Training Institute for School Social Work Professionals
About the Training Institute
First developed in 2009, the Training Institute for School Social Work Professionals has provided additional training to practicing school social workers, keeping them abreast of new innovations and introducing practitioners to evidence-informed approaches to enhance the quality of services they provide to elementary and high school students.
Since its inception, the Training Institute has engaged hundreds of practitioners and has advanced the knowledge and skills of participants in areas including social and emotional learning, positive youth development, critical service learning, response to intervention and the use of technology. The Institute has also broadened its focus beyond school social workers to include other school-based practitioners, mental health professionals and community partners, all working toward the goal of improving outcomes for youth in our public schools.
Attendees can receive CEU/CPDUs (continuing education or professional development units).
2025 Training Institute
Navigating Trauma in Schools: Supporting Students, Families, and Teachers
A licensed clinical psychologist, Inger Burnett-Zeigler (right), PhD, served as keynote speaker at the 2025 Training Institute for School Social Work Professionals symposium, titled “Navigating Trauma in Schools: Supporting Students, Families, and Teachers.” Burnett-Zeigler is the chief behavioral health officer for the State of Illinois, where she coordinates with relevant state agencies, including Children and Family Services, Healthcare and Family Services, Human Services, Public Health, and Corrections. We are pleased to share her presentation with you.
Video: 2025 Training Institute - Navigating Trauma in Schools: Supporting Students, Families, and Teachers
Video: 2025 Training Institute - The Conversation Continues: Navigating Trauma in Schools - Session A: Panel Discussion
2024 Training Institute
Cultivating Equitable and Culturally Responsive Practices in Schools
Dorinda Carter Andrews, a professor and chairperson of the Department of Teacher Education at Michigan State University, discussed “Culturally Responsive Practices in Schools” as keynote speaker of the 2024 Jane Addams College of Social Work’s Training Institute for School Social Work Professionals. Andrews’ research broadly focuses on Black education, racial equity, and justice among Black youth in elementary and secondary learning environments. A former industrial engineer, high school math and kindergarten teacher, Andrews works with school districts, universities, municipalities, corporations, and civic organizations to develop and maintain culturally responsive, inclusive, and equitable learning and work environments.
Video: 2024 Training Institute - Cultivating Equitable and Culturally Responsive Practices in Schools
2022 Training Institute
Understanding Youth Suicide and Taking Action
Dr. Kimberly O’Brien was the keynote speaker for the 2022 JACSW Training Institute “Understanding Youth Suicide and Taking Action”. Dr. O’Brien examined school-based approaches to assessment, prevention, and intervention with suicidal youth.
We are pleased to share her presentation with you. The combined presentation is approximately 120 minutes; however, we have broken the presentation into three videos so that you can have ease of access to the three main topic areas.
2022 Training Institute - Understanding Youth Suicide and Taking Action - Current Research and data regarding the increase in youth Suicide
Recorded June 21, 2022
To contextualize the topic, Dr. O’Brien shares current statistics and risk factors relating to youth suicide in the United States. She also shares her research on adolescents who attempted suicide.
2022 Training Institute - Understanding Youth Suicide and Taking Action - Suicide Risk Screening
Recorded June 21, 2022
Suicide risk screening and assessment tools are shared. Specifically, Dr. O’Brien illustrates how to conduct a suicide inquiry using multiple screening and assessment tools.
2022 Training Institute - Understanding Youth Suicide and Taking Action - Suicide Interventions: Safety Planning
Recorded June 21, 2022
Dr. O’Brien presents practical knowledge and interventions school social workers can use to assess suicide risk and plan for prevention. She discusses safety planning as an evidence-based suicide intervention and additional approaches such as CBT.
Prior Training Institute - 2021 Institute: - School Social Workers: Leaders in Trauma-Informed Practices
Purpose of the 2021 Training Institute
Training Institute
The trauma endured through recent events has demonstrated the need for school social workers and educators to emphasize trauma-informed practices in schools. Now is the time to have these crucial conversations. As culturally responsive leaders, school social workers are uniquely positioned to help youth address equity issues in a developmentally appropriate way. Such skills complement youth’s desires to contribute to decision-making processes that impact their lives.
School social workers have a pivotal role in proactively promoting positive youth development and introducing skills that develop youth voice. Practitioners were invited to join this group of school-based professionals to foster ideas for trauma-informed care in their own practice. Our esteemed opening speaker and expert panelists elevated the voices of practitioners, parents and students, while supplying strategies for providing leadership in preparing educators to address the social and emotional needs of students.
Booster Session
Amid unprecedented changes spurred by COVID-19, school social workers and educators embrace a new normal in addressing social and emotional needs. As we adjust, a reflective discussion is needed to process the impact of the pandemic. Practitioners were invited to join the featured speaker in identifying continuing efforts to support the social and emotional health of the school community.
Training Institute Speaker and Panelists
Opening Speaker: Caryn Curry, LCSW is a Social Worker and Mental Health Consultant for Lurie Children’s Center for Childhood Resilience (CCR). With almost 30 years of experience in the field, her work has included clinical practice, program development and management in hospital, residential, community and educational settings. At the Center, Ms. Curry builds the capacity of schools and other child and youth-serving organizations to create trauma-informed, healing centered systems and practices. She provides consultation, training and coaching to partners, bringing a lens of cultural humility, responsiveness and equity to her relationships. Her work is grounded in the critical importance of adults building their social and emotional capacity to effectively educate and guide children toward success and well-being in school and life.
School Social Worker/Educator Panelist: Giesela Grumbach, PhD, MSW, PEL is an active practitioner and teaches advanced level social work practice courses in the MSW program at Governors State University and coordinates their School Social Work Specialization. Her experience includes an intentional focus on marginalized and diverse populations. She has worked with social/legal systems, with Vietnam Era Veterans, and with the chronically mentally ill. She also has 10 years experience as a school social worker in Chicago Public Schools, focusing on family therapy.
Parent Panelist: Celia Colón uses her unique life experiences as a passionate community leader, mentor, mother, grandmother to advocate for and support legislative policies that advance smart criminal justice reform. As CEO/Founder of Giving Others Dreams (GOD), she is reimagining what reentry with support looks like for justice impacted women. As a speaker and educator, she frequently speaks at conferences and a variety of community-based locations, as well as before legislators and legislative committees. She has appeared on television, radio, podcasts, and in the Marshall Project’s Emmy Award nominated short film We Are Witnesses: Chicago.
Student Panelist: Deanna Jackson is a rising Junior at Al Raby High School. She grew up on the West Side of Chicago, IL, where she still lives today. Ms. Jackson’s interests include drawing, listening to music, and building a cosmetology business. During her remaining two years at Al Raby, she is planning to focus on building her knowledge of business and entrepreneurship, and being a strong advocate for student voice in and outside of school. She has her sights set on UCLA after graduation, where she knows she will truly find her future. Deanna is even considering a future career in social work.
Panel Moderator: Otima Doyle, MSW, MHS, PhD has over five years of clinical, school social work, and administrative experience with high-risk youth and their families. As an associate professor at Jane Addams College of Social Work, her professional and research interests focus on familial risk and protective factors related to emotional and behavioral problems among culturally diverse, underserved youth; the role of fathers and co-parenting in the prevention of youth aggression, depression, and suicide; and the development and evaluation of prevention interventions with fathers and children.
Booster Session Speaker
TaMia West, MSW is an alumna of UIC’s Jane Addams College of Social Work and holds an additional Master of Arts in Education from Olivet Nazarene University. Ms. West was a SSW Manager with Chicago Public Schools for seven years and is currently the Director of Special Education at Eyas Landing, a private pediatric clinic. Ms. West’s professional interests include special education policy and practice, evidence-based interventions, MTSS, FBAs and BIPs, and school leadership and governance.
2021 Booster Session - Embracing the New Normal: Addressing the Social and Emotional Needs of Students During COVID-19
Recorded February 15, 2022
00:00:11 – Introduction by Chastity Owens, AM, LCSW
00:00:48 – Welcome by Clinical Associate Professor Annette Johnson
00:03:06 – Featured Speaker: TaMia West, MSW
01:14:41 – Q&A Session
01:24:24 – Closing remarks by Chastity Owens
Downloadable Slide Deck
Featured Speaker
TaMia West, MSW, Director of Special Education at Eyas Landing
2021 Training Institute - School Social Workers: Leaders in Trauma-Informed Practices
Recorded June 29, 2021
0:00 – Welcome and Introductions
9:34 – Opening Presentation: “Trauma Informed…And Then What?” by Caryn Curry, LCSW
43:00 – Presentation from Educator Panelist: “Culturally Responsive Leadership” by Giesela Grumbach, PhD, MSW, PEL
57:02 – Remarks from Student Panelist Deanna Jackson
1:07:36 – Remarks from Parent Panelist Celia Colón
1:24:44 – Q&A with Panelists
Downloadable Slide Decks
Speaker and Panelists
Opening Speaker: Caryn Curry, LCSW, Social Worker and Mental Health Consultant for Lurie Children’s Center for Childhood Resilience
Panel Moderator: Otima Doyle, MSW, MHS, PhD, Associate Professor at Jane Addams College of Social Work
Educator Panelist: Giesela Grumbach, PhD, MSW, PEL, Associate Professor at Governors State University
Student Panelist: Deanna Jackson, rising junior at Al Raby High School
Parent Panelist: Celia Colón, CEO/Founder of Giving Others Dreams
