Course Overview
This course provides students with the foundation of how to build a police social work (PSW) program from the ground up. Students will learn about different models of utilizing civilian social workers, hiring considerations, and what to include in policy. Students will also learn the different roles PSWs can play, including working with community clients, building community partnerships, and building internal support for agency personnel.
Throughout the course, students will learn how social work and law enforcement ethics work together and what is required of PSWs to maintain ethical practice, as well as safety considerations. The instructor will provide examples of data collection, cases, and officer/family wellness programming.
Who Should Attend?
This course is intended for law enforcement administration/supervision and social workers newly in the field and/or developing PSW programs. Prior experience is not required.
Material Requirements
Students should bring a laptop with unfettered internet capabilities.
Students will receive relevant course materials during class.
Agenda
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Day One
- Models of Utilizing PSWs
- Co-Response and Hybrid Models
- Department Employee vs. Contracted Employee
- Mobile Crisis Teams
- Current Research and the Goal of Your Program
- Building Support, Funding, & Hiring
- Grants, Budgets, and Financial Considerations
- Job Description and Interview Questions
- Panel Considerations
- Background Considerations
- Ethical Considerations
- NASW Code of Ethics Highlights
- Confidentiality and Record-Keeping
- Information-Sharing Considerations
- Differing Views on Ethical Practice of PSWs
- Basic Needs to Start Off on the Right Foot
- Policy and Training Considerations
- Equipment and Office Needs
- Educating Your Department
- Supervision Considerations
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Day Two
- How PSWs can be Utilized for Community Clients
- What Kinds of Referrals are Good Referrals?
- How to Set-up Referral Process
- On-Scene and Safety Considerations
- PSW Capabilities
- How PSWs can be Utilized for Community Partnerships
- Community Meeting Opportunities and Building Connections
- Proactive vs. Reactive Opportunities
- How PSWs can be Utilized for Internal Department Programs
- Peer Support Teams
- Critical Incident Stress Management Teams
- Crisis-Hostage Negotiations Teams
- Prevention Programming
- Family Events and Education
- Brief Therapy
- Ethical Considerations
- Data Collection and Sharing Your Team’s Story
- What Data Tells Your Story?
- Monthly and Annual Report Considerations
- Quantitative and Qualitative Data Examples
- Ways to Collect Data (Free and Paid Options)
- Ways to Report to the Community
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Melissa Stone
Melissa Stone is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of Indiana and has been working in the field since earning her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern Indiana in 2014. Melissa has been the Senior Social Worker at Bloomington (IN) Police Department since March 2019 and also operates her own private practice, Melissa Stone Counseling and Consulting, LLC.
Over the course of her career, Melissa has provided individual and group therapeutic services in group home, home-based, educational, and correctional settings. Melissa has spent the majority of her career working with adults diagnosed with serious mental illness and victims of sexual violence. In 2019, Melissa was hired as the first Social Worker for the Bloomington (IN) Police Department, where she has been able to create a program that serves the community to help decrease repeat callers and provide access to care for all, and those who work for the agency by improving overall wellness prevention and response initiatives.
The Bloomington Police Department's program quickly grew in size and interest, making it a model that other departments across the nation (and even Canada and the Bahamas) have sought to replicate. Melissa and the Police Chief have spoken at numerous conferences, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Conference, the International Association of Chiefs of Police Officer Safety and Wellness Conference, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives Annual Conference, the American Public Health Association's Annual Conference, and many more. Due to the popularity of the program, Melissa (with the backing of Bloomington Police Department) created the National Conference on Police Social Work, a conference that has brought together nearly 150+ police social workers and law enforcement partners from 20+ states in 2021 and 2022 before giving it to a growing professional organization.
Melissa remains passionate about bringing social workers and law enforcement together for positive community outcomes and working diligently to increase the overall wellness of first responder personnel and their families.
Host: POLICE TECHNICAL
Location: Online Seminar 647 Ohio Street Online Seminar, 47807 Get Directions
Recommended Hotels:
No recommended hotels provided.
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