be emailed to registered participants before the course date. This class meets the licensure requirement for 3 hours of continuing education in ethics.

General Admission: $65**
**Eligible discounts can be applied during checkout.

Class size is limited to 45.

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Course Outline

Content Level: Intermediate

Target Audiences: Social Workers and/or Case Managers, Therapists, Supervisors, Practice/Business Owners

Agenda:

• Welcome - 5 mins
• Review of current political expectations and realities impacting clients, namely changes to social service funding, the law, and expectations of a social work per NASW guidelines - 55 mins
• Case Examples of clients impacted by the current political climate, applying concepts of evidence-based practices (e.g., inclusive, decolonial, trauma-informed) to facilitate mastery - 60 mins
• Clients will complete a self-evaluation of their own current organizational practices and implicit biases, identifying areas of growth and discussing how to implement them. This section will be a large group discussion and brainstorming opportunity - 60 mins

Learner Outcomes

• Analyze how systems of power and policy turbulence impact client well-being and social work practice.
• Differentiate between organizational mandates and the profession’s ethical obligation to promote social justice and equity.
• Identify barriers to care and develop strategies to create more inclusive and equitable practices.
• Examine signs of compassion fatigue, moral distress, and burnout stemming from systemic challenges.
• Identify at least two evidence-based self-care or team-care strategies to sustain resilience and professional effectiveness.
• Apply culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and anti-oppressive approaches to real-world case scenarios.

Course Completion Requirements:

• The Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, Professional Development, provider #2130, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 9/24/2025 – 9/24/2028. Social workers completing this course receive 3 ethics continuing education credits.
• The Brown School is also an approved provider of Social Work CEs in Missouri and Illinois.
• To earn ACE credit, attendees must arrive at the scheduled time, attend the entire course, and complete an online course evaluation. ACE credit is not provided for partial attendance.  However, you may still qualify for partial Social Work Missouri and Illinois CEs provided by the Brown School.
• Brown School CE Certificates will be available online within 10 business days of course completion by visiting your learner profile at https://ce.wustl.edu/portal/logon.do?method=load&parentSite=brown.  You will receive an email notification with specific instructions for accessing the online certificate when it is available. ACE CE Certificates, if requested in your evaluation survey, will be emailed within 10 business days of course completion.
• For more information about CEs, accessibility, refund/cancelation policy, our grievance policy, or other inquiries please visit our About Us page or email brownprofdev@wustl.edu.