$80 for 1 Day

$150 for 2 Days

$120 for 1 Day

$200 for 2 Days

Friday 3/22/24      12:00-1:00 PM EST

Workshop Description:  The presentation will depict Jesus leading the brokenhearted towards healing.  Goal is to discuss the integration of Christianity into social work education and into our professional identity as social workers. It is no exaggeration to say that Jesus was the first social worker. No other person had ever made it a lifestyle and vocation to live among the poor, the sick, the needy and exclusively work among them. He also operated the first school of social work as he trained 12 would be social workers to see the poor and needy the same way he did.   Participants will learn the historical roots of charity and will be empowered to change the narrative of the incompatibility of Christianity and social work.  Participants minds are transformed to see the significance of their healing work as social workers. An application of this connection will be shown with addictions treatment and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. 

Charles Lorbeer

Dr. Charles Lorbeer founded the social work department at Capella University after teaching at El Quds University, Jerusalem, and Salem State University. His areas of social work practice range from health care services, addictions, administration, international social work, and clinical services. He has championed the integration of “Jesus as the first social worker” into social work classes at Liberty University.   

Friday 3/22/24        1:00-2:00 PM EST

Workshop Abstract: Female voices have been an essential aspect of the community development and well-being for centuries (Garcia & Lee, 2019; Nguyen & Martinez, 2021). Although not always recognized or embraced for their contributions, female leaders including those who have embraced the Christian faith and those who identify as Black, have left an indelible and undeniable mark on congregations and communities (Roberts & Phillips, 2021; Thompson & Harris, 2022) . This presentation will consider the lived experiences of two Chrisitan women leaders, will explore how the intersections of faith, race, gender, and cultural values shaped their leadership, and will explore some of the lessons on leadership that they conveyed for contemporary leaders who embrace faith who are committed to community development and well-being.

Kesslyn Brade Stennis, PhD, MSW, MDiv is the interim Executive Director of the North American Association of Christians in Social Work.  Prior to this recent appointment she served in social work education for nearly 25 years, achieved the rank of Full Professor (tenured) at Coppin State University and transitioned to serve as Director of the Minority Fellowship Program at the Council on Social Work Education.  Her research considers the intersection of faith communities, abuse and oppression, people of color, and women’s wellbeing and her most-important role is serving as mom to her children.

Friday 3/22/24         2:00-3:00 PM EST

Workshop Description: This workshop will equip ministry leaders, social workers and other helping professionals who care about communities with the micro and macro level practical skills required to listen and translate what was heard into collaborative, asset-based action that leads to flourishing communities.

Dr. Elizabeth Patterson Roe, LISW-S, is a Professor of Social Work and the Director of the Center for Intercultural Studies at Malone University in Canton, OH, where she has served for 16 years. Prior to this, she lived overseas in Romania, serving alongside Romanian staff as they grew in their leadership and organizational development. She currently lives intentionally in urban Akron, OH, living and serving alongside a diverse group of neighbors who desire to live out Christian community development principles. Her areas of research include community development, international development, study abroad and anti-oppressive practice.

Friday 3/22/24        3:00-4:00 PM EST

Workshop Description:  This session will introduce participants to the importance of congregational contexts as areas of social work practice, particularly in serving vulnerable families and marginalized communities.  Research demonstrates that many church-based social programs are as effective or more effective than government or privately run services.  Too often churches are locked in acts of charity, and lack the knowledge and skills to implement evidence based strategies that can truly address social issues in their community.  Attendees will learn how churches can be leaders of social change within their communities, and how strategic partnerships with schools of social work can provide churches with an educated pool of workers to drive ministry in their community.  Churches can and should be the center of a community, and this session will equip attendees with the information needed to mobilize pastors, lay leaders, and parishioners to serve their communities in an equitable way.  The driving scripture for this presentation is Matthew 25:35-40.

Dr. Charles Lee-Johnson is the Associate Dean of the Division of Social work at California Baptist University.  Dr. Lee-Johnson earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary, and his Master of Social Welfare degree from University of California, Los Angeles.  Dr. Lee-Johnson is the recent co-author of the Inter-Varsity Press book, Healing Conversations of Race, and is well-known for his work in congregational social work.

Saturday 3/23/24        12:00-1:00 PM EST

Workshop Description:  A part of what makes us uniquely human are the dimensions of heart, head, and body that shape us. In other words, we have a unique capacity for feeling, thinking, and doing and these characteristics shape how we lead. The Enneagram is an ancient symbol used to teach nine personality types based on these dimensions and inviting further self-reflection. The mindful work of self-awareness helps us wrestle with the strengths and struggles of our personality that allow us to practice self-compassion and self-care.

Jon Singletary is the dean of the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work at Baylor University. His research focuses on Christian contemplative practices and the Enneagram as a tool for spiritual formation, leadership development, and social change. His justice-oriented leadership focus is support for marginalized populations, on campus and in the larger community. Before coming to Baylor, he served as a Mennonite Pastor and a community organizer in Richmond, VA.  Most importantly to his journey are the relationships with his wonderful wife, Wendi, and his five children, Haden, Raul, Harper, Ainsley and Abbott.

Saturday 3/23/24          1:00-2:00 PM EST

Workshop Description: While Blacks have higher PTSD rates than other groups, trauma is not regularly acknowledged in the Black church. This training opens dialogue on the Black church’s response to trauma. Using case vignettes of church members suffering from trauma, we will discuss what to say, ask, and do as Christian helpers

Jennifer Shepard Payne, Ph.D., LCSW-C, is a Research Scientist at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in the Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress (CCFTS). She is also an Assistant Professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine within the Department of Psychiatry. She received her doctorate in Social Welfare from UCLA and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with many years of experience in mental health clinical practice and administration.

For several years, Dr. Payne has been working on culturally tailoring Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Black communities experiencing racial trauma. She developed a culturally tailored version of ACT called POOF: poof-pullingoutoffire.com. Dr. Payne is actively involved with the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS), the premier organization for ACT. She is a Board member of NACSW and of ACBS. In 2023, she was inducted as an ACBS Fellow, one of the highest honors in Contextual Behavioral Science

Saturday 3/23/24          2:00-3:00 PM EST

Workshop Description: More than 50, 000 people died by suicide in 2023 in the US. This is a major social problem, and the problem is getting bigger. We as social workers, Faith Communities, Clergy and Caregivers must rise to the challenge of helping this population. This challenge is finding its way into even more communities such as the Church, people who live in rural areas, sexual and gender minorities, middle-aged adults, people of color, and tribal populations.

Safety planning is an effective way for people of the helping professions to assist people in this population. This presentation will discuss the how to help people who are experiencing suicidal ideation and have a history of suicidal attempts by using a Christian framework and foundation. The presentation will demonstrate the usefulness of tapping into one’s spirituality to give them hope and help to reconsider the idea of suicide.

The presentation will discuss the steps included in a Safety Plan. In doing so, we will explore the importance and usefulness of each step. Because the Safety Plan is helpful, it is important to implement it in all our interactions with people who are in danger. Danger can come from one’s own hand or someone else’s and an effective Safety Plan can save a life.

The Safety Plan of this presentation can be used by us all to help this population live. It will show ways one can become and remain safe. It can save lives.

Dr. June Tyson comes to you from Brooklyn, NY. She is a License Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-R) and a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers, (ACSW). She practices psychotherapy at Community Counselling and Mediation (CCM) in Brooklyn. Dr. Tyson is also License Independent Social worker of Clinical Practice (LISW-CP) and works for the Costal Samaritan Counseling Center, in Myrtle Beach SC. She is also the CEO of Creating Meaning Counseling Services. Her MSW is from Fordham University and her PhD is in Human Services from Capella University. She is an adjunct professor for the master’s degree in Counseling Program and Social Work Program at Liberty University, Indiana Wesleyan University and Winthrop University. Dr. Tyson has worked with the HIV/AIDS population, the elderly, children, the homeless, the mentally ill chemically addicted population and the LGBTQIA community over the course of her work of nearly 30 years.

Saturday 3/23/24          3:00-4:00 PM EST

Workshop Description: Cumulative stress can lead to adverse health and mental health outcomes. Christian mindfulness has been shown to improve emotional regulatory states, which helps calm the stress response in the body, mind, and soul. This webinar will help social workers understand the differences as well as areas of synthesis between mindfulness and Christian mindfulness. Experiential exercises will be used to help social workers understand how to use Christian mindfulness in their own self-care, as well as how to use it in work with clients in clinical practice.

Regina Chow Trammel, Ph.D., LCSW, is an associate professor in the Master of Social Work program at Azusa Pacific University. She has spent more than a decade in private practice, as well as experience in psychiatric and medical social work settings. She is an avid mindfulness practitioner, has academic research publications on Christian mindfulness, a popular TEDx talk on mindfulness, and has a just-released book, A Counselor’s Guide to Christian Mindfulness, A Counselor’s Guide to Christian Mindfulness: Engaging the Mind, Body, and Soul in Biblical Practices and Therapies with Zondervan/Harper Collins Christian.