Social Work Leadership Skills Development Workshop

The College of Palliative Care is sponsoring a leadership skills development pre-conference workshop specifically for social workers on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 from 8 am- 5 pm during the HPNA/AAHPM Annual Assembly in Tampa, FL.

Intended Audience

The workshop is intended for social work faculty and practitioners interested in palliative care.

Abstract and Faculty

Social workers are at the forefront in caring for patients facing terminal and chronic illnesses and their families. Social workers are key team players on hospice and palliative care teams, promoting quality psychosocial care, advocating for patient and family concerns, and building consensus in health care decision-making. This social work leadership program provides a forum for tracing the evolution of social work services in hospice and palliative, with a special focus on promoting leadership in practice, research, and professional policy.

The day-long program will:

(1) Examine the diverse roles of social workers in diverse palliative care settings – including hospitals, hospices, cancer centers, and pediatric practice – and the skills that are required for excellence in these practice arenas.

(2) Bridge the gaps from practice to research, assuring that social workers can better document effectiveness in promoting desired outcomes. This will include skill development in quality improvement and an understanding of assessment tools that measure effectiveness in practice. Researchers will present as examples documentation of outcomes in long-term care and advance care planning.

(3) Explore innovative approaches and solutions to social work practice in hospice and palliative care, with a focus on trends for the future.

The program will highlight opportunities for social work leadership – in palliative care practice, education, research, and policy – through the recently established Social Work Hospice and Palliative Care Network. Network leaders will affirm the importance of social work leadership: for patients and families, the palliative care team, and the social work profession. Leaders will encourage dialogue among participants to promote mutual understanding of the needs of social work professionals on the frontlines of care. We will consider how our emerging organization can best serve social work professionals seeking a stronger voice on the palliative care team, through developing new resources, representing professional concerns, and advocating for improved psychosocial services in palliative care settings.

Faculty presenting during the day include: Theresa Altilio, ACSW MSW; Mercedes Bern-Klug, PhD MSW MA; Kathy Black, PhD; Susan Blacker, BSW; John G. Cagle, MSW; Grace Christ, DSW; Barbara Jones, PhD LMSW; Stacy F. Orloff, EdD; Shirley Otis Green, MSW; Debra Parker Oliver, PhD MSW; William Rowe, DSW; Gary Stein, JD PhD; Kathy Walsh, PhD MSW; and Sherri Weisenfluh, LCSW.

How to Register

All participants must pre-register for the worshop when completing their registration for the Annual Assembly. Click here to register.