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• School Social Worker of the Year Nomination

  • Start
    01/01/2019
  • End
    06/15/2019

  Register

  Each June, the Minnesota School Social Work Association selects a school social worker who reflects the highest professional standards, demonstrates creative leadership and service within the professional and the wider community.  

  School social workers can be a vital link in coordinating student services between school, family and community. We would appreciate you making us aware of an individual who you believe is exceptional in their social work practice and who has made significant contributions in the service of children and families.
  

  Please keep the following things in mind when considering a school social worker for the nomination:

  • Currently employed as a School Social Worker
    
  • Minnesota School Social Workers’ Association Member
    
  • Professional Competency
    
  • School Involvement
    
  • Involvement in the Wider Community

  
  

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• Call for Workshop Proposals

  • Start
    01/01/2019
  • End
    12/31/2019

  Register

  Each year MSSWA hosts conference trainings to meet the unique learning and licensing needs of school social workers. MSSWA welcomes RFPs for potential workshops.
  

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• MSSWA Intensive Workshop Series for School Social Workers Featuring Anne Gearity, Part 2

  • When
    02/08/2019
  •  
    10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
  • Location
    Maplewood Library Community Room, 3025 Southlawn Drive, Maplewood, MN 55109
  • Spaces left
    1

  Register

  Schools, Learning and Mental Health: Using Your Setting, Your Knowledge and Your Position Most Effectively: Part 2: Anne R. Gearity, PhD, LICSW

  In this intensive workshop series participants will learn how to assess their school culture and genuine receptivity to services, will better describe how learning and mental health are intrinsically intertwined, and examine how to use their roles to effect educational practices that support students who are most at risk for academic and social despair. 

  Learning Objectives:

  -     Participants will work on methods to assess readiness and engage staff colleagues in culture change;

  -     Participants will build language clarity and confidence to explain complex factors that compromise learning (such as emotional arousal, behavioral agitation, cognitive impairments, relational distrust, motivational collapse, executive function deficits etc.). 

  -     Participants will actively work on cases that illustrate these obstacles to learning, to improve coherent assessment data and case planning.

  -     Participants will explore our own obstacles to being effective —role uncertainty, knowledge insecurity, conflict management,etc.)

  5.5 Clinical Social Work CEU's / Post Test's Available

  Includes Continental Breakfast/Coffee/Snacks

  SPACE IS LIMITED TO 40 ATTENDEES - DO NOT DELAY, REGISTRATION WILL SELL OUT!

  Priority Given to MSSWA Members - Registration for Non-MSSWA Members Opens Dec 11th, 2018

  
  

   While these two sessions can be stand alone, they are best as paired experiences.  Emphasis in first session will be on school culture and assessment of students, recognizing both how students (and staff) are impacted by the school environment, but also how school attitudes and beliefs are internalized by students to (and staff) in ways to encourage or discourage progress.  We will examine and expose assessment and intention biases that influence outcomes.

  Emphasis in second session will be on role clarity and confidence — building and using knowledge to effect improvement in case plans (instruction and management); and increasing social work impact on the social structure of schools that, at best, promote protection and resilience for every student. 

   The format of these workshops will encourage active group participation and learning.  School social workers bring a wealth of real experiences with real students, but often lack time and space to process their own learning discoveries.   Enrollment will be limited to permit continual conversation about your cases.

  *Requirement: Attendees should come prepared to discuss challenging cases you are working on currently or in your past. *
  

  Anne R Gearity, PhD, LICSW, started her career as a school social worker, serving very young children as educators embraced children birth to 21.  I learned two critical realities: that understanding early development is essential because so much is organized in these years before formal academic learning starts, and for many at risk children, schools offer protection when learning stays possible.  These truths have directed my professional life of over 4 decades.  I have an independent practice in Minneapolis, working with children, adolescents and adults, I consult to schools and agencies, and I am a clinical faculty with the department of psychiatry/ child psychiatry.  Because I have passed on my UMN social work elective to lovely colleagues, I am thrilled to be working with social work colleagues again in this series.

  * To be placed on waiting list/notification, please email Dan Porter at: danpporter@msn.com

  * No refunds available but registration may be transferred to another by contacting Dan Porter at: danpporter@msn.com 

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• MSSWA Spring Conference 2019

  • When
    02/22/2019
  •  
    7:45 AM - 3:15 PM
  • Location
    TIES Event Center, Grand Hall, 2nd Floor 1644 Larpenteur Avenue St. Paul, MN 55108 (On Southwest corner of Snelling Avenue and Larpenteur Avenue)

  Register

           

          MindUP: An Experiential SEL Program from the Goldie Hawn Foundation  

  Friday, February 22, 2019

  2019 MSSWA Spring Conference Brochure.pdf
  

   

   

  

  The Goldie Hawn Foundation is a not-for-profit organization created in response to the global epidemic of childhood aggression, anxiety, depression and suicide. Based firmly in neuroscience, MindUP gives children the knowledge and tools they need to manage stress, regulate emotions and face the challenges of the 21st century with resilience. To date, MindUP has trained over 150,000 teachers in 12 countries, and impacted over 6 Million children. MindUP’s signature program is an acclaimed classroom-based curriculum, spanning pre-school through middle school/ junior high. The program may also be used with high school students with a few accommodations. Published by Scholastic, this 15-lesson series is based on four pillars: neuroscience, social-emotional learning (SEL), positive psychology and mindful awareness. These lessons work together to build awareness and self-regulation that increase children's academic performance, self-control, empathy, and optimism.

  Participants will:

  1. Review the evidence supporting social emotional learning (SEL) programs and the significance of a Collaborative for Academic and Social Emotional Learning (CASEL) endorsement

  2. Learn about the foundational principles of MindUP with discussion about how school social workers can work with teachers to implement MindUP in the classroom

  3. Experience the MindUP curriculum through interactive learning examples related to tasting, smelling, seeing, listening and movement

  4. Develop an acquaintance with how MindUP supports children’s acquisition of skills to learn about their brains, recognize and manage emotions, develop concerns for others, make responsible decisions and maintain positive relationships

  5. Learn how to use MindUP to achieve your goals as a school social worker through tiered interventions

  Dr.  Charlene Myklebust, Psy.D. is President and an Educational Leadership Consultant with Professional Education Pal, LLC. She was a regular and special education teacher, care and treatment school administrator, mental and chemical health provider, and Executive Director of Mental Health and Partnerships in Intermediate District 287. Char co-authored the MDE teacher training series, "Early Warning Signs of Children's Mental Health Disorders." She was recognized for "Outstanding Service" by the Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health (MACMH) and received the "Educator of the Year” award from the Minnesota Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI-MN). As a Goldie Hawn Foundation MindUP consultant, she contributed to the development of the curriculum. She also coordinates a grant through the Minnesota Department of Human Services called “The Minnesota School-based Diversion Model for Students with Co-occurring Disorders.” This program is designed to dramatically reduce the school-to-prison pipeline phenomenon. Dr. Myklebust, on behalf of MACMH and MDE, has developed a tiered intervention model for supporting youth with mental health disorders in the schools. Char speaks at conferences about topics related to children’s mental health; brain development; trauma; restorative justice and practices; Adverse Childhood Experiences; social emotional learning; and alternatives to suspension, expulsion, incarceration and punishment of youth.

  Group Discount Available** Register 5 and get the 6^thFree – Contact Tony Porter at mplstonyjoel@gmail.com for more details.

  
  

  
  5.5 CEU hours have been approved by the MN Board of Social Work.
  

  Conference Questions?

  Contact

  Tony Porter

  612-803-2722

  mplstonyjoel@gmail.com

  or

  Dan Porter

  danpporter@msn.com

  www.msswa.org

   

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• MSSWA Day at the Hill 2019

  • When
    03/05/2019
  •  
    8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Location
    Ed Minnesota, 41 Sherburne Ave, St Paul, MN 55103
  • Spaces left
    64

  Register

   

        MN School Social Workers’ Association Presents:

  

  The 16th Annual

  Day at the Hill 

  March 5, 2019

  Education Minnesota

     

   

  AGENDA:

  8:00-8:30.......Registration

  8:30-9:00.......Christy McCoy, MSSWA

  President: Welcome & Review of the Day

  9:00-10:20.....Keynote Dr. Clay Cook:

  Social-Emotional Learning as the Foundation for Academic and Life Success.

  Participants will learn (a) why integrating social-emotional learning is critical to promoting student social, emotional,,and behavioral wellbeing as the foundation for academic and life success; (b) evidence supporting the implementation of a continuum of social-emotional supports discussed; and (c) describe the role of SSW’s in advancing social-emotional learning as part of school-based service delivery.

  10:20-10:30....Break

  10:30-11:00...School Safety Center Dept of ED Heather Hirsch: Utilizing SEL to Promote School Safety

  11:00-11:15...Legislative Updates from MSSWA Lobbyist Brad Lundell

  11:30-11:45...Ryan Gibbs Principal and Sheila Webb MSW LICSW from Loring Elementary School will discuss the power of collaboration in changing systems.

  11:45-12:30...Working Lunch & Developing Your Message

  12:30-3:00...March to the Capitol & Meetings with Legislators

  
  

  Dr. Jay Cook is the John and Nancy Peyton Faculty Fellow in Child and Adolescent Wellbeing at the University of Minnesota and Associate Professor in the School Psychology Program.  He has extensive research and practical experiences involving the implementation of multi-tiered systems of support to promote children’s mental and behavioral health.

  
  

  For more information and questions, please contact with myself or Tony Porter at mplstonyjoel@gmail.com or  (612) 803-2722. 
  

  See you all March 5th as we begin School Social Work Week embracing our macro-practice! :)
  

  Christy McCoy MSW LICSW
  

  MSSWA Legislative Chair and Secretary; SSWAA Legislative Chair and Secretary

  
  

  Register here:  http://www.msswa.org/event-3185016

  or complete hard copy registration in the brochure, 
  Make checks payable to MSSWA and mail to* :

  MSSWA/Attn: Tony Porter

  762 Meyer Street N

  Maplewood, MN 55119

  
  * No cancellations or refunds after 3/1/19
  RSVP by February 28th
  

  Day at the Hill brochure 2019.pdf

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• 2019 MSSWA Summer Institute

  • Start
    06/17/2019
  •  
    7:30 AM
  • End
    06/19/2019
  •  
    12:00 PM
  • Location
    Sugar Lake Lodge, in Cohasset, MN, near Grand Rapids , MN

  Register

      

  The 17th Annual Minnesota School Social Workers Association Summer Institute 

  June 17—19, 2019

  Sugar Lake Lodge, Cohasset, MN

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Details coming soon!

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