Continuing Education Course Catalog

Non-profits should engage in a diverse funding model. Grants often are a part of a diversified strategy. That said, many non-profits do not have the resources for a dedicated grant writer, therefore these responsibilities fall within other roles. This presentation allows social workers to begin to understand what type of grant funding is available and to learn the first steps required to initiate an application.

This course challenges learners to explore their personal values, beliefs and judgements related to issues of sexuality. Interpersonal practice tools will be offered to assist clients in holding personal beliefs and values and remaining present to client's sexual self, needs, beliefs. Lecture and discussion will examine how implicit bias can limit services and harm clients, particular limits to sexually diverse populations. Sexual health will be considered as a social justice issue.

This course has been developed to meet the Michigan implicit bias training requirements for health professionals.

Suicide is a leading cause of preventable death in the United States and worldwide. Nearly 50% of individuals who end life by suicide see a primary care provider within a month of death, yet suicide risk assessment and treatment is consistently difficult in practice. With the majority of mental health services in the US being delivered by social workers, it is imperative that risk assessment and safety planning knowledge and skills are in place for our work with clients with the ultimate goal being to prevent premature suicidal death.

This webinar will discuss and present on suicide as public health issue in the US, risk and protective factors, warning signs, barriers to help-seeking, risk assessment process and risk formulation, safety planning, and cultural humility in risk assessment with use of a clinical case. This workshop is also focused on the adult population.

Part 1: This program area will welcome participants to the MMR CE program and introduce mixed methods research. We will begin by covering theoretical frameworks and the advantages of using theory for mixed methods research and practice in social work. This program area will also cover the basics of how to design a mixed methods research study. We will begin by discussing how to develop research questions, then we will cover mixed methods language and notation, and then we will discuss choosing a mixed methods design. Participants will be guided through how to develop a research question based on their phenomenon of interest. This is important because researchers make decisions about whether they will use qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods after finalizing their research question. Communicating research designs throughout various stages of the planning, implementation, evaluation, and reporting of the project will also be covered. Then, this program area will cover transformative mixed methods, which are germane to the social justice lens of the social work profession. Participants will be challenged to view the research process through a culturally sensitive lens and to think about the implications of how the research we conduct with underserved and underrepresented groups influences what we learn from these groups.

Part 2: This program area will cover how to design a mixed methods research study that is qualitatively driven. We will begin by discussing how to decide on the data collection needed to address qualitatively driven research questions. Next, participants will be guided through how sampling plans are developed and recruitment strategies are made. Then, qualitative data collection methods will be discussed and presented in the context of their contribution to a mixed methods study. For example, qualitative data can access a phenomenon more directly than what is possible with formal, questionnaire-based measurements in part because pre-established questions are sometimes insensitive to important local cultural norms and idioms. Qualitative data, in focusing on natural language, deepen our understanding of the client's condition, clinician attribution of symptoms, and other treatment processes otherwise inaccessible to scientific analysis. For social workers and other applied professionals, the human voice can be one of the most valuable insights into learning and improving the outcomes of clients. Therefore, it is important to incorporate and properly use qualitative methods in our work. In this program area, participants will learn effective and efficient ways to collect and analyze qualitative data using one-on-one interviews, focus groups, and observation data collection methods.

Part 3: This program area will cover how to design a mixed methods research study that is quantitatively driven. We will begin by discussing how to decide on the data collection needed to address quantitatively driven research questions. Next, participants will be guided through how sampling plans are developed and recruitment strategies are made. Then, quantitative data collection methods will be discussed and presented in the context of their contribution to a mixed methods study. For example, formal, questionnaire-based measurements can capture large numbers of responses over a short time. Quantitative data (e.g., statistics) can sometimes be intimidating for social workers and other applied professionals. In this program area, participants will deepen their understanding of how quantitative data is collected and analyzed, and how they can be leveraged to address mixed methods questions that are quantitatively driven. We will also cover secondary data in mixed methods research, and how existing data can be leveraged to address mixed methods research questions. Since the purpose of statistics is to convey meaning about how certain variables (e.g., the independent and dependent) do or do not (and to what level) relate to each other, this program area will provide participants with a user-friendly way of incorporating statistics into their work. Though descriptive and inferential statistics will be covered, participants need to note that advanced statistical methods (e.g., structural equation modeling, and hierarchical linear modeling) will not be covered.

Part 4: This program area will cover data integration and interpretation techniques for mixed methods studies. Qualitative approaches promise to bridge the explanatory gap that exists between aggregated outcomes and actual events in the local situation. On the other hand, quantitative approaches promise the opportunity for true experimental designs as well as replication of study methods and generalization of findings. This program area will cover how to take the interpretation of mixed methods research a step further by preparing reports from mixed methods research studies. We will cover ways to comprehensively represent large and small qualitative datasets involving multiple cases both for inductive exploration and for more deductive examination of theoretically interesting relationships among data concepts and other variables. Communicating the research process is probably the most important step in any research project. Therefore, participants will learn about writing research reports, manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals, research briefs, and longer reports. Visual displays of mixed methods research results will also be discussed. The program will also cover the benefits and challenges of different ways of disseminating mixed methods research findings. Participants will be encouraged to consider how the factors that influence the dissemination of research findings influence how they approach their research. Participants will be encouraged to consider the concrete ways in which their work reflects rigor and quality. The program will also address using mixed methods in program evaluation and across disciplines.

Asynchronous lectures: The pre-recorded modules support the live sessions for the intensive Mixed Methods Research Certificate. The modules focus on content relevant to designing and implementing a mixed methods research approach in social work. The recordings involve participants in learning about core concepts and applications.

Technology and social media shape the identities and worldviews of today’s teens. Adolescent sexuality and relationships are interwoven with cell phones and social media. Many caregivers and professionals are left wondering: what does it all mean? This workshop will start from the ground up, beginning with definitions and a roadmap of technology commonly used by young people. From there, we will examine how technology influences teen sexuality and relationships – for better or for worse. We will discuss teen relationship abuse and technology, as well as the way teen relationships and identity can be strengthened by technology. Finally, the class will focus on how to work with and relate to teens through the lens of technology.

This workshop will start with an orientation webinar on Friday June 14 from 2-5pm provided over Zoom. The remainder of the course, which is primarily experiential, will meet at the instructor's farm in Dexter, Michigan on Saturday, June 15. Participants must attend both days to receive CE credit.

Course Description:
This course provides an experiential opportunity for participants to explore animal-assisted therapeutic activities specifically designed to further a wide range of therapeutic goals with children, adolescents, families and adult clients. Like play therapy and art therapy, animal-assisted interventions, when integrated with evidence-based methods including (but not limited to) CBT and mindfulness, trauma recovery, family systems, cultural-relational and psychodynamic approaches, offer opportunities for people to work through a variety of issues and insecurities related to attachment, trauma, self-esteem and identity concerns, dysregulation, behavioral difficulties, mental illness, developmental disabilities, and family and relational problems. With selected animals as therapy partners, the therapeutic team helps people of all ages and positions foster new alliances, understand more fully existing problems and build practical life-skills to enhance confidence, effectiveness and joy. Presently, animal-assisted therapy is gaining acclaim in the field of mental health intervention and there is a growing body of evidence supporting its efficacy and standards in the field to be explored. This course introduces the theoretical foundations, standards, ethics, evidence, certifications, integration of methods, case examples, evaluation and practical skills involved in partnering with a variety of animals, in particular dogs, cats, goats, pigs, horses and chickens (yes, chickens!)- to provide engaging and effective interventions.

This webinar will challenge practitioners to reflect on their current practices and identify opportunities to incorporate anti-racist practices. Participants will learn important definitions and strategies to identify one's own biases and how bias impacts those whom we serve. Social work standards concerning diversity will be examined, along with one's professional obligations and responsibilities.

Understanding and supporting athletes and their overall health and welfare has been a prominent specialty service area that social workers have formally and informally navigated for decades. And today, the need for sports social workers with advanced training has never been more requested across sport settings (youth, collegiate, professional, and geriatric). Research currently suggests that: (1) athletes engage in sport across the lifespan to foster a greater sense of belonging and social connection; (2) athlete mental health needs are increasing and licensed, mental health providers are needed to meet this growing demand; and (3) athletes are using their platform to address social injustices and bring awareness to longstanding disparities across our country. As established agents of change, social workers uphold the profession's mission and core values, while having an expansive scope of practice to improve outcomes for individuals, communities, and the larger society.

In addition to the live schedule, program includes 30 hours of recorded lectures:

- Overview: History of Sport Social Work
- Impact of Current Culture on Adolescent Mental Health
- Adjustment/Transition into College Athletics
- Integrated Health in Sports Settings
- Adolescent Mental Health & Wellness
- Sports & Body Image: Identifying Risks and Recommendations for Clinical Intervention
- Subclinical Eating Disorders
- Body Image and Perfectionism
- Grief and Loss Support
- Psychopharmacology and Navigating USADA & WADA, Drug Testing
- Multidisciplinary Eating Disorders Team
- Impact of Sport Specialization on Development and Injury
- Parent-Coach-Player Dynamics
- Safe Sport
- Conflict Resolution and Mediation
- Bullying and Harassment Prevention
- Understanding Racial Diversity and Social Justice in Sports
- Team Building and Leadership Development
- Injury: Loss of Identity
- Ensuring Healthy Development for Youth through Sport and Recreation
- Behavior Activation
- Intro to Sport Psychology
- Sport Psychology: Basic Skills, Preparatory Skills, Performance Skills
- ADHD vs. Anxiety: Neuropsychology and Attentional Interference in Athletics
- Sleep and Sport
- Differences Between Coaching and Support
- Performance Anxiety
- LGBTQ+ Inclusivity in Sports
- Athletes Connected: Developing Community-Based Programming
- Everybody Gets an Opportunity: Ability
- Critical Research Perspectives for Contemporary Sport Culture
- Post Concussion Care
- Transitioning Out of Sport
- Sports in Older Adults: Once an Athlete, Always an Athlete
- Navigating the Media's Response to an Athlete's Game
- Macro Social Work Practice in Collegiate Sport