DSW Showcase Student Presentation

Christie Nebedum

MSW

Empowering Social Work Leadership: An Organizational Policy Blueprint for Strengthening Administrative Responses to Client-Perpetrated Violence

Concentration - Administrative Leadership

Abstract

This capstone presentation examines the issue of client-perpetrated violence (CPV) in social work, where professionals are 20% more likely to experience verbal threats, emotional abuse, and physical assaults compared to other fields. Findings from a systematic literature review of eight qualifying scholarly articles reveal that existing CPV prevention and recovery recommendations are largely reactive, lack theoretical grounding, and fail to demonstrate long-term effectiveness. The literature further highlights the normalization of CPV within the profession, contributing to leadership inaction and the absence of standardized support systems. To address this gap, this presentation proposes an organizational policy blueprint grounded in a theoretical framework that integrates Trauma-Informed Practice, Ecological Systems Theory, and Professional Resilience as a guide to address CPV. This strategic approach is designed to empower social work administrators to institutionalize and standardize CPV policies that prioritize employee well-being and organizational accountability.

Biography

Christie Tarpley Nebedum is a Faculty Field Liaison and Instructor at the University of Oklahoma, where she supports MSW students through field instruction for practicum. Christie has a Master of Social Work and a Bachelor of Social Work, both from the University of Central Florida. Christie's professional journey includes extensive experience in clinical counseling, direct practice with at-risk populations, and organizational leadership.

Throughout her career, Christie has prioritized implementing evidence-based interventions and developing programs that empower at-risk youth, young adults aging out of foster care, and vulnerable populations. Her commitment to advancing professional resilience and fostering inclusive, safe environments drives her work in education, research, and clinical practice. Christie is dedicated to collaborating with organizations to ensure sustainable practices that enhance both employee well-being and client outcomes.

Christie is a Doctoral Candidate in Social Work at the University of Kentucky. Her concentration is in Administrative Leadership. Her research focuses on agency practices to ensure social workers' physical safety, particularly addressing client-perpetrated violence. Her capstone project, titled "Empowering Social Work Leadership: An Organizational Policy Blueprint for Strengthening Administrative Responses to Client-Perpetrated Violence," examines the critical role of prevention and recovery measures in supporting frontline practitioners. With her commitment to trauma-informed care and resilience-building, she aims to contribute to the development of safe and supportive workplace cultures for social workers.