Friday Morning Sessions
1. Keynote: Justice-Doing & Collective Resistance
Speaker
- Vikki Reynolds, MA, PhD, RCC
Description
Drawing on her experience in activism, Vikki Reynolds, a registered clinical counsellor, will present how she ties structural social justice work into her life. Vikki will address our collective commitment to justice-doing and our struggles that stem from an unjust world. How can we weave our collective resistance to structural oppression? We will look at our collective accountability to work in ways that resist replicating oppression and aim to deliver justice to the persons we work alongside, and to "walk our talk". We will acknowledge the darkness of mean and hate-filled politics, and the suffering of "messed-with human beings" alongside luminous stories of everyday resistance. Threads from our community work, social movements, and the immeasurable outcomes of our work alongside persons struggling to keep a fingerhold on dignity combine to build our resistance.
Speaker
- Vikki Reynolds, MA, PhD, RCC
Description
In this workshop, we will take a deeper look at the ideas and practices covered in the keynote presentation. Participants will be invited to connect with their own ethical stance and influences. We will examine collective ethics and how best to enact ethics as a path to sustainability and a way to resist the spiritual pain of encountering affronts to our collective ethics. We’ll explore how to create accountability to shoulder each other up, and create sustainability in the paid and unpaid work across our lifespan. We will consider what our work has meant for us, our hopes, and how all of this can help keep those we are walking alongside at the centre of our care.
Speakers
- Heather Mackay, MSW, RCSW
Description
This research-based workshop provides an alternative perspective and a concrete plan for times when we feel “I’m not a good enough social worker.”.
Speakers
- Esther Leung, MSW, RSW
- Karine Meador, MD, CCFP, DABAM
Description
This workshop explores harm reduction in a thorough examination of the research and evidence to address common objections, myths and misconceptions.
Speakers
- Aakhil Lakhani
- Franki Harrogate, Masters of Counselling Psychology
Description
This presentation will increase service providers’ competency in working with transgender clients by offering the basic language of gender as well as exploring barriers to accessing vital social services.
Speaker
- Shelley Carnahan, MSW, RSW
Description
Learn strategies and concepts for practicing trauma work. Learn about the "window of tolerance" and ways to meet the client where they are. This also supports work with clients who are "stuck" or "flooded" due to trauma..
Speaker
- Jana Boehm, MSW, RSW
Description
This session is for anyone who's passionate about anti-oppressive practice but has struggled with its practical application. We'll create a plan together.
Speaker
- Stefan de Villiers, MSW, RSW
Description
This workshop offers recommendations for assessing and working with men who have experienced domestic abuse in their intimate partner relationships in a clinical setting.
Speakers
- Sarah McGreer, MSW, RSW
- Leslie Roper, MSc Psychiatry
- Jessica Rolls, BA
Description
Explore strategies for implementing trauma-informed school environments, learn treatment interventions for trauma survivors and develop deeper self-care practice, at individual and organizational levels.
Speaker
- Peter Choate, PhD, RCSW
- Gaye Warthe, PhD, RSW
- Yasmin Dean, PhD, RSW
Description
Field education is essential in preparing students for social work practice, linking theory to practice, exploring how decision making occurs, and modelling effective practice, including through simulation.
Speaker
- Jesse Orjasaeter, BEd
Description
A call-to-action for social workers employed by government, and an exploration of the role government social workers have in fulfilling their social justice mandate.
Speakers
- Arlene Eaton-Erickson, MSW, RSW
Description
Information from the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate Alberta about their recent report on OC spray and segregation in Alberta’s young offender centres.
Speakers
- Judith O’Leary, MSW, RSW
- Gail Hogarth, MSW, RSW
- Suzanne Triance-Wright, MSW, RSW
Description
Debunking myths regarding working with military, veterans, and RCMP in order to help people better understand how to work with them and with their families.