Description

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

1. Identify key risk and protective factors that influence post-separation decisions in cases involving domestic violence, including ongoing coercive control and child developmental readiness.
2.  Describe the core domains of the BRIDGE Assessment Model and how they support trauma-informed, child-centered reunification planning.
3.  Apply principles of structured, developmentally informed assessment to improve safety, consistency, and ethical decision-making in post- separation reunification contexts.

 

Presenter Bio:

Elizabeth Derickson is a Doctoral Candidate in Social Work at the University of Kentucky. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix (2000) and a Master of Social Work from the University of Missouri (2009). She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Registered Play Therapist–Supervisor.

Elizabeth currently serves as Clinical Lead at Here Now Health, where she provides clinical leadership, program development, and supervision within trauma-informed behavioral health services. Her professional background includes trauma-informed clinical practice across child welfare–involved systems, supervised visitation and reunification services, and therapeutic work with children and families impacted by domestic violence and high-conflict custody.

Elizabeth is a member of Phi Alpha, the National Social Work Honor Society. She has delivered professional presentations and trainings related to trauma-informed practice, supervised visitation, and child-centered decision-making in family systems. Her work reflects a commitment to advancing evidence-informed practice and improving outcomes for children and families navigating post-separation contact following violence.

Her primary research interests focus on post-separation reunification following domestic violence, with emphasis on safe, developmentally informed contact planning, and the integration of trauma-informed and relational frameworks into both practice and policy. Her capstone project examines the development of a structured assessment model to guide professionals in making safety-centered reunification and visitation decisions in cases involving domestic violence.

 

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.