Description

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

1.  Identify how exclusionary disciplinary practices within U.S. secondary schools contribute to racial disproportionality, the criminalization of Black boys, and the school-to-prison pipeline.
2. Explain the academic, psychosocial, and systemic consequences of exclusionary school discipline, including its role in increasing student disengagement and justice system involvement, as identified through a PRISMA-guided systematic literature review.
3. Describe how trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and bias-reducing frameworks can reduce punitive disciplinary measures and promote equitable school environments.
4. Recognize the role of school-based clinical social workers and mental health professionals in addressing disciplinary inequities through practice-based interventions, professional training, and policy advocacy.

Presenter Bio

Faith Washington is a Doctor of Social Work candidate, Certified Social Worker, and mental health professional whose work bridges academic research with direct clinical practice. She serves as a school-based mental health professional in the public school system and as a therapist in private practice, providing culturally responsive and trauma-informed care to youth and families from diverse backgrounds.

Faith earned a certificate in Business Office Administration in 2017, a Bachelor of Social Work in 2020, and a Master of Social Work with a Clinical Graduate Certificate in 2022. Faith is currently pursuing licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Faith’s clinical practice focuses on supporting clients impacted by systemic barriers, school discipline practices, and unaddressed complex trauma while promoting healing, resilience, and emotional wellness.

Faith’s doctoral capstone research examines the criminalization of Black boys in secondary education, the role exclusionary school discipline plays in perpetuating educational and mental health disparities, and its contribution to the school-to-prison pipeline. Faith’s scholarly interests include school discipline reform, trauma-informed care, culturally responsive mental health interventions, and expanding affirming mental health supports within Black communities. Faith’s long-term goals include clinical leadership, applied research, and authorship that centers healing, representation, and equity, including a planned self-published memoir that reflects her lived experiences and professional journey.

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.