Date: Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm ET | 4:30pm-6:00pm CT
Location: live Zoom webinar
Presentation Title: Abolitionist Social Work Practice: Transforming Systems for Social Justice
Presenter: Ebony N. Perez, PhD, MSW
Cost – $30
Logistics
Zoom information will be emailed to participants the afternoon before and morning of the event. Registration will close two hours before the event start time. This event is live and will not be recorded.
Course Description
This workshop is designed to equip social workers with the knowledge, tools, and strategies needed to integrate abolitionist principles into their practice. Abolitionist social work is rooted in the belief that social justice and true community well-being cannot be achieved through systems of punishment and oppression. Instead, it calls for dismantling harmful structures and the creation of alternatives that promote healing, equity, and collective care.
Participants will explore the intersections of social work and abolitionist thought. The workshop will challenge participants to critically assess the role of social work within existing systems of power and to imagine new ways of fostering justice and safety in their communities.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will:
- Gain an understanding of abolitionist principles, including the historical and contemporary contexts of abolition in social work;
- Critically examine the role of social work within existing systems of power;
- Explore alternative visions of justice and safety that do not rely on punitive systems; and
- Identify potential challenges and barriers to implementing abolitionist practices within the social work field.
CEUs
Participants are eligible to earn 1.5 continuing education units.
A link for the program evaluation will be emailed to participants after the event has concluded. To receive the CEU certificate, participants must complete the evaluation by the deadline indicated in that email. Certificates are not automatically generated and will be emailed out after the deadline to complete the evaluation has passed.
Accessibility
There is space on the event registration form to indicate accommodations required. We work with the university’s Office of Equity & Diversity and Office of Student Disability Services to make arrangements and ask that you allow us adequate time to communicate with them about any services needed.
It is a priority to make our events inclusive and accessible. For any questions or to notify us of a request, please email cswcep@utk.edu at least three business days prior to the event.
Refunds
To request a refund, please email cswcep@utk.edu. Full refunds will be granted up to 48 hours prior to the event. In the event this program is cancelled, full refunds will be issued to all registrants.
About the Presenter
Ebony Nicole Perez, PhD, MSW currently serves as the Assistant Professor of Undergraduate Social Work and Department Chair at Saint Leo University. As a dedicated Racial Scholar and Qualitative Researcher, Dr. Perez’s research is focused on empowering marginalized communities. With over 15 years of experience in social work practice, she has held various roles, including Behavioral Specialist, Research Associate, Inpatient Psychiatric Social Worker, and Pediatric ICU Social Worker.
Dr. Perez’s extensive practice experience primarily involves working with children and adolescents who have learning exceptionalities and co-morbid psychiatric diagnoses. She has supported this population across diverse settings, including within their natural families, therapeutic foster care, research environments, and inpatient psychiatric hospitals. Additionally, she has six years of counseling experience in a community college setting.
Dr. Perez earned her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Higher Education Administration, along with a graduate certificate in Diversity in Education from the University of South Florida (USF). Beyond her scholarship and research, she is actively engaged in community service, including her current role on the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Council on Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Diversity.
Her work has been showcased at numerous national and international conferences, such as the American Educational Research Association, the Association for the Study of Higher Education, CSWE, and The Learner Conference. Dr. Perez’s research has been published in prestigious journals including Advances in Social Work, Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work, and Journal of College Development, in addition to several book chapters.