Thursday, January 14th, 2027 2:00 PM EST -5:00 PM EST Kendra Van de Water
Yahoo!
Description
Embodying Our Code of Ethics: Challenging Injustice
This dynamic and interactive training empowers social workers, counselors, advocates, and community professionals to move beyond theory and fully embody the social justice mandate within the NASW Code of Ethics. Through reflection, skill-building, and real-world application, participants will explore how to effectively recognize and challenge injustice at both individual and systemic levels. This session integrates direct practice insights with macro-level advocacy tools, ensuring participants leave with concrete strategies and renewed confidence to make ethical, justice-driven decisions in their everyday work.
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About the Presenter:
Kendra Van de Water, LSW, is a social worker, educator, advocate, author, and nationally recognized leader in youth justice and systems change. She is the Co Founder and Co CEO of Youth Empowerment for Advancement Hangout (YEAH Philly), a Black led organization advancing innovative approaches to youth justice, violence intervention, advocacy, and policy reform. Her work focuses on challenging systems that cause harm and building more equitable, community centered responses for young people and families. Known for her bold and practical approach, Kendra challenges social workers to move beyond simply knowing the Code of Ethics and begin embodying it. Through training, consulting, and public speaking, she helps professionals examine power, confront injustice, advocate within and beyond their organizations, and translate social work values into meaningful action.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify NASW Code of Ethics standards that establish social justice, anti-discrimination, public participation, and social and political action as professional responsibilities.
- Analyze how individual practice decisions, organizational policies, and larger systems can reproduce inequity or create opportunities for justice.
- Apply ethical and anti-oppressive frameworks to direct practice dilemmas, including advocacy for client rights, access, dignity, and self-determination.
- Identify practical macro and policy strategies social workers can use to challenge harmful policies, regulations, institutional practices, and structural inequities.
- Develop an individual action commitment for translating ethical principles into accountable social justice practice.
Agenda:
Embodying Our Code of Ethics: Challenging Injustices (3 hours ethics CE's)
Time: 10am to 1:30pm with 30-minute lunch break at 12pm. No small breaks other than lunch.
I. Introduction (15 minutes)
• Welcome & Objectives
• Define the purpose: Deepen understanding of the NASW Code of Ethics with a focus on social justice.
• Overview of training structure: Direct and macro practice strategies.
• Icebreaker or Reflection Prompt
• “What does ‘challenging injustice’ look like in your daily work?”
II. Foundations: NASW Code of Ethics & Social Justice (30 minutes)
• Review of Key Ethical Principles
• Social Justice: A core value and ethical principle.
• Commitment to Clients & the Broader Society.
• Ethical Standards Related to Advocacy, Equity, and Cultural Competence.
• Social Work’s Dual Responsibility
• To individual clients (micro)
• To systems and society (macro)
III. Identifying Injustice in Practice (30 minutes)
• Common Forms of Injustice in Social Work Settings
• Racism, classism, ableism, gender discrimination, etc.
• Institutional and structural inequities affecting clients.
• Ethical Dilemmas When Challenging Injustice
• Conflict with agency policies
• Risk of professional retaliation or burnout
• Navigating dual roles and boundaries
IV. Embodying Ethics in Direct Practice (45 minutes)
• Strategies for Challenging Injustice with Clients
• Using trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches
• Advocating with/for clients within systems (e.g., schools, hospitals, courts)
• Addressing microaggressions and implicit bias
• Case Scenarios & Role Plays
• Guided activities to practice ethical decision-making and advocacy in client interactions
Lunch: 30 minutes
V. Embodying Ethics at the Macro Level (45 minutes)
• Policy and Systems-Level Advocacy
• Engaging in legislative advocacy, coalition-building, and public education
• Organizing within workplaces to push for equity-oriented policies
• Creating Ethical Work Environments
• Promoting equity and inclusion internally (anti-racist supervision, hiring practices)
• Reporting and addressing systemic harm or unethical practices
• Case Examples or Guest Speaker (optional)
• Showcase real-world examples of macro-level advocacy
VI. Building an Ethical Justice-Oriented Practice (30 minutes)
• Personal & Professional Reflection Tools
• Ethical self-assessment
• Power and privilege mapping
• Sustaining Ethical Action
• Preventing burnout while engaging in justice work
• Peer supervision and communities of practice
VII. Conclusion & Evaluation (15 minutes)
• Key Takeaways
• Connecting daily practice to ethical imperatives
• Reinforcing the social work profession’s role in societal transformation
• Resources for Ongoing Learning
• NASW tools, policy updates, reading list
• Local and national advocacy organizations
• Feedback & Certificates
Accreditation - This Webinar Offers 3 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits
- CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
CE You! maintains responsibility for this program. - Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. #CAT-0122.
- Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
- Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
- Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0275.
- Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0774.
This presentation is open to:
- Behavior Analysts
- Social Workers
- Professional Counselors
- Therapists
- Psychologists
- Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
- Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
- Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
This online class is offered at an intermediate level, and is beneficial for an intermediate level clinician:
- New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
- Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
- Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
- Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives
Additional information
- Refunds: Registrants who are unable to attend a NEFESH seminar or live webinars may ask for, and will receive, a credit or refund (your choice). Refund requests will be processed within 3 business days. When an attendee knows in advance that they are unable to attend we ask that they inform NEFESH ahead of time by emailing secretary@nefeshinternational.org or by calling or texting 201-384-0084 this allows us to free up the spot in the training in the event that a training is at or near capacity.
- Disability Access: If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification.
- Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly.
- The grievance policy for trainings provided by NEFESH is available here
- Satisfactory Completion: Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion in your account or by clicking here
- Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.
- There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
- System Requirements: Any device (such as a computer, tablet, or phone), Dual-Core 2 GHz or higher processor, and at least 4 GB of RAM capable of running a Zoom session, along with a stable internet connection.
- Although early registration is recommended for this class in order to ensure the best experience, attendees may register and join until the start of the program