CHAPTER CONFERENCES

​​Register Here

Registration closes at 9:00am Central Time on Wednesday, October 21, 2026

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CONFERENCE DETAILS:

2026 NASW Chapters Virtual Conference: Strength in Action - How We Uplift, Defend, & Transform
Hosted by: NASW-Illinois, Missouri and Nevada Chapters

Dates: Wednesday, October 28 and Thursday, October 29, 2026

Times: Times are the same for both days

• 11:00am to 4:00pm Central Time / 10:00am to 3:00pm Mountain Time / 9:00am to 2:00pm Pacific Time

Conference Event Platform: Zoom Events

CEUs Available: Up to 8 CEUs available including CEUs fulfilling requirements for Alzheimer's disease, cultural competency/diversity, equity, and inclusion, clinical supervision, ethics, implicit bias/diversity, equity, and inclusion, and suicide prevention.

Sponsorship Opportunities: 

• Digital Exhibitor Sponsorship

• Sponsorship

Conference Workshops, Descriptions, and Presenters: 

• Day One

• Day Two

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DEADLINES: 

• Early Bird Registration Deadline: 9:00am Central Time on Monday, September 28, 2026

• Registration Deadline: 9:00am Central Time on Wednesday, October 21, 2026

• Deadline to Request Invoice: Monday, October 12, 2026

• Deadline to Receive Payment: Friday, October 23, 2026

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REGISTRATION RATES:

Early Bird Registrants (before 09.28.26)

• Nonmember: $159.00

• NASW Member: $99.00
   

Regular Registrations (09.28.26–10.21.26)*

• Nonmember: $189.00

• NASW Member: $129.00

* Registrations received AFTER 9:00am Central Time on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, are not guaranteed staff assistance getting on or navigating the conference platform. We strongly recommend registering before the deadline. 

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BSW & MSW Students (not eligible for CEUs):

• Nonmember: $60.00 (includes NASW student membership)

• NASW Member: $15.00

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CONTINUING EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS: 

Conference workshops will qualify as continuing education in Illinois, Missouri, and Nevada for the following professions*:

• In Illinois: LSWs, LCSWs, PELs, LPCs, LCPCs, LMFTs, RNs, LPNs, APNs, and LCPs as approved by the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR). 

• In Missouri: LCSWs, LMSWs, LAMSWs, and LBSWs as approved by the Missouri Committee for Social Workers.

• In Nevada: Professionals licensed by Nevada Board of Examiners for Social Workers, Nevada State Board of Psychological Examiners, State of Nevada, State of Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists & Clinical Professional Counselors, Department of Education.

*Subject to change​

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2026 NASW CHAPTERS VIRTUAL CONFERENCE CANCELLATION POLICY

You may cancel without penalty if written cancellation requests are received up to and including thirty (30) days prior to the start of the conference. Due to financial obligations incurred by the NASW Chapters no refunds or credits will be issue on cancellation requests received less than thirty (30) days prior to the start of the conference. Cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to the NASW-Illinois Chapter office.

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GAIN EXPOSURE WITH SPONSORSHIP!

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DIGITAL EXHIBITOR SPONSORSHIP

Promote your organization with a digital exhibitor sponsorship listing. Your listing will be fully integrated into the digital conference platform, allowing you to still engage with attendees and for them to engage with your materials during and after the event. Since it's all virtual, there's no set-up or teardown—just you!

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Vendors Receive:

• Access to the digital conference platform (Zoom Webinar) to interact with attendees, have live chat conversations, and share info on your organization

• Featured logo placement on main lobby page of event platform (Zoom Webinar)

• A listing on the dedicated sponsor page of event platform (Zoom Webinar)

• A mailing address contact list of attendees (.xls)

• A pre-conference e-mail sent to attendees with your organization description and contact info

• Complimentary one-month NASW-IL Ad Listing for either a job opening OR visual banner ad

• A pre-conference e-mail sent to attendees with your basic contact info

 

NOTE: Exhibitors may attend virtual education but to receive CEUs, they must purchase conference registration as an attendee.

 

Fees: For Profit: $450.00 / Nonprofit: $350.00

 

Submit your digital exhibitor sponsorship here.

SPONSORSHIP

Custom sponsorship packages are available ranging from $2,000 to $15,000. If you would like to elevate your presence at the conference and reach an even larger audience with the chapter, please reach out to NASW-Illinois Chapter Executive Director Joel L. Rubin.

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CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS

 

Day One: Wednesday, October 28, 2026

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Session 1 | 11:00am–12:00pm CT / 10:00am–11:00am MT / 9:00am–10:00am PT
Clinical Social Justice Supervision (CC/DEI/Clin. Sup.)
This CC/DEI/Clin. Sup. session explores integrating social justice principles into the supervisory process for all practitioners in practicum, agency, and university settings. It focuses on addressing power dynamics, privilege, and oppression, aligned with the latest updates from the Council on Social Work Education and the National Association of Social Workers. Key topics include recognizing microaggressions, supporting supervisees of marginalized identities, and developing anti-oppressive supervision frameworks. Polls, discussions, and reflection will enhance self-awareness and accountability, promoting transformative change. Participants will gain practical tools to foster inclusive, culturally responsive supervision and improve overall clinical practice.
Joy Richardson, DSW, LCSW (she/they)
Clinical Instructor, University of Kentucky College of Social Work
Sara Chears-Martinez, MSW, LSW (she/her)
Practicum Coordinator and Assistant Professor, National Louis University
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Beneath the Promise of Change: The Hidden Costs of Pathologizing Authenticity Through “Conversion Therapy” (CC/DEI)
This CC/DEI session examines the psychological, relational, and systemic harms associated with conversion therapy and related identity-suppressing practices targeting LGBTQ+ individuals. This session explores clinical, religious, familial, and behavioral forms of “change efforts,” alongside their ethical and legal implications within social work practice. Participants will deepen their understanding of shame, trauma, and conditional belonging as central dynamics of conversion therapy, while developing affirming, trauma-informed, and ethically grounded responses when clients, caregivers, or communities seek identity change interventions.
Ky A. Miller, MSW, LCSW (they/them)
Psychotherapist, Navigating Points, PLLC

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Beyond Behavior: Trauma-Informed Strategies for Supporting Students in Schools
Students today face growing mental health challenges influenced by trauma, family stress, community violence, and academic pressure. School social workers are uniquely positioned to support students while advocating for equitable access to resources within schools. This session explores practical, trauma-informed strategies school social workers can use to uplift students, defend their mental health needs, and transform school environments into supportive spaces. Participants will gain insight into emotional and behavioral challenges students bring into the classroom, and learn interventions that promote resilience, emotional regulation, and engagement. Through real-world examples and discussion, participants will leave with practical tools to strengthen collaboration with educators, families, and community partners.
Kimberly C. Ward, LICSW, LCSW-C, LCSW, RPT (she/her)
School Social Worker, DC Public Schools
 

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Session 2 | 12:15pm–1:15pm CT / 11:15am–12:15pm MT / 10:15am–11:15am PT

The Business of Healing: What Social Work School Never Taught You About Sustaining a Private Practice
Nobody taught you how to run a practice. They taught you how to help people. That gap is costing you. This session gives private practitioners and aspiring practice owners the business fundamentals that keep practices alive: knowing what you own and how to protect it, building systems that reduce administrative drain, and reframing marketing as an act of service rather than self-promotion. Speaker Ashley Bryant built and sustained a group practice while working full time. She knows what the gap costs. Come learn what school left out and leave with a self-assessment and one action step you can take this month.
Ashley R. Bryant, LPC (she/her)
Owner, Legacy Family Services 

Ethical Use of AI in Social Work Practice (E)
Are you uncertain about AI? Staying passive is no longer an option as technology redefines mental health. This high-impact ethics session moves beyond the hype to equip you with the Strength in Action needed to protect your practice and clients. You will master the legalities of the Illinois WOPR Act and Nevada’s AB 406, navigate NASW Technology standards, and learn to assess client AI use. Walk away with a ready-to-use AI Vendor Checklist and an Informed Consent toolkit. Join me to transform AI from a hidden risk into a powerful, ethically grounded tool and professional leadership.
Lori A. Melhart, LCSW (she/her)
Adjunct Professor, Aurora University

Inclusive, Culturally Responsive Social Work Practice: Supporting Muslim Families and Children with Disabilities (CC/DEI)
Discover how inclusive, culturally responsive social work moves from intention to impact. This engaging, interactive CC/DEI session explores disability inclusion and Muslim family systems through a strengths-based, faith-informed lens. Attendees will gain practical tools, real-world strategies, and advocacy skills to reduce stigma, build trust, and create meaningful inclusion across clinical, school, and community settings.
Afshan Khwaja, LMSW, NYSCC (she/her)
Director, Safeena Foundation Inc.

 

Session 3 | 1:45–2:45pm CT / 12:45–1:45pm MT / 11:45am–12:45pm PT
From Awareness to Action: Building Culturally Responsive Clinical Practices in Schools (CC/DEI)
Ready to turn cultural awareness into meaningful action? This CC/DEI session offers social workers actionable strategies to strengthen engagement, address bias, and design interventions that support diverse students and families. Gain tools you can apply immediately to make your school-based practice more equitable and impactful.
Constance F. Joubert, MSW (she/her)
SEL & Mental Health Liaison, Bloom Township High School District 206
Sheva Franklin, LCSW (she/her)
School Social Worker, Bloom Township High School District 206

Halo & Healing: Resilience and Suicide Prevention in Human Services (SP)
This interactive suicide prevention session reframes suicide prevention through a lens of resilience, culture, and connection. Using Beyoncé’s artistry as a guide, participants will explore how belonging, identity affirmation, and community protect against despair. Humanizing suicide prevention, the session blends evidence-based risk and protective factor frameworks with practical, culturally responsive strategies. Through reflection, discussion, and guided role practice, participants will leave equipped to respond to suicide disclosures with presence, empathy, and cultural humility, while strengthening protective factors in clients and communities. Empowerment, connection, and hope are at the heart of every moment.
Witni Jackson, DSW, LCSW, MAC (she/her)
CEO, Kuna Consulting, LLC

Who Uplifts the Uplifter? Supporting Sandwich Generation Clients When the Work Hits Close to Home
You're trained to show up for clients in their hardest seasons. But when a client is raising kids while supporting an aging parent and so are you, something shifts. You've validated, reflected, and problem-solved, and they come back the next week just as overwhelmed as before. You might notice those client stories staying with you long after the session ends. This session is for the social worker who is holding everyone and needs someone to hold them too. Speaker Joni A. Lamb, LCSW, brings session-ready tools and a clear clinical framework for working with sandwich generation clients and recognizing when their story is quietly becoming yours.
Joni A. Lamb, LCSW (she/her)
Owner, Joni Lamb Therapy PLLC

 

Day One: Session 4 | 3:00–4:00pm CT / 2:00–3:00pm MT / 1:00–2:00pm PT
Defending Ethical Practice in a Productivity-Driven World: Protecting Clinical Judgement and Client Care (E)
Productivity expectations are reshaping clinical social work—but at what ethical cost? This engaging ethics session helps licensed clinicians defend ethical practice while navigating documentation demands, session pacing pressures, and virtual care challenges. Participants will analyze real-world clinical dilemmas, apply the NASW Code of Ethics to modern practice settings, and leave with practical tools to protect clinical judgment and client-centered care. Designed for social workers providing therapy in today’s high-demand environments, this session strengthens ethical clarity, professional confidence, and sustainable clinical practice.
Stephany Thompson, DBH, LCSW, LICSW, LMSW, LCSW-C, LISW-CP, CCM, ACM-SW (she/her)
Clinical Director, Alliance Behavioral Health Services

Understanding Autism: Effective Interaction with Individuals with High Functioning Autism
Individuals with autism spectrum attributes seem to be difficult to understand. However, there are a few specific traits that actually give professionals the tools to help the frustrated teacher, friend, or family member in working with these individuals who make the world a better place if they are given the structure and support to achieve their potential.
Laura L. Debenham, MSW (she/her)
Director, Great Basin College

From Service to Systems: How Social Workers Build Power, Equity, and Sustainable Impact
Social workers are often the backbone of behavioral health systems yet excluded from leadership and ownership roles that shape policy and practice. This interactive session explores how social workers can expand their influence through ethical leadership, organizational development, and systems engagement. Participants will learn how to translate their values into sustainable impact, navigate institutional spaces without losing integrity, and identify pathways to leadership beyond traditional clinical roles. Attendees will leave with practical frameworks, renewed clarity, and actionable steps for building power, equity, and long-term impact within the profession.
Lisa M. Wilkinson, LMFT (she/her)
Co-Founder, Health Readiness Resources
 

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Day Two: Thursday, October 29, 2026

Session 5 | 11:00am–12:00pm CT / 10:00–11:00am MT / 9:00–10:00am PT
Leading Without Bias: Transformative Clinical Supervision in Social Work (Clin. Sup./IB/DEI)

This course must be attended in full to fulfill IL specialty CE content requirements.
In this dynamic Clin. Sup./IB/DEI session, participants will leave with actionable steps to create transformative supervision experiences that enhance professional growth and improve client outcomes. It empowers social work supervisors to lead with cultural humility and eliminate bias in clinical supervision. Through interactive activities, case scenarios, and practical tools, participants will learn how to recognize and interrupt bias, foster inclusive supervisory relationships, and apply evidence-based strategies that promote equity and ethical practice.
Charisma Pryor, DSW, LCSW, AM (she/her)
CEO, Inspirations of Courage, PLLC
 

Integrity Intact: All Encompassing Dementia Care and Ethical Implications (Alz.)

This course must be attended in full to fulfill IL specialty CE content requirements.
Learn how to best connect to someone living with dementia through effective communication strategies and a handful of non-pharmacological tools through a new approach to care that helps in ADL care and manages negative response behaviors.
Carrie Petrelli, MBA, LCSW, DCS, DCSCT, CCM, CDSGF (she/her)
Executive Director In Training (AIT), Arden Courts Northbrook 
Jennifer Stelter, PsyD, DCS, DCSCT (she/her)
Founder and CEO, Dementia Connection Institute

Strength in Action: Are We Losing Them? AI, Adolescents, and the Crisis of Reality, Trust, and Authority
Adolescents are showing subtle but significant shifts in how they think, relate, and interpret reality, and many clinicians are struggling to make sense of it. This session explores the emerging influence of AI on adolescent development, including impacts on identity, belief formation, and trust in relationships. Participants will gain practical tools to assess AI use, identify concerning patterns, and strengthen critical thinking, flexibility, and therapeutic connection in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Audrey Grunst, LCSW (she/her)
CEO, Simply Bee

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Session 6 | 12:15–1:15pm CT / 11:15am–12:15pm MT / 10:15–11:15am PT
From Frontline Practice to Systems Architect: Why Macro Competence is Essential for the Future of Social Work
Social workers are the largest segment of the behavioral health workforce—yet the systems that determine funding, workforce sustainability, and access to care are often shaped without consistent social work leadership. This session explores why macro competence—advocacy, policy literacy, and workforce strategy—is essential at every career stage. Participants will examine real-world workforce challenges, assess their current systems engagement, and leave with practical tools and a personalized action plan to influence decisions that affect client access and care quality.
Cynthia E. Baker, EdD, LCSW (she/her)
Executive Director, Illinois Behavioral Health Workforce Center

ADHD in Families: Diagnosis, Dynamics, and Practical Strategies
ADHD impacts more than the individual—it shapes family relationships, communication, and emotional dynamics across the lifespan. In this session, attendees will explore how ADHD presents from childhood to adulthood and learn practical, evidence-informed strategies to support families in navigating these challenges. Clinicians will leave with concrete tools to strengthen communication, set healthy boundaries, and promote resilience, empowering both individuals and families to transform stress and misunderstanding into connection and growth.
Jaimee Ory, LCSW, CRADC (she/her)
Owner, Ory Counseling

Is the Attraction in the Room with Us? Erotic Transference, Countertransference, and Ethical Practice (E)
This ethics session is a candid, supportive workshop for social workers and their supervisors navigating erotic transference and countertransference. This presentation normalizes an often-silenced experience and offers a safe, ethical space to explore it without shame or fear. Grounded in academic literature and the NASW Code of Ethics, participants will examine real case studies, build practical tools for managing attraction, and maintain professional boundaries, all while gaining peer support for situations nearly all clinicians encounter at some point in practice.
Amy K. Jacobs, LMSW (she/her)
Senior Clinical Social Worker, University of Michigan - Michigan Medicine
Jennifer Schwartz, LMSW (she/her)
Behavioral Health Manager, Lansing Area Aids Network

Session 7 | 1:45–2:45pm CT / 12:45–1:45pm MT / 11:45am–12:45pm PT
A Modern Social Worker’s Survival Toolkit for Challenging Times
In the face of global crises like climate change, racial injustice, and systemic violence, social workers must balance resilience and transformation. This experiential session blends tools for personal resilience with frameworks for systemic change. Explore topics like pathological empathy, self-care as a dynamic process, and applying developmental theories to real-world challenges. Participants will leave with actionable steps to sustain their well-being, foster progress, and lead in shaping a better future.
Sarah Buino, LCSW, CADC, RDDP, NMT (she/her)
Founder, Head/Heart Business Therapy

Men of Color and Mental Health (CC/DEI)
Men of color face unique mental health challenges shaped by culture, trauma, and expectations of strength and silence. This powerful session creates a safe, affirming space to explore emotional wellness, break stigma, and redefine what strength truly means. Participants will gain insight into how stress, trauma, and masculinity impact mental health while learning practical tools for coping, healing, and support. Designed to be engaging, culturally relevant, and empowering, this session equips men with knowledge, language, and strategies to care for their mental health—and support others—without shame.
Khalid B. Scott, BS, MSW, LCSW, CADC, CODP-1, C-SWHC, CWEL, CPLC, LPHA (he/him)
Senior Clinician, Department of Veterans Affairs

3rd Session TBA

 

Session 8 | 3:00–4:00pm CT / 2:00–3:00pm MT / 1:00–2:00pm PT
Resilience Amidst Ambiguity: Considerations for Families Affected by Alcohol Use Disorders
Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) affect 400 million people worldwide (WHO, 2024). As family members watch their loved ones struggle with AUD, they suffer financially, mentally, physically, and emotionally alongside them. Ambiguous loss theory is a grief conceptualization in which people can be physically present yet psychologically absent, or psychologically present yet physically absent (Boss, 2006). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) addresses how psychological inflexibility creates suffering (Hayes, 2012). In this session, the research findings of 310 family members affected by AUD indicated that psychological flexibility, psychological inflexibility, and boundary ambiguity significantly predicted distress and resilience. Specific interventions will be recommended based on the research.
Giselle Hernandez Navarro, PhD, LCSW, CADC (she/her)
Assistant Professor, Governors State University

Implicit Bias & the Workplace (IB/DEI)

This course must be attended in full to fulfill IL specialty CE content requirements.
No matter your work in the field, mental health professionals are consistently interacting with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and identities. Our own identities and experiences may inevitably lead to bias and judgment toward others. This brief IB/DEI presentation related to understanding microaggressions and implicit bias is focused on providing the best service in moments of tension. Understanding ourselves helps us understand how we may or may not be able to show up for our served populations.
Sithara Vincent, LCSW, E-RYT-500 (they/them)
Community Team Lead, Artesian Collaborative
Mel Burbules, LPC, NCC (she/her)
Therapist, Artesian Collaborative

Beyond Survival: How Gender-Specific, Culturally Relevant, Trauma-Responsive Services Support Healing for Black Women Impacted by Gun Violence (CC/DEI)
“Beyond Survival” is an invitation to social workers to examine how gun violence uniquely impacts Black women and why healing requires more than traditional care. This CC/DEI session will explore vital gender-specific, culturally relevant, trauma responsive approaches that honor Black women’s lived experiences as survivors, perpetrators, witnesses, caregivers, and community anchors. Participants will secure strategies that foster safety, build rapport, increase emotional regulation, and empower Black women on their healing journey.
Necole K. Muhammad, LCSW (she/her)
Social Worker, NKM Consulting & Wellness