Description

1. Identify key structural and organizational factors contributing to racial inequities in the U.S. child welfare system.
2. Explain how Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality Theory, and Systems Theory inform equity-centered child welfare practice.
3. Analyze leadership and organizational strategies necessary to implement preventive, equity-focused interventions in child welfare systems.

Presenter Bio

Lois McAuliffe, DSW(c), LCSW, is a Doctoral Candidate in Social Work at the University of Kentucky. She holds a Master of Social Work from Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from William Paterson University. McAuliffe is a licensed clinical social worker and the founder of Bright Side Counseling & Psychotherapy, a private practice providing outpatient mental health services to children, adolescents, and adults.

Her professional work is grounded in community-based clinical practice and informed by experience across public and nonprofit human services systems. These experiences have shaped her interest in how families, particularly those from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, are impacted by structural inequities embedded within child and family-serving systems. In addition to her clinical practice, McAuliffe serves as a clinical supervisor for licensed social workers, supporting ethical practice and professional development.

McAuliffe’s scholarly interests focus on racial inequities in the U.S. child welfare system and the unintended consequences of system responses intended to promote child safety. Her doctoral capstone project advances the Equity-Centered Family Support Model, a prevention-oriented framework designed to strengthen families through community-based supports while reducing unnecessary system involvement. The model integrates Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality Theory, and Systems Theory to promote racial equity, family preservation, and organizational accountability across child welfare–adjacent 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.