School Social Work: Anti-LGBTQ+ Backlash (1.0 CE)

Course Description: From censorship-driven bills like the "Don't Say Gay or Trans" bill in Florida, and a raft of anti-trans legislation aimed at blocking access to sports or medical care, to increased efforts to ban LGBTQ+ themed books and curriculum, now more than ever LGBTQ+ youth--especially trans and non-binary students, need to know that the adults in their school communities are informed, engaged, and skilled in helping them navigate the negative impact of this anti-LGBTQ+ backlash. Whether students live in states where these bills have passed or are introduced, or in more liberal areas, they nonetheless are likely to feel less safe, less hopeful about the future, and more anxious in general about their ability to be openly LGBTQ+ with the increasing hostility circling around them. This webinar will provide a brief overview of the current legislative and cultural backlash aimed at LGBTQ+ youth, how to respect client rights to self-determination, confidentiality, and fidelity when operating under legal restrictions and/or increasingly hostile environments, and how to keep ethical practice at the center when working with LGBTQ+ youth who are feeling the personal effects of the political backlash, perhaps in addition to other stressors such as family rejection, bullying by peers, or struggles with self-acceptance.

Learning Goals: 

1. Identify how laws and policies that restrict discussions or content related to gender identity and sexual orientation may affect students and the practice of school social work.

2. Describe how laws or policies that restrict discussions about gender identity and sexual orientation may conflict with social work ethics in relationship to self-determination, confidentiality, fidelity, and social justice.

3. Strategize among supervisors, teachers, students, family members, and other community members ways to ensure that LGBTQ+ students are safe and affirmed within their schools.

Speakers:

Ellen Kahn, M.S.S. (she/her) and Allan Barsky, JD, MSW, PhD (he/him)  

-Ellen Kahn, M.S.S. (she/her) is the Senior Director of Programs and Partnerships at the Human Rights Campaign, overseeing a portfolio of programs and projects aimed at improving the lives of LGBTQ youth and families, including Welcoming Schools, All Children-All Families, Project THRIVE, Parents for Transgender Equality, HIV and Health Equity, and the HBCU Program. In her 16+ years at HRC, Ellen has shaped innovative system-change work in child welfare, education, and healthcare. She is nationally recognized as an expert on LGBTQ family life, LGBTQ youth, and she frequently writes and speaks on these topics for a wide variety of youth-serving professionals, media outlets, and other audiences. Allan Barsky is a professor with the Sandler School of Social Work at Florida Atlantic University. His book credits include Ethics and Values in Social Work, Clinicians in Court, Essential Ethics for Social Work Practice, and Conflict Resolution for the Helping Professions.

-Allan Barsky, JD, MSW, PhD (he/him) was awarded the “FAU Scholar of the Year Award” in 2020. Dr. Barsky chaired the National Association of Social Workers National Ethics Committee, as well as the Code of Ethics Review Committee. He was also awarded NASW’s “Excellence in Ethics Award.”

Content level: Intermediate

Target Audience: School Social Workers

Refund policy: No refunds will be given.

School Social Work Association of America, 1789, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. School Social Work Association of America maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 7/27/2023-7/27/2026. 

Note: Many state licensing boards impose specific limitations on course content, distance education, or other elements of continuing education, even when courses are taken from approved providers. It is your sole responsibility to ensure that the courses taken will meet the requirements for your license.