Supporting Survivors Through Restorative Justice

Countless survivors of sexual harm and violence never contact any professional services or law enforcement mechanisms. This doesn’t mean these survivors are not yearning for healing for themselves and accountability for their abusers; rather, it is often the fear of the collateral consequences on their families and communities that keeps them silent. sujatha baliga (sujatha spells her name uncapitalized) believes restorative justice can meet these hidden needs at the family and community level, without reliance on systems of punishment.

The Important Role of Social Workers in Preventing Sexual Abuse: A Panel Discussion for Social Work Month

March is Social Work Month, a “time to celebrate the great profession of Social Work.” This panel discussion is an opportunity to learn about the contributions of social workers to the prevention of sexual abuse. From understanding people in the contexts of their day-to-day lives to working with the systems that our clients find themselves in, the contributions of social workers are often underestimated and misunderstood.

Addressing Animal Abuse and Its Relationship to Interpersonal Violence

In 2015, the Humane Society of the United States estimated that nearly one million animals a year are abused or killed in episodes of domestic violence. They also found that intentional cruelty to animals is strongly correlated with other crimes, including violence against people. This webinar is to introduce professionals to simple yet effective screening methods for how animal abuse and neglect may play a role with the individuals they are working with, along with discussion about managing the emotional effects of this difficult content. 

School Shootings: What We Know About Attacks on Campuses

The frequency of school shootings has increased in recent years, capturing the attention of parents, clinicians, and policymakers. As a result, communities and stakeholders are desperately looking for ways to identify and provide preventive assistance to high-risk youth before tragedy strikes. While our understanding of school shootings is still growing, research has identified some relevant patterns and risk markers that make professionals uniquely positioned to engage in prevention efforts. After presenting key research insights, Dr. Rodrigues will focus on youths at risk for school shootings and ways to navigate high-risk situations safely and ethically. Attendees will be provided critical details about those who perpetrate school shootings from the existing research, and potential safeguards communities can implement.

What Works in Treating Substance Use Disorders

As we know, genuine change is a human experience and not just an experience that the client has. It becomes even more difficult when people are convinced there isn’t a problem. 

This webinar will address what we have learned about substance use issues, including impaired drivers, and how this can help us understand and build motivation across a variety of settings, including criminal justice. It will also include suggestions for how practitioners can change their behaviors to better help their clients and themselves.

What We Know and What We Need to Know About Incels

ncels (involuntarily celibate men) have been the source of considerable media attention due to a small number of high-profile attacks. Despite the first taking place in 2014, it is only recently that researchers have become interested in this group. Much of this scholarly work has involved analyses of incel forums with little attention paid to incels themselves. Dr. Brandon Sparks is one of the few researchers who has studied incels at an individual level. During this webinar conversation, he will describe who incels are and provide background information about the incel subculture and its impact on society

Straight Talk About Diagnosis, Its Limitations, and Alternatives: A Conversation with Lucy Johnstone

Dr. Lucy Johnstone is a consultant clinical psychologist, author of ‘Users and abusers of psychiatry’ (Classic edition Routledge 2021); co-editor of ‘Formulation in psychology and psychotherapy: making sense of people’s problems’ (Routledge, 2nd edition 2013) and author of ‘A straight-talking guide to psychiatric diagnosis’ (PCCS Books, 2nd edition due 2022), along with a number of other chapters and articles taking a critical perspective on mental health theory and practice. She is the former Programme Director of the Bristol Clinical Psychology Doctorate and has worked in Adult Mental Health settings for many years, most recently in a service in South Wales. She is now an independent trainer.

The Criminal Justice System’s Need for Better Understanding of Clients with Autism Spectrum Disorders

In this webinar with Dr. Spence, a world-renown expert in the treatment and assessment of justice-involved people with autism, we will examine the ways criminal justice systems fall short in ensuring the safety and effective rehabilitation of this vulnerable and challenging population. It’s a much-needed conversation that will shine light on how we can improve outcomes.