Continuing Education Program

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CST via Zoom

• Understand trauma and its impact on behavior and learning
• Explore Trauma-Informed Care principles
• Apply TIC to rule-setting across ages and settings
• Develop supervisor strategies for TIC implementation

Instructor: Gerrimy Keiffer, MSW, CSW

Gerrimy Keiffer, MSW, CSW is the Director of Community Health Evaluations with RiverValley Behavioral Health, where he has served since 2010 in roles spanning direct care, crisis response, and program evaluation. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Social Work for Brescia University's MSW program as well as the Mental Health Consultant for Project Ricochet, focusing on program efficacy in their work with disordered gaming prevention among BIPOC youth in the area. As a trainer in Mental Health First Aid and Trauma-Informed Care, he provides instruction across diverse age groups and settings, with a focus on practical, developmentally responsive approaches to boundaries, de-escalation and more inclusive systems for care.  His work is informed by his collaborations with the Kentucky 988 Implementation team, Zero Suicide, along with service in problem gambling, consultation, and community organizing.

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8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. CST via Zoom

• Review common patterned injuries
• Describe pediatric abusive head trauma
• Discuss risk factors for physical abuse
• Review prevention tools
• Briefly review safe sleep practices

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Instructor: Dr. Dana Sullivan, Ph.D., CSW

Dana J. Sullivan is a Professor in the Social Work Department at Western Kentucky University. She has served as co-principal investigator on numerous federal grants related to child welfare training and evaluation. Other research interests include sport social work and secondary trauma. Prior to academia, she worked in the fields of child welfare training, mental health and substance abuse prevention.

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11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CST via Zoom

This presentation is designed for practitioners and professionals navigating the challenges of working in trauma-exposed environments. This presentation recognizes that building connection, safety, and trust within the workplace is paramount to both staff well-being and effective service delivery. We will explore how trauma impacts individuals and teams, focusing on the crucial role of interpersonal dynamics in creating either healing or harmful environments. Participants will learn practical strategies for fostering a culture of safety, building trust through authentic communication, and promoting connection through shared understanding and support. This presentation offers a pathway to creating workplaces where helpers feel valued, supported, and empowered to provide compassionate care while prioritizing their own well-being.

As a result of attending this session, participants will:

• Understand the impact of trauma on workplace dynamics;
• Recognize and address microaggressions and other harmful behaviors;
• Define and apply the principles of connection, safety, and trust;
• Foster trust and build psychological safety through communication and relationships; and
• Develop self-care strategies for employees and trauma-informed leadership strategies for building resilience in the workplace.

Instructor: Maryam Abdallah, LCSW

Maryam Abdallah’s passion rests in helping, encouraging and empowering individuals. Her life’s mantra comes from the words of Oprah Winfrey, “When we know better, we do better.” As a therapist, professor and consultant, her goal is to share the tools and resources needed to help individuals show up in their fullest potential starting from the inside out. She received her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Master of Social Work both from Tennessee State University.

Maryam is a licensed clinician with 20+ years of experience, advocacy and leadership in the field of social work with training in child and family, adoptions, restorative and anti-oppressive practices, mental health, and the legal system. Her core therapy practice includes a focus on individuals, couples and families utilizing Dialectical Behavior, Solution Focused, and Trauma Informed Therapies. She specializes in the empowerment of Women and the LGBTQ Community through Narrative Therapy. She is currently an Adjunct Professor for the University of Tennessee Knoxville in the College of Social Work where she teaches Social Justice & Anti-Oppressive Practice.

As the Founder and CEO of I Am Well Consulting, LLC, Maryam offers services that encourage mental wellness for professionals in the workspace. She also advocates for mental health access for all, particularly in BIPOC and LGBTQ communities through educational awareness and resources. Maryam is a co-founding member of Chroma Mental Health Collective, ambassador for the Coalition of Black Social Workers and member of the Nashville NAACP Health Committee, Black Mental Health Village and Bordeaux Nashville Chamber of Commerce. Outside of her career, she enjoys live music, yoga and traveling with her wife and daughter.

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• Define institutional racism and its impact on Black men across health, education, employment, and the criminal justice system.
• Identify how the societal expectation of resilience contributes to racial trauma and reinforces systemic inequities.
• Examine the public health consequences of racial trauma, including chronic stress, mental health disorders, and economic disparities.
• Apply a multi-level intervention framework (primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention) to address institutional racism in clinical and systemic settings.
• Develop strategies to support Black male clients in navigating systemic oppression without reinforcing the resilience trap.

Instructor: Joel Kouame, LCSW, MBA, CAMS-II

Joel Kouame, LCSW, MBA, CAMS-II, is a licensed psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and founder of JK Counseling—a virtual group practice specializing in a variety of stress disorders. He is well trained in a number of evidence-based approaches including EMDR, IFS, Ego State, and the Gottman Method. When he is not practicing, he is serving as a social science professor, teaching a myriad of courses on human behavior. In addition, he is the founder and writer of The Schworker, a newsletter that examines social issues through a clinical lens. 

• Improve understanding of key terms and concepts relating to transgender people (word cloud)
• Correct misinformation about trans people
• Increase sense of competence and understanding of social work practice with trans clients
• Provide opportunity for self-reflection, identification of biases and areas of strength

Instructor: Dr. Nina Wells, DSW, LCSW

Dr. Nina Wells (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with eight years of experience in clinical social work. Nina holds degrees in social work at the Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral levels. She opened her private practice in 2022 and works largely with women and queer clients. Outside of the clinical space, Nina invests in the next generation of social workers as a part-time instructor for Western Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky. She is the founder of Bowling Green Pride Raffle, an annual grassroots fundraiser that has raised over $17,000 for Bowling Green Pride Festival and The Trevor Project; she is a board member of SOKY Alliance, a local organization that provides community education and programming for queer youth.