Description

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

1. Identify key structural and systemic factors including structural racism and reproductive injustice that contribute to disparities in Black maternal health outcomes. 
2. Describe the role of social work leadership in improving maternal health equity through policy influence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and organizational change. 
3. Demonstrate how the Justice-Centered Maternal Health Collaborative (JCMHC) framework can be applied to practice to support culturally responsive, community-driven, and equity-focused maternal health interventions.

Presenter Bio

Shnika Davis, MSW, LCSW, DSW Candidate, is a licensed clinical social worker and doctoral candidate in social work with a concentration in leadership and administration. She earned her Master of Social Work degree from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and is currently completing her Doctor of Social Work (DSW) degree from the University of Kentucky. Ms. Davis is the owner and clinical director of I Rock Therapy, PLLC, where she provides culturally responsive, trauma-informed mental health services and leads community-centered practice initiatives. Her professional experience spans community mental health, military-
affiliated and veteran-serving settings, and integrated care environments, with a focus on equity-oriented leadership and systems-level improvement. Her research interests include Black maternal health equity, structural racism within healthcare systems, reproductive justice, and the role of social work leadership in advancing accountability and systemic change. Her doctoral capstone project examines justice-centered, leadership-driven approaches to addressing Black maternal health disparities through policy reform, cross-sector collaboration, and culturally grounded practice models. Ms. Davis is the founder of the Mentally Strong Walk and Community Wellness Event, an annual initiative designed to reduce mental health stigma, promote collective healing, and increase access to mental health resources. She is also a recipient of the Fayetteville Observer 40 Under 40 award in recognition of her leadership and community impact. Her scholarly work is
grounded in Black Feminist Theory, Feminist Standpoint Theory, and critical social work frameworks, reflecting a sustained commitment to ethical leadership, social justice, and community-driven change.

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.