Description

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

1. Identify patterns and root causes of disproportionate and exclusionary discipline affecting African American boys in elementary schools.
2. Explain the mental health and developmental impacts of racially biased disciplinary practices on young children.
3. Describe an equity-centered framework that integrates restorative practices, mindfulness, and intersectionality.
4. Apply capstone findings to trauma-informed, school-based social work practice and discipline reform efforts.

 

Presenter Bio:

Arielle Gulley, LMSW, is a Senior School Counselor with IDEA Public Schools, where she provides comprehensive, school-based mental health support to children and families in an elementary school setting. She earned her Bachelor of Social Work from Texas State University in 2018 and her Master of Social Work from The University of Texas at Arlington in 2020. Arielle is currently a doctoral candidate in the Doctor of Social Work program at the University of Kentucky, with an anticipated graduation date of May 2026. Prior to her work in school-based mental health, she taught early elementary students, an experience that continues to shape her collaborative approach to supporting students and families.

Her professional and research interests focus on school-based mental health, exclusionary discipline practices, and racial disparities in educational outcomes. Her capstone project examines the impact of exclusionary and racially biased discipline practices on African American boys in elementary school, with an emphasis on practice-informed strategies that promote mental health, belonging, and educational equity. In recognition of her leadership and impact, she was named Regional School Counselor of the Year by IDEA Public Schools in 2023. Her academic and professional work reflects a sustained commitment to advancing equitable mental health supports for children and families within educational systems.

 

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.