Valuing Diverse Perspectives in Social Work

Social workers and helpers have an ethical responsibility to practice self-awareness and to explore how their own historical or current experiences and biases impact their worldview and behavior as a foundation for doing good work with diverse populations in diverse contexts. Trauma is widespread and crosses all socioeconomic, racial, and geographic boundaries. It's important for social workers to know how to work effectively with diverse individuals, families and communities that have experienced historical trauma and present day trauma and stressors.

Learners will be provided information and insight on decolonizing trauma, which helps to expand our understanding of diverse ways of knowing and being in the world and nurtures critical thinking around the systems and interventions we have in place and how and if they are working and are effective for all populations. It is also essential to learn about, cultivate, and practice self-care as we do good work with others to ensure that we do no harm to ourselves or those we help through re-traumatization. In this course the concept of wellness is weaved throughout the course and is looked at as a life-long journey that we are all on, both individually and collectively.

Wellness is about health, healing, growth, reflection, connection, relationships, awareness, practice, and much more. In this course learners will have an opportunity to practice wellness tools and strategies. The material in this course may be emotional or overwhelming, therefore, it’s important to cultivate wellness tools so that we can support ourselves through navigating life’s challenges. On the flip side this course is also likely to inspire and empower you and uplift you as we learn about the strength and resilience of the human spirit. This course will guide you toward being a more compassionate, mindful, healthy helper.

• Week 1: Decolonizing Trauma Work
• Week 2: Historical Trauma – Historical Wellness: An Indigenous Perspective
• Week 3: Diverse Voices: Varied Experiences of Trauma and Wellness
• Week 4: Relationality and Relational Accountability – The therapeutic Alliance
• Week 5: Impacts of the Changing Climate on Trauma and Wellness
• Week 6: Linking Theory to Practice – Moving Forward with New Insights