An Anti-Oppression Framework for Social Work Practice

Social workers are well-positioned to provide high quality, culturally-responsive care rooted in an anti-oppression framework that attends to historic harms. In fact, it is an obligation of the profession that is rooted in social justice. Yet, social workers still cause harm and are complicit to racism in micro, mezzo and macro practice. This two-part class will introduce and build upon concepts, theoretical foundations and social work history to build a platform by which social workers can actively engage in social work practice rooted in anti-oppression and contribute to decolonizing across systems. The class will provide opportunities for participants to engage in self-reflection and interrogate the roots of social work practice.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After taking this class, participants will be able to: 

1. Describe the importance of centering an anti-oppression practice in social work. 
2. Recognize that anti-oppression work is not comfortable and yet necessary.
3. Demonstrate being in relationship within discomfort 

Arika Patneaude, MSW, LICSW, APHSW-C

Arika Patneaude is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), and an Ethnic Minority Mental Health Specialist (EMMHS). She has worked extensively in social services since 1992, including adult mental health, homeless housing services, medical social work including solid organ transplant, grief and bereavement, and pediatric palliative care. Ms. Patneaude was born into a family that not only valued but actively engaged in social justice, and equity, diversity, and inclusion work. It was here that the foundation was built for engaging in culturally responsive care as a clinician.

Ms. Patneaude earned her Bachelors in Sociology from the University of Oregon in 1992 and her Masters in Social Work from the University of Washington in 2008. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University Of Washington School Of Social Work, Director of the Bioethics & Palliative Care Program at Seattle Children’s Hospital, as well as the founder and consultant with Moore Genesis Consulting which provides consultation and coaching to individuals and programs on engaging in culturally responsive practice across settings.

Ms. Patneaude has been an invited lecturer, keynote speaker and panel member on such topics as supporting patients and families at the end of life, cultural humility, completing culturally appropriate mental health assessments and culturally responsive grief and bereavement services. 

Bridget Sumser, LCSW, AHPSW-C

Bridget Sumser became a social worker to accompany people living with serious illness and facing the end of life. Over the course of the last 10 years, she has worked across settings, supporting and advocating for patients, families and community members affected by illness and facing the end of life. She received her MSW from NYU Silver School of Social Work and completed a post-graduate fellowship in palliative social work at Beth Israel Medical Center. She is a Sojourn Scholar with the CAMBIA Health Foundation. In addition to her clinical work, she is a writer and educator and co-edited Palliative Care: A Guide for Health Social Workers (Oxford University Press, 2019). Her practice is rooted in a commitment to social justice and anti-racism. Above all, she looks to promote connection and well-being.

Our regular fees are listed below:

• Full Tuition - $120
• GSS Alumni - $100
• Current Field Instructor - $100
• Current Adjunct Faculty - $100
• SWHPN Member - $100
• 3+ members registering from one agency - $80 per registration
• Non-Fordham Current MSW or Social Work PhD Student - $80
• Veterans - $80
• Fordham Faculty and Staff - $80
• Current Fordham MSW or PhD Student - $60
• Fordham Alumni Palliative Care Fellow - $60
• Current Fordham Palliative Care Fellowship Field Instructor/Career Mentor - $60
• Current Fordham Palliative Care Fellow or Montefiore Fellow - $0

Continuing Education Hours

Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service is a provider of social work continuing education hours, as approved by the New York State Education Department Board for Social Work.

Completion of this class will result in the receipt of four (4) continuing education hours. CEHs are not awarded for partial completion of the class.

You will receive the Zoom link for joining the class by the day before the class. IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE LINK BY THIS TIME, PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDER. 

You will need a computer and a reliable WiFi connection. The computer may be a desktop or a laptop. It may be an Apple or Windows computer.

If you have never used Zoom before, you will likely be prompted to download an applet, which is a small program that allows Zoom to communicate with your computer. This is safe and you will need to do this to join the class.

It is NOT advised that you participate using a table (e.g., an iPad) or a cellular phone. The software is not optimized for these devices.

Please plan to join the online class 15 minutes before the start time to be sure that you don’t have any problems connecting. We cannot provide technical support to you and refunds won’t be offered if you have technical problems. If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact us at [email protected] at least a few days before the class.