Elementary SSW During A Pandemic: A SSWNetwork Webinar
Update: this is the link for the stream on YouTube https://youtu.be/N3GKXT_-zk0 Use this if our Zoom room reaches capacity–see you tomorrow April 16th at 3-4 p.m. central!
SSWN colleagues: we are happy to announce that over the next few weeks we will be offering free webinars via our SSWNetwork site focused on how SSW practitioners at specific grade levels (Early Childhood/Pre-K, Elementary, Middle School, High School, & Alternative Education settings) are all adapting their SSW practice in this COVID-19 crisis time of school building shut-downs and fragmented and confusing service delivery directives. We have our first one ready to go and feature it here: “Elementary SSW During A Pandemic,” and it will take place on our Zoom link on Thursday, April 16th 3-4 p.m. central time. The webinar is free (no CEUs) and you can RSVP/register here. See you next week, and a big thank you to the amazing SSW (many of them my current Loyola SMHAPP students as well as other SSW from the SSWNetwork) who are going to be leading these panel discussions.
This webinar will feature a panel of SSW from around the country (moderated by Kristin Miller LCSW from CT, pictured here) who all work in elementary schools and who are trying to figure out how to “do” SSW during this COVID-19 crisis. They will share their successes and struggles too, and invite all of you to continue to share what you’re doing to meet the needs of your elementary schools. This webinar is free to join and will also be recorded to share on our SSWN YouTube channel.
- Elementary SSW During A Pandemic: A SSWNetwork Webinar
- April 16, 2020 3-4 p.m. Central Time
- RSVP/Registration at SSWNetwork (free to join and to register)
Kristin Miller (Panel Moderator) earned her Master’s Degree from Fordham University in New York and has worked as a school social worker for the past 17 years. She has served students and their families in both inner city and rural settings as well as across all grade levels. For the past ten years she has been the social worker for Redding Elementary School in Redding, CT and works with children in pre-k through fourth grade. Kristin’s topic for the panel discussion will be: Promoting Staff and Parent Self-care during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Using positive psychology, humor and mindfulness to cope with the stress of managing work, school and family lives from home.
Other Panelists
Lisa Licata, LCSW works as a school social worker for Rochester Community Schools north of Detroit, Michigan. She has worked as a school social worker for the past 10 years with experience in working with students 3-26 years old. Lisa is currently working in the elementary level. Prior to becoming a school social worker, Lisa worked as a special education para-professional and substitute teacher. She earned her Master’s degree (LMSW) from Wayne State University and Bachelors at Western Michigan University.
Topic: During a time of crisis, connection is our first step in getting through this together. Join us as we will be discussing out of the box ideas on ways to connect with families, staff, students, and community during this time.
Dora Elliott is a part time grad student working towards her MSW from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. Her background includes animal assisted therapy, special education and ABA therapy. She currently works as a supports coordinator in Oakland County MI while interning at an elementary school in Rochester, MI.
Topic: I will be sharing / join us as we share some of the challenges of being an intern during such an unprecedented time, such as: weighing out risk factors to one’s health, completing requirements for hours, communicating with supervisors and adapting to virtual and remote learning.
Rebekah Swaim, LCSW received her master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Texas in Arlington in 2008. She has been a school social worker for Grand Prairie Independent School District since 2011. She serves as the general education behavior therapist for the district. In this position, she advocates for students by providing direct services and program development to meet the needs of at-risk students. She provides education and consultation for staff to promote a trauma sensitive climate for our students. Ms. Swaim has worked in a variety of settings with children, including a psychiatric hospital and a children’s advocacy center. She has focused her profession on serving students who have endured traumatic experiences.
Her topic:
Social Emotional Learning(SEL) Content and Family-Friendly Delivery
- Resources available to share with your families
- Activities that families can integrate into a busy day to promote SEL
- Ways that our counseling staff are sharing this information with families
