Southeastern Conferences for Social Work
• Gulf Coast Social Work Conference
• Linda Gammage Social Worker Conference
• NASW-NC Clinical Social Work Institute
• AOSW 34th Annual Conference
• NOFSW 2018 Annual Conference
Whether you're an entry-level LBSW or advanced LCSW, attending social work conferences is critical to meet continuing education requirements in every Southeastern state.
The Southeast's Sun Belt is an attractive locale for social worker conferences focused on promoting justice in an ethnically and economically diverse region. Home to more than 87 million, the Southeast stretches from the Carolinas to Texas with half of the United States' 10 poorest states. Signing up for conferences can help the Southeast's social workers update their skills and strategies for fighting against inequalities. Mark your calendar for these social worker conferences heading South for 2018.
1. Gulf Coast Social Work Conference: Biloxi, MS
January 25-26, 2018
Since 1992, Social Work Foundations has promoted the Gulf Coast Social Work Conference every January to provide at least 10 CEUs to licensed social workers in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas. This year's two-day, Southeast conference will attract over 1,000 attendees to the IP Casino Resort & Spa in Biloxi for a $205 registration fee. The agenda will include vendor networking with 60+ exhibitors, a keynote address by Dr. Harriet Lerner, and five breakout sessions.
2. Linda Gammage Social Worker Conference: San Antonio, TX
February 28-March 2, 2018
For free, the Hemophilia Alliance will host its famed Linda Gammage Social Worker Conference in late-February at San Antonio's Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center near the Alamo. Sponsored by a CSL Behring grant, the three-day, clinical social work conference will provide NASW credits for social workers who treat patients with bleeding disorders. Attracting keynote speaker Julie Weckstein, LCSW, of UC Davis Medical Center, the 2018 event will center on LGBTQ+ health care.
3. NASW-NC Clinical Social Work Institute: Wilmington, NC
May 14-16, 2018
At the Hilton Wilmington Riverside, the North Carolina Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW-NC) will invite members to its Clinical Social Work Institute for $210 apiece this Spring. Granting 20 CEUs, it's another of the three-day, Southeast social work conferences for licensed clinical practitioners to attend advanced workshops focused on "Building Strength Through Association." Exhibitors will include Crest View Recovery Center, Holly Hospital, and New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
4. AOSW 34th Annual Conference: Atlanta, GA
May 30-June 1, 2018
In May, the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW) will kick off its 34th Annual Conference at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis to provide continuing education credits to licensed practitioners advocating for cancer patients. Chaired by Kristin Scheeler, OSW-C, the three-day event after Memorial Day will follow the theme "Best Practices in Pivotal Times." The jam-packed schedule will feature the Oncology Social Worker of the Year Award ceremony and opening remarks from the American Cancer Society.
5. NOFSW 2018 Annual Conference: New Orleans, LA
June 19-22, 2018
The National Organization of Forensic Social Work (NOFSW) will hold another of the 2018 conferences for social work in the Southeast this June at the Hyatt Centric French Quarter Hotel. Awarding up to 21.5 CEUs, the four-day event has Early Bird pricing of $370 for members interested in learning about forensic social work changes in today's socio-political climate. Attendees can expect plenary speakers like Dr. Lisa Fontes, roundtables discussing crime victim assistance, and the FSW Certificate.
Social workers are busy with notoriously hefty caseloads, but taking time in 2018 to travel to conferences can help you avoid burnout. Conferences let you explore another city while renewing your social work passions, meeting interesting people, finding new vendors, and hearing from the field's pioneering minds. Whether you're from Louisiana, Georgia, or elsewhere, you can't afford to miss these social work conferences in the Southeast.
See also: 20 High-value BSW Degrees in Metro Areas with Top Salaries for Social Workers