Description

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

1. Recognize how culturally grounded factors—including spirituality, family and peer relationships, racial identity, and community involvement—shape suicide risk and protective processes among African American youth.
2. Identify historical and systemic influences, such as racism, stigma, mistrust of mental health systems, and inequitable access to care, that contribute to disparities in suicide prevention and intervention for African American youth.
3. Apply culturally responsive strategies that engage family, school, faith, and community partnerships to strengthen resilience, support help-seeking behaviors, and promote sustainable suicide prevention efforts among African American youth.

Presenter Bio

Veronica Youlanda Green, LMSW, holds a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and a Master of Social Work (MSW) and is a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) candidate at the University of Kentucky. She is licensed to practice social work in the states of Mississippi and Louisiana. Ms. Green currently serves as Lead Social Worker with the Natchez–Adams Public School District, where she provides mental health services, crisis intervention, and suicide risk assessment for youth and their families.

Ms. Green brings nearly 30 years of professional social work experience, including 25 years with the state of Mississippi as a Child Protection Specialist and Area Social Work Supervisor, where she was responsible for ensuring the safety, permanency, and well-being of children. Her professional background includes child welfare, school-based practice, community mental health, and five years of service as a PRN medical hospice social worker, supporting individuals and families during end-of-life care. This scope of experience provides a systems-level perspective on youth mental health across home, school, and community contexts.

Her research interests include suicide prevention among African American youth, culturally responsive practice, and strengths-based interventions within underserved communities. Her Capstone Project examines the research question: How do cultural factors within the African American community influence suicide among African American youth? This work emphasizes cultural strengths such as family connection, spirituality, racial identity, and community support in shaping culturally responsive suicide prevention strategies.

In recognition of her service and community impact, Ms. Green will be honored in March 2026 for her contributions.

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.