Over the years I have had the opportunity to attend many professional development activities in the fields of social work and school counseling. These trainings and workshops have helped me develop my knowledge of specific counseling and advocacy-related topics. It is this experience which influences my belief that professionals in any field need to pursue ongoing education to maintain and progress their skills.
The list below shows a sampling of professional development activities that I have participated in. This list demonstrates that I believe in the importance of receiving regular training in a professional field. As research is being done, there is a lot we can learn and implement in practice. Professional development trainings and workshops are a way for school counselors to work on developing data-driven practice in schools.
I. New Hampshire Mandated Reporting Law
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August 2002
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Concord, NH
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Presented by NH Division of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)
II. Council on Social Work Education Annual Conference
- February 2003
- Atlanta, GA
- Workshops attended: "Understanding Race, Ethnicity, and Power" by Elaine Pinderhughes; Research update presentations for the field of child welfare and juvenile delinquency
III. Developing the Bonds of Attachment: Working with Children with Reactive Attachment Disorder
- March 2003
- Manchester, NH
- Presented by Daniel Hughes
IV. Ethics: Understanding Mental Health Law
- June 2003
- Concord, NH
- Presented by legal staff of Familystrength
V. Goal Setting and Service Plan Development: Using a Strength Perspective and Solution-Focused Approach
- November 2004
- Concord, NH
- Presented by Linda Nagle, LICSW
VI. Permanency Plus Training: DCYF Initiative for Children in Foster Care
- July 2005
- Concord, NH
- Presented by DCYF
VII. New Hampshire School Counselor Association (NHSCA) Spring Conference 2008: Depression and Adolescents
- Bedford, NH
- Presented by Marcel Lebrun
VIII. New Hampshire School Counselor Association (NHSCA) Fall Conference 2008: Breaking the Boy Code and Rediscovering Sisterhood
- Concord, NH
- Presented by William S. Pollack, PhD and Lyn Mikel Brown, Ed.D.
IX. Person-Centered Planning
- October 2008
- Presented by the NH Insitute on Disability