Transforming the social work and community health landscape
Join us for the 16th Annual Social Work and Community Health Summer Institute (SWSI) from May 16th to June 1st on Zoom to learn about the latest practical social work and community health skills. Workshops are free to attend, made possible by the commitment of West Virginia University, An Giang University, and Pacific Links Foundation. Come learn and share your experience with us!
We invite participants who are:
<> Social workers, community health workers, collaborators, and partners of local and international NGOs
<> Staff, faculty, students of social work/ public health at universities
<> Working in social work/ community health service
<> Interested in social work/ public health
All workshops will be presented in both Vietnamese and English.
We will email registration instructions at a later time. To save a spot, express your interest here. Follow us on Facebook to get the latest news.
Please help spread the word and invite others. For questions, email swsi.htctxh@pacificlinks.org.
May 16, 7AM to 7:30AM Vietnam Time – Opening Ceremony
May 16 to June 1 – Workshops 1 to 17
June 1, 1:30PM to 2:00PM Vietnam Time – Closing Ceremony
Learn & share about...
This workshop will focus on supporting older persons with dementia and their caregivers. It will begin by providing basic education on dementia, its progression, and the challenges it presents to the lives of those affected. Best practices for working with persons with dementia and their caregivers will also be discussed, including reminiscence therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy.
Dr. Kristina M. Hash, PhD, LICSW, Professor in the School of Social Work at West Virginia University
Ms. Susan Millham, MSW, LICSW, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Morgantown, West Virginia, specializing in individual, couples, and family therapy
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders with which people struggle. CBT is the most evidenced based model for treating Depression. This workshop will introduce the participants to the basic of how to treat Depression through the use of CBT. Case examples will be used to illustrate basic concepts of the model.
Ms. Tam Le, MA, Psychological counselor for RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) University in Ho Chi Minh City, Lecturer for undergraduate programs in Psychology and Social Work at the University of Social Sciences and Humanity in Ho Chi Minh City
Solutions Focused Therapies (SFT) offers flexible and nearly infinite applicability across diverse populations by providing the clinician with a reliable set of tools that can bring relief to clients in short timeframes. Client motivation and chance of success is greater when solutions are tailored to work within the client’s values and sensibilities. Personal solutions can set many on a path of self-discernment and self-actualization. When solutions are personal the chance for growth widens well beyond the scope of the original problem. Case examples will be used to illustrate basic concepts.
Mr. Matt Held, MSW, LGSW, Therapist with the Morgantown Pastoral Counseling Center (MPCC)
West Virginia University Extension Service engages youth and adults in local communities providing health outreach. This workshop will present ideas for program delivery that can be adapted to a wide variety of public health and education settings. By examining trends and topics in Extension health outreach, participants will learn methods for reaching community members in a manner that can increase social capital, health equity, and environmental change. Ideas for developing more impactful organizational efforts while expanding individual capacity for more effective health outreach programs will also be explored.
Dr. Denis M. Scott, PhD, West Virginia University Extension Associate Professor and Community Engagement and Global Awareness Specialist, Assistant Director of Academic Engagement with the WVU Center for Community Engagement, Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Qualified Administrator
Ms. Stephanie M. Lusk, RN, MPH, West Virginia University Family and Community Development Extension Agent
Practicing self-care is essential for mental health practitioners. Addressing client psychological wellness can be stressing and take its toll on the provider. Self-compassion, self-awareness- and healing are crucial for performing well as a mental health provider. The therapist, counselor, or psychologist who practices self-care well, can have a more positive impact on the clients they serve. This workshop will explore important habit-forming changes that have significant effect personally and professionally when providing care for clients and help reduce burn out and improve outcome in therapy.
Ms. Tam Le, MA, Psychological counselor for RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology)
University in Ho Chi Minh City, Lecturer for undergraduate programs in Psychology and Social Work at the University of Social Sciences and Humanity in Ho Chi Minh City
There has been a gradual shift in the social service sector in Vietnam. Social organizations that traditionally focused on service delivery have now attempted to incorporate more research activities in their operations, from program design to impact evaluation. This change is in part due to donors and the growing maturity of the social service sector. This workshop will address, how organizations can envision this transition to develop their research capacity while remaining relevant to their mission and mandates. Research management capacity, organizational structure, resources, and staff development strategies will be discussed. Leveraging on Oxfam’s decade-long experience transitioning from service delivery to the research intensive and policy influencing model, this workshop will present some of the possible pathways, pragmatic considerations, and contextual challenges that organizations and social work practitioners must address as they embark on the transition.
Mr. Do Quy Duong, MA, Specialist on Governance and Research for Oxfam in Vietnam
Advocacy, and mass communication for behavioral change are used in many developmental projects as strategies to promote targeted areas for reform. Participatory communication, the subject of this workshop, is a powerful influence in contributing to sustainable changes at various levels of society. This workshop will discuss different approaches of communication and how to plan for and facilitate the process of communication for social change. Examples will be given from the presenter’s considerable years of experience that illustrate important points.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Phuong, MA, Communication and Media Senior Advisor at Oxfam in Vietnam
Meditation is a practice in which an individual focuses on a particular object, thought, or activity to train attention and awareness and achieve a mentally clear and emotional calm state. Meditation can be a vehicle for developing mindfulness, which is being present and actively aware of feelings, thoughts, behaviors… in a non-judgmental way. Besides physical benefits, mindfulness and meditation can enhance emotional stability, creativity, happiness, intuition, and overall peace of mind. This workshop will introduce participants to different meditation practices that can create positive effects for not only you but also your clients’ attitude, perspectives, and ability to cope with daily stresses.
Ms. Tam Le, MA, Psychological counselor for RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology)
University in Ho Chi Minh City, Lecturer for undergraduate programs in Psychology and Social Work at the University of Social Sciences and Humanity in Ho Chi Minh City
The focus of this workshop is on trauma and the influence of trauma on client mental health. The difference between trauma informed and non-trauma informed practice in social work will be examined. Participants will learn how to prevent re-traumatization in working with survivors of violence and abuse and tools to help them in situations where the client’s trauma is being triggered or they are retraumatized.
Ms. To Thi Hanh, MA, Trainer, facilitator, and psychologist for Hagar International in Vietnam
Anxiety is a highly pervasive mental health diagnosis. Of the psychological treatments, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has received the greatest amount of empirical support. This workshop will offer attendees an overview of cognitive and behavioral theories of anxiety, panic, OCD, and other anxiety-related diagnoses. A summary of the empirical evidence supporting CBT, and a description of how to assess and treat the disorder will be presented. Workshop attendees are encouraged to bring their “real life” examples to the workshop for discussion purposes.
Dr. Stephanie McWilliams, PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Director of the Quin Curtis Center for Psychology Training, Service, and Research at West Virginia University
“The wound is the place where the light enters”- Rumi
Is conflict bad? Do talk-based counseling and mindfulness help resolve and/or exacerbate trauma and conflict? This workshop is for individuals who want to find creative ways to engage and heal their social conflicts and traumas (e.g., parents, children, teachers, students, couples, team members, leaders, facilitators, and therapists). The workshop combines a brief theoretical lecture and group exercises. Non-traditional and interactive theatre, mindfulness, meditation, and conflict resolution techniques will be used to create a safe space holding all that might arise during the workshop. Participants will work together to recognize, investigate, and try out diverse roles, resources, and possibilities in their conflicts and traumas.
Mrs. Nhina Le Keim, MS, MS, Counselor at Community Health for Asian Americans (CHAA), a non-profit organization focusing on mental health and social services in California
Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia and other Sleep Disorders (CBT-I) is the gold standard, evidence-based approach to diagnosing and treating sleep problems. Poor sleep and lack of sleep are especially pervasive as a co-morbid concern to other mental health or medical issues and can exacerbate with conditions. In this workshop, the steps of diagnosis and treatment for a variety of sleep disorders will be discussed. Several tools will be provided for workshop attendees to utilize in patient care.
Dr. Stephanie McWilliams, PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Director of the Quin Curtis Center for Psychology Training, Service, and Research at West Virginia University
Ms. Emma Pino, BS, Graduate student in the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program at West Virginia University
This team-taught workshop will provide participants a brief review of the language of LGBTQ+, issues, of coming out to one’s family, and cultural and religious stresses on LGBTQ+ identified people. Some helpful perspectives, approaches, and techniques to provide mental health support to this community in direct practice will be the main focus of this section. Case examples will be used to illustrate issues and demonstrate techniques for working with this population.
Mr. Tinh Dang, MSW, MA, LGSW, Telehealth psychotherapist with Saigon Psychub in Vietnam
Mr. Matt Held, MSW, LGSW, Therapist with the Morgantown Pastoral Counseling Center (MPCC)
Ms. Mia Nguyen, BA, Chief Executive Officer of the Counseling Company “Ladies of Vietnam” based in Ho Chi Minh City, Columnist in the Women Newspaper writing about Love and Marriage
Human Trafficking for sexual and forced labor exploitation is a 150 billion a year illegal enterprise enslaving 40 million people. The Pacific Links Foundation has been involved in counter-trafficking efforts for the past 20 plus years. Effective counter trafficking initiatives such as educating youth and vocational training will be discussed as well as disrupting the supply chain through factory awareness and empowering migrants will be discussed. The PAXU App will be reviewed as a way migrants can calculate debt repayment and living expenses in making decisions regarding migration. Lastly, reintegration services for those returning from trafficking and capacity building for responders will be examined. Case examples will be used to illustrate key ideas.
Ms. Loan Luong, BA, Program Director at Pacific Links Foundation, a US-based nonprofit empowering women and youth against trafficking and forced labor, Co-founder of Cay Mai Social Work Program, a network of social workers that provides social protection, and support services for street and homeless youth
Child Protective Service (CPS) Workers protect the most vulnerable among us. Their primary function is to evaluate whether a child is safe and if there is a risk of future maltreatment. This presentation will provide participants with a basic understanding of what case management in child protective services is including: 1) Reviewing reports of an alleged case of abuse or neglect. 2)
Investigating the case through interviews with key people, including children, parents, other relatives, and medical providers. 3) Collecting documentary evidence such as medical reports, arrest records, and court filing.
4) Planning and coordinating services to help children and their families. 5)
Filling out paperwork outlining the investigation and the resulting actions that are taken. Best practices in these areas will be discussed. Qualifications to be a CPS Worker will be discussed. The presenter will share work experience for further illustration and raise questions for further discussion.
Ms. Hiếu Le Wells, MSW, LCSWA, Clinical Case Manager for Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center of North Carolina
The future is our imagination, and the past is our memory. This workshop investigates the contribution of memory to emotional distress and how memories can be changed in psychotherapy. We will explore how memories are encoded differently during trauma and stress and review the potential contribution of these differences to long-term emotional distress. Examining the differences between health and unhealthy memories informs us of the means by which psychotherapy can help people to evolve more adaptive perspectives.
Mr. James Keim, MSW, LCSW, Private practice in San Francisco, Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Co-author of the book, The Violence of Men
Professional ethics is the practice of moral conduct in the workplace. All helping professions have ethical codes of conduct. The basic principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, justice, and fidelity will be examined as guides to right thinking and right conduct. Rules concerning informed consent, confidentiality and the issues around dual relationships will also be discussed. Workshop participants will be given ethical case dilemmas and asked to reason out what would be the best course of action and the ethical dilemma(s) involved. Discussion will be encouraged.
Dr. Neal Newfield, PhD, LICSW, ACSW, Associate Professor Emeritus of Social Work and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychology at West
Virginia University, Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor for the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Practicing therapist with the Morgantown Pastoral Counseling Center
Dr. Susan Newfield, RN, PhD, PMHCNS-BC, Associate Professor and Chairperson of the Family/Community Health Department, for the West Virginia University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing, Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and has a regular practice working with adolescents at a local high school.
Please help spread the word and invite others. For questions, email swsi.htctxh@pacificlinks.org.
