Description

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

1. Examine how the lack of standardized roles, training, and credentialing for school social workers in Texas impacts student outcomes, including academic performance, attendance, and social-emotional well-being.
2. Analyze the limitations of existing educational and licensure structures in adequately preparing social workers for the specialized demands of school-based practice.
3. Apply structural functionalism to explain how standardized certification systems can strengthen the role of school social workers as a functional component of the public education system.

Presenter Bio

Dereka Davis Hall is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) candidate at the University of Kentucky. She holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from UT Arlington, where she served as Vice President of the Phi Alpha Honor Society for Social Workers, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas Woman’s University. She is dedicated to advancing social work practice and education in both K–12 and higher education settings. Her doctoral capstone research focuses on the need for cohesive, statewide standards in school social work and pushes for mandated social work inclusion within all state public school districts.

Her professional experience spans child welfare, law enforcement social work, K–12 program coordination and school administration, clinical practice, and service as an adjunct professor. She currently serves as the Director of the Social Work Academy, where she oversees associate degrees and certificates in social work, substance use counseling, and gerontology.

Dereka’s passion for social work is reflected in her commitment to serving and advocating for individuals as they navigate their academic and personal journeys. Her leadership and dedication continue to influence and elevate the field of social work education.

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.