Description

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

1. Compare and contrast current peer-reviewed literature on moral injury and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among military Veterans to better distinguish between moral injury and PTSD.
2. Examine the relationship between moral injury and social theories to lay a foundation for culturally attuned methods that help morally injured individuals heal.
3. Explore engagement opportunities between social work therapists and chaplains to educate and facilitate learning about moral injury and therapeutic techniques that promote healing.

Presenter Bio

Kevin Turner began his academic journey in 1978, graduating from the University of North Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Psychology. His educational interests are expansive, including an Associate of Science in Mortuary Science, master’s degrees in Divinity, International Relations, National Security Studies, and Social Work, and a Doctorate in Ministry.

In 1984, Kevin enlisted in the Army as an infantry private. Over the next 30 years, he was commissioned as an officer, transferred to Special Forces, and then to the chaplaincy. He retired from the Army as a Brigadier General, serving as the Assistant Chief of Chaplains.

In 1994, Kevin took a break from active duty and began working as a social worker. He supervised foster care and adoption when he was recalled to active duty following the 9/11 attacks. After 6-1/2 years, Kevin returned to social work, first supervising the Veteran Services office and later serving as the program administrator for the Adult Services programs. He retired from the Health and Human Services agency after 17 years.

Currently, Kevin works as an adjunct instructor in the MSW program at Western Carolina University. In 2011, his dissertation described and evaluated the use of spiritual disciplines by special operations personnel in combat to reduce stress. As a DSW candidate, he has shifted his focus to moral injury and to incorporating spirituality and meaning as a fourth domain of the bio-psycho-social paradigm.

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.