Midwestern Conferences for Social Work
• 21st Annual National SSWAA Conference
• Empowered to Connect 2018 Conference
• Child & Adolescent Mental Health Conference
• 2018 AASECT 50th Annual Conference
• Missouri Coalition for Community Behavioral Healthcare
Getting enough continuing education units to qualify for renewing your LBSW, LMSW, or LCSW credentials can be tough without attending social work conferences.
Unlike individual workshops, conferences bring together hundreds of social workers to deliver multiple CEU sessions with a real sense of camaraderie. The Midwest, stretching from the Appalachians to the Rockies, hosts many conferences for social work emphasizing rural community needs. Pioneering social workers like Tamara Grigsby, Joe Kort, Cathryn C. Potter, and David Crampton hail from the Midwest. Perhaps you'll run into them at these five Midwestern social worker conferences during 2018.
1. 21st Annual National SSWAA Conference: Columbus, OH
March 14-17, 2018
Easily tracking up to 18.5 CEUs on the Going Mobile! App, the School Social Work Association of America's (SSWAA) 21st Annual Conference will start in mid-March at the Hyatt Regency Columbus. The four-day event costs members $370 total for energized development training focused on intervention techniques in today's multicultural PreK-12 schools. Agenda items include an opening keynote from PTSD specialist Amy Oestreicher, screening of Unstuck, and awards presentation.
2. Empowered to Connect 2018 Conference: Chicago, IL
April 13-14, 2018
Developed by Dan and Terri Coley, the Empowered to Connect Conference will take place in April at the Chicago Metro's Community Christian Church for a registration fee of $60. Approved by the NASW for 11 CEUs, the affordable, two-day event will focus on trust-based relational intervention (TBRI) methods popularized by Drs. Karyn Purvis and David Cross. Social workers involved in the foster care or adoption system can attend live or via simulcast.
3. Child & Adolescent Mental Health Conference: Duluth, MN
April 15-17, 2018
Priced at $379 for Sunday through Tuesday, the MACMH Child & Adolescent Mental Health Conference will occur in April at the Duluth Entertainment & Convention Center. Chaired by Danny Porter, LICSW, the event attracts over 1,900 attendees as the United States' largest conference for social workers caring for youth from birth to age 21. Up to 19 CEUs are available during the MHED Talks, Q&A Networking, Exhibit Expo, and Supervision Series.
4. 2018 AASECT 50th Annual Conference: Denver, CO
June 14-17, 2018
At the Mile High City's Sheraton Denver Downtown, the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) will invite over 600 guests, including social workers, to its 50th Annual Conference in June. Centered on the theme "Bridging the Divide," the four-day event will use 133,000 square feet as an open exchange for clinical techniques related to human intimacy. Charging members $450 until April, the program has specialized tracks like Sexuality & Aging or Alt Sex.
5. Missouri Coalition for Community Behavioral Healthcare: Branson, MO
September 13-14, 2018
After Labor Day, the Missouri Coalition for Community Behavioral Healthcare will congregate for two days at the Chateau on the Lake in Branson to evoke talks about community-based mental services. Billing members $135 total, it's another of the Midwestern social work conferences that will magnetize 600+ licensed clinical staff. The September agenda features guest speakers like Chuck Ingoglia, substance abuse recovery workshops, over 100 exhibitors, and the Annual Physician Institute.
Squeezing in time for social worker conferences is suggested to unwind, refresh your mind, and approach your busy caseload with better clarity. Conferences are large gatherings where you'll discuss field-based agenda topics, listen to inspiring keynotes, connect with peers, and attend innovative trade shows. Whether you're from Michigan, Nebraska, or elsewhere, these five social work conferences are heading to the Heartland to share heartfelt practice tips in 2018.
See also: 20 High-value BSW Degrees in Metro Areas with Top Salaries for Social Workers