Lexington, KY – This April, the University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) calls upon social work practitioners to join the fight against child abuse by participating in focused Continuing Education (CE) courses.
Aligning with CoSW’s mission of education and service, the Office of Professional Development and Continuing Education (OPDCE) provides life-long learning opportunities for social workers and other helping professionals to enhance their knowledge and skills and meet state licensing requirements.
The OPDCE provides high-quality, relevant, and evidence-based programming that enhances practitioners’ clinical and non-clinical skills.
In alignment with Child Abuse Prevention Month, the OPDCE is highlighting crucial, evidence-based programs that aim to equip helping professionals with vital skills for child abuse prevention.
As defined in KRS 620.020, training on the recognition and prevention of Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma (aka shaken baby syndrome) is mandated for many professionals including certified and licensed social workers and nurses. This course, taught by Dr. Vicki Hensley will examine risk factors, etiology, epidemiology, and the pathophysiology of PAHT. Additionally, students will learn strategies for soothing a crying infant and working with families in various capacities as a tool for the prevention of Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma.
Opioid Crisis and Child Welfare
This course introduces participants to the effect of opioid use disorder on the process of parenting. This includes both instrumental parenting (provision of adequate food, clothing, shelter, and supervision) as well as relational parenting (provision for love, support, warmth, and security). It draws on both qualitative and quantitative research to provide both objective information as well as insight into the subjective self-assessment of opioid misusing parents into the quality of their own behavior as parents.
Suicide Prevention Training: Assessment, Intervention and Management
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined that in 2021, there was an average of 1 suicide death every 11 minutes. Suicide prevention aims to reduce the occurrence of self-inflicted deaths by implementing strategies and providing support to individuals who may be at risk.
To register for any of our CE courses or learn more about the OPDCE, you can visit our website at: https://ceu.uky.edu/continuing-education/.
OPDCE programming is guided by regulations and protocols promulgated by the Kentucky Board of Social Work, the Kentucky Board of Psychology Examiners, the Kentucky Board of Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselors, the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage & Family Therapist Board, the American Association of State Social Work Boards and the Continuing Education Unit Guidelines set forth by the Commission on Colleges and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
