Description

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

1. Explain the role of organized youth sports as a protective factor that supports positive youth development, resilience, and coping
   with adversity.
2. Apply trauma-informed coaching principles to create physically, emotionally, and psychologically safe team environments.
3. Integrate CASEL social–emotional learning competencies (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationshipskills, and responsible decision-making) into youth sports programming.
4. Collaborate effectively with coaches, families, and community stakeholders to create safe, inclusive, and culturally responsive sport climates.

Presenter Bio

Savannah R. Thomas, MSW, LCSW, is a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Kentucky College of Social Work. She currently serves as a District Mental Health Specialist for Fayette County Public Schools at James Lane Allen Elementary, where she provides trauma-informed mental health services to children within the school setting. Her professional experience includes supporting youth impacted by adversity through a strengths-based approach and serving as an avid advocate for the special-needs population.

Savannah’s research interests fall within the emerging field of sport social work, with a particular focus on trauma-informed care in youth sports. Savannah’s passion for her doctoral focus stems from her previous experience as an athlete, which enabled her to secure an athletic scholarship and go on to become a first-generation college graduate, continuing both her education and her volleyball career at the collegiate level. Her scholarly work examines how structured sport environments can be leveraged as protective spaces to promote resilience, coping skills, and positive youth development. Her doctoral capstone project focuses on trauma-informed coaching practices and the intentional use of youth sports as an intervention to foster protective factors and enhance psychosocial outcomes for youth. By leveraging her experience as both a player and coach, combined with her social work background, Savannah strives to ensure the needs of the whole athlete are recognized and met. Through her research and practice, Savannah aims to bridge theory and application by advancing trauma-informed, equitable, and developmentally supportive approaches within the youth sports setting.

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.