Upcoming Webinars
Free to NOFSW members / $50 registration fee for non-members
Social Work Ethics and Solitary Confinement: A Struggle with Dual Loyalty
March 30, 2021 3:00-4:30 Central Time (this event has been completed)
Faculty: Ali Winters, DSW, LCSW and Mary Buser, LCSW
This webinar is designed for forensic social workers who are interested in learning more about how to navigate ethical dilemmas, in particular that of dual loyalty – a conflict between competing loyalties of the workplace and client. Ali Winters and Mary Buser, two forensic social workers and activists against solitary confinement, will discuss the dangers of prolonged solitary confinement and its effects on the individual, family, organization, and community. They will then walk through the dimensions of ethical practice when this conflict of dual loyalty exists. The presentation will end with a focus on the elements nestled within this ethical dilemma and the decisions made by each social worker.
Sex Crimes, Podcasts and Re-Victimization: Can Social Workers Set the Record Straight?
April 27, 2021 2:00-3:30 Central Time (this event has been completed)
Faculty: Tiffany Chhuom, MPH, MSW
While true crime stories have continued to grow in popularity across multimedia, the perpetuation of stigma and misleading information about sexual violence survivors and perpetuators is controlled by amateur journalists who lack education and training to do so. Popular podcasts like Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, The Clearing, The Man in the Window, Chasing Cosby, and Monstruo are just a few that report on crimes against sex workers, childhood sexual abuse, and other forms of sex crimes. While these stories are capturing the attention of the general public during what some would say is the Era of True Crime, rarely are these journalists and amateur sleuthers consulting with forensic social workers about cultural humility, the systemic oppression of victims, or mental illness. In this webinar, we will discuss examples of how podcasts perpetuate negative stereotypes, stigma and proliferate false information about the intersection of sexual violence, gender, health disparities and culture. Next, we will explore why social workers are not part of the conversation dominating the airwaves and earbuds of so many households across the U.S. Last, we will brainstorm new ways that forensic social work can advocate for more responsible reporting and public education via podcasting for all of those who suffer from sexual violence.
Anti-Oppressive Practice with Returning Citizens: A Culturally Responsive Approach
May 25, 2021 2:30-4:00 Central Time (registration is now open)
Faculty: Wendy Champagnie Williams, PhD, MSW, LICSW
This webinar considers the social justice origins of social work within the criminal justice system, emphasizing the need for return to its foundational rehabilitation and decarceration efforts. The impact of structural racism within criminal justice policies and practices will be explored, with particular attention to the barriers encounters by returning citizens, and their families, in efforts towards successful reintegration. This session also invites participants to consider dynamics of power and privilege, one’s own biases and stereotypes about incarceration when working with this population. Anti-oppressive and culturally responsive strategies in work with returning citizens and their families will also be discussed.