Description

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

1. Identify key clinical, social, and structural factors that contribute to excessive emergency department (ED) utilization among marginalized veterans.
2. Explain how Ecological Systems Theory and Intersectionality strengthen assessment and intervention planning in ED social work practice.
3. Describe the core components of an embedded interdisciplinary care team model within VHA to reduce repeat ED visits.

 

Presenter Bio

Wilzata A. Buie, LCSW-S, CHW-I, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Supervisor in the state of Texas and a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Kentucky, with a concentration in Administrative Leadership. She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington, a Bachelor of Social Work from Texas A&M University Central Texas, and an Associate of Applied Science in Social Work from Central Texas College.

She currently serves as a full-time emergency department social worker at the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, where she brings over a decade of experience in crisis intervention, psychosocial assessment, interdisciplinary care coordination, and psychotherapy with socio-culturally diverse veteran populations. In addition, she works as a clinical therapist providing counseling to adolescents and young adults, with a focus on depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and crisis stabilization. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member in mental health services at Central Texas College, where she teaches courses in community health work and social welfare and contributes to technical curriculum development.

Her research interests center on advancing health equity, reducing emergency department utilization, promoting trauma-informed and culturally responsive care, and developing systems-level interventions for marginalized veteran populations. Her doctoral capstone focuses on reducing excessive and inappropriate emergency department utilization by expanding and strengthening an embedded interdisciplinary care team approach within the Veterans Health Administration.

Wilzata has received recognition for leadership and service, including participation in the VA LEAD Program and selection as a Texas A&M Central Texas Student of the Year. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and professional Community Health Worker organizations.

 

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.