Description

Upon completion of this conference, participants will be able to:

1. Describe how structural school funding mechanisms contribute to disparities in educational opportunity, student well-being, and long-term economic mobility.
2. Explain how educational funding inequities reflect broader systems of structural and intergenerational inequality through a critical social justice framework.
3. Summarize key research findings linking resource disparities to academic and social-emotional outcomes among students in under-resourced communities.

 

Presenter Bio:

Emileigh Arcand is a social worker based in Michigan with a strong commitment to supporting children and adolescents through trauma-informed, school-based practice. Emileigh earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2020 and her Master’s in Social Work in 2022 from Saginaw Valley State University. Emileigh is currently a Doctorate in Social Work candidate at the University of Kentucky, where her academic focus is Social Work Education.

Throughout her career, Emileigh has worked across a range of social work settings, which have helped her shape her understanding of systemic impacts on youth and families. She has developed a passion for working with children and adolescents, especially those navigating mental health challenges within the educational environment. Emileigh currently works as a Behavioral Health Therapist at a high school in Michigan, where she is able to collaborate with students, families, and school staff to strengthen coping skills, promote emotional regulation, and support long-term well-being.

Guided by her work with adolescents in school settings, Emileigh’s doctoral capstone project examines how disparities in educational funding contribute to generational poverty and shape long-term student outcomes. Her research focuses on the structural conditions within public education systems that limit access to academic, mental health, and supportive resources for students in under-resourced communities. This work reflects her commitment to advancing research, practice, and advocacy that support educational and economic equity for youth.

 

Delivery Method: Live Interactive Training via Zoom Video Conferencing

Credit Hours: 1.0 (ACE)

Target Audience: This conference is intended for social workers and students.

Accreditation: University of Kentucky College of Social Work, Provider # 1377, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 9/29/25-9/29/28. Social workers participating in this conference will receive up to 15 general continuing education credits.

Claiming CE Credit: Instructions for claiming CE credit will be disseminated at the beginning of each session.

Questions: If you have any questions regarding CE credit or to report a grievance, please contact Christina Krantz at Christina.Krantz@uky.edu. For technical assistance, please contact lmshelp@uky.edu.

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these presentations are those of the individual presenters and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the University of Kentucky or the College of Social Work. The inclusion of any topics, perspectives, or discussions is intended for academic engagement and does not constitute endorsement by the institution.