SWCHRS Live Learning Lab

Date & Time: Nov. 13, 3:00–5:00 p.m. CST

Location: Virtual (Zoom)

Session Details: Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies such as ChatGPT, along with social media and app-based tools, are rapidly reshaping human interaction, mental health, and community well-being, offering creativity and connection while also introducing risks like AI-related suicides, emotional dependence (“AI psychosis”), and sextortion through deepfakes. These developments affect not only clients’ mental health and safety but also labor markets, environmental sustainability, and systemic inequities. This training prepares social workers to assess, intervene, and advocate effectively by examining both the benefits and harms of AI, exploring its mental health implications, and developing strategies to integrate this awareness into practice, policy advocacy, and client engagement.

Speaker

Leena Said, MSW — Minor Safety Specialist, Pinterest.

Speaker Bio: Leena Said is a dedicated social work and child safety professional with over eight years of experience supporting refugees, trafficking survivors, and at-risk youth. Currently a Minor Safety Specialist at Pinterest and formerly a Child Safety Specialist at TikTok, she partners with policy teams, law enforcement, and organizations such as NCMEC to investigate, report, and remove harmful content from online platforms. Her earlier work includes supporting unaccompanied refugee minors as a Social Worker with Lutheran Social Service, conducting crisis interventions with Catholic Charities, and advocating for trafficking survivors through the Polaris Project. Leena has deescalated suicide and violence-related crises, reported hundreds of trafficking cases, and independently managed heavy caseloads with compassion and skill. She holds an MSW from the University of Southern California and a B.S. in Psychology from Philadelphia University.

Register Now – $40 for 2 CEU's

Date & Time: Dec. 12, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. CST

Location: Virtual (Zoom)

Session Details: Clinicians are working with survivors of sexual trauma in any setting where they work with clients. Regardless of whether a clinician is specifically providing trauma treatment to survivors, all mental health care providers should have a base level understanding of the short- and long-term impact and clinical considerations of experiencing sexual violence. This training will provide an overview of the general impact of trauma, a detailed understanding of the specific dynamics of sexual violence, and an in-depth understanding in best practices for clinicians working with survivors.

Speaker

Emma Kupferman, LICSW, LCSW-C, CST, CPAT — Founder & Owner, Copper Sexual Wellness.

Speaker Bio: Emma Kupferman, LICSW, LCSW-C, CPT, CST (she/her) earned her MSW from Howard University in 2004 and has extensive experience in trauma recovery for survivors of domestic violence and sexual trauma, including leadership roles with RAINN’s military hotline and the District Alliance for Safe Housing. She has presented nationally and internationally, including at the World Conference of Women’s Shelters and AASECT. An AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, she specializes in trauma-informed care, sexual trauma, somatic experiencing, harm reduction, sexual dysfunction, ethical non-monogamy, and body image, with particular expertise in supporting LGBTQIA2S, kink, and BDSM communities.

Register Now - $65 for 3 CEU's

Date & Time: December 15, 1:00–4:00 p.m. CST

Location: Virtual (Zoom)

Session Description: Bias in Social Work Practice: Understanding, Addressing, and Mitigating Bias is a three-hour continuing education session designed to strengthen ethical and reflective practice among social workers. Participants will explore how cognitive, social, and structural biases shape decision-making, client engagement, and organizational processes. The first hour examines foundational concepts and types of bias that influence perception and behavior. The second hour applies theory through realistic case scenarios, promoting awareness of how bias surfaces in assessment and intervention. The final hour focuses on actionable strategies for mitigating bias, including structured decision-making, accountability frameworks, and perspective-taking. Grounded in the NASW Code of Ethics, this session emphasizes self-reflection, professional responsibility, and the pursuit of equitable outcomes. Through guided analysis and applied learning, attendees will leave with tools to recognize, address, and reduce bias in their professional roles while advancing social work’s commitment to dignity, justice, and integrity.

Speaker

Anthony Natale, Ph.D., MSW — Professor, Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work, University of Oklahoma.

Speaker Bio: Anthony P. Natale, Ph.D., MSW, is the Southwest Center for Human Relations Studies Director and an Associate Professor at the Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work. He teaches a range of social work courses and has received accolades including induction into the Social Work Hall of Fame for Teaching Excellence (2015) and the University of Oklahoma Regents Award for Superior Teaching (2019).

Dr. Natale’s research centers on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Belonging (IDEA-B) in higher education; HIV/AIDS health disparities among minoritized populations; trauma-informed interventions in social work practice; and social work with LGBTQQIPA2+ individuals. Previously, he held administrative roles such as Social Work Graduate Coordinator, Assistant Director of the School of Social Work, and Faculty Fellow for Inclusive Excellence in the OU Graduate College.

Register Now - $65 for 3 CEU's

Date & Time: December 1, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. CT

Location: Virtual (Zoom)

Session Details: Generational trauma doesn’t just live in memory; it lives in the body, the community, and the systems that shape everyday life. In this session, Dr. Lisa Byers traces the lasting effects of colonization, forced migration, and cultural disruption, connecting history to the present realities of health and well-being in Native communities. Participants will explore key policy eras, examine a real-world case study, and consider pathways toward healing that honor both traditional knowledge and modern practice.

You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of how trauma is carried forward, and how social workers can help interrupt that cycle through awareness, connection, and culturally grounded care.

Speaker

Lisa Byers, PhD, MSW (Cherokee, Bird Clan) — Associate Professor of Social Work & Affiliate Faculty with Native American Studies, University of Oklahoma.

Speaker Bio: Ꭱ Ꮒ Ꭹ Dr. Lisa Byers, ᏣᎳᎩ, ᏥᏍᏆ ᏧᏂᏴᏫ (Cherokee, Bird Clan) is an Associate Professor of Social Work and Affiliate Faculty with Native American Studies at the University of Oklahoma. She enjoys service learning in North Tulsa, the area that was her home. Dr. Byers coordinates the Graduate Certificate in Social Work with American Indians that she created. Her favorite courses to teach are the certificate courses because they provide a safe space for students—and herself—to be authentic in higher education. She affirms Indigenous orientations to wellness and utilizes Indigenous Feminist Standpoint Theory, Natural Democracy Ethos, and Relational Worldview Intentional Resilience to support healing for ancestors, children, future generations, and herself through research on empathy and relational health.

Date & Time: December 2, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. CT

Location: Virtual (Zoom)

Session Details: Immigration policy is complex and its ripple effects reach across communities, workplaces, and service systems. In this session, Gabriela Ramirez-Perez guides participants through the evolution of national immigration policy, then focuses on Oklahoma’s recent legislative and enforcement landscape. You’ll get up-to-date data on immigrant populations, understand how state policy is changing, and consider concrete practice implications for social work in settings such as schools, non-profits, and community programs.

Speaker

Gabriela Ramirez-Perez —Immigration Policy Analyst, Oklahoma Policy Institute (OPI).

Speaker Bio: Gabriela joined OK Policy as an Immigration Policy Analyst in August 2021. Raised in Oklahoma City, she graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and later a Masters in Public Administration. During college, Gabriela had internships at the Council on American-Islamic Relations Oklahoma and the Office of former Congresswoman Kendra Horn. Gabriela believes that Oklahoma can be a state that welcomes and celebrates all immigrants, regardless of citizenship status. In her free time, she enjoys doing arts and crafts, learning new languages, and spending time with friends. 

Date & Time: December 3, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. CT

Location: Virtual (Zoom)

Session Description: How are children and families really doing in Oklahoma today? Using the latest KIDS COUNT data, Jill Mencke walks participants through key indicators of child well-being covering economic stability, education, health, and family environments. The session connects data trends to lived realities: wages that don’t keep pace with costs, gaps in access to care, and the lingering effects of stress and instability on children’s outcomes.

Participants will gain a clearer picture of where Oklahoma stands, what factors shape those rankings, and practical ways professionals can support healthier pathways for children and families.

Speaker

Jill Mencke — Youth Policy Analyst, Oklahoma Policy Institute

Speaker Bio: Jill Mencke joined OK Policy as the Youth Policy Analyst in September 2022. Jill earned her B.A. in Political Science and Economics from the University of Oklahoma. After graduation, she worked as a family preservation specialist, providing intervention services to families experiencing issues in the home. She saw the impact intervention programs and support services can have and is dedicated to creating more avenues for prevention and support for Oklahoma families and their youth. Jill researches and monitors the status of youth incarceration in Oklahoma, and advocates for policy with the Justice for Oklahoma Youth (JOY) Coalition, which supports investments for youth that protect them from entering the justice system, and works to center lived experience in reform. In her free time, Jill enjoys attending local concerts, hosting movie nights, and teaching her cats to be nice to each other. 

Date & Time: December 4, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. CT

Location: Virtual (Zoom)

Session Description: Mental health professionals are working within one of the top ten fields most affected by burnout. In Oklahoma, the growing shortage of providers only intensifies this challenge. For those serving on the frontlines, it is essential to recognize the ethical responsibility to address gaps in self-care and to safeguard against compassion fatigue and burnout. This workshop will examine the ethical foundations of self-care and provide practical strategies for developing and implementing an effective self-care plan. 

Speaker

Valerie Butler-McDaniel, MSW, M.Ed, LCSW — Instructor and Faculty Field Liaison Associate, the University of Oklahoma

Speaker Bio: Valerie McDaniel is a faculty liaison and instructor with the University of Oklahoma Anne & Henry Zarro School of Social Work. Valerie McDaniel obtained her MSW from Clark Atlanta University with a sub-specialty in School Social Work and her M.Ed from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Educational Leadership. She began her practice in the field of child welfare in California working as an investigator. Since those early years, Valerie has worked in juvenile justice, K-12, higher education systems, and clinical supervision. She also engaged in private practice working primarily with children and their families navigating various phases of life. She has also served as a field instructor for OU School of Social Work and is a Board Approved Clinical Supervisor. In her self-care time, Valerie enjoys all things paper crafting and gardening