Pro Bono Counseling in partnership with CHANA
2024 Professional Continuing Education Online Webinar
Ethical Considerations When Treating Victims and Survivors of Domestic Violence
Monday, October 28, 2024, from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Online Workshop – Two (2) CE Credits
FREE for all mental health clinicians*
Featured Presenters: Lauren Shaivitz, Esq., LMSW; Alicia Bickoff, Esq.
Session Description: This course will explore the ethical considerations when providing services to victims and survivors of domestic violence. A social worker has a responsibility to practice ethically by considering the potential benefit versus risk of harm to clients when planning and delivering professional social work services, including respecting and facilitating clients’ rights to make informed decisions (COMAR 10.42.03.01). This ethical obligation often is at issue when treating victims and survivors of domestic violence as their actions, even seeking help, can incite violence from their abusive partners. Topics will include the importance and nuances of informed consent, supporting clients in making informed decisions and how to navigate confidentiality with domestic violence survivors. The workshop will include both a presentation by the instructors and case studies.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this workshop, the participant will be able to:
- Identify best practices with informed consent with victims and survivors of domestic violence.
- Describe how to navigate confidentiality with victims and survivors of domestic violence.
- Discuss ethical considerations when weighing the potential benefits vs. risk of harm with victims and survivors of domestic violence.
- Assess clients’ rights to make informed decisions.
Presenter Bio: Lauren Shaivitz, Esq., LMSW
Lauren Shaivitz, Esq., LMSW, is both a lawyer and social worker with more than 25 years of experience in the field of domestic violence, sexual abuse and elder abuse. She served as CHANA’s Director of Programs for 6 years and became the Executive Director in November 2018. She has established policies and procedures that have sustained core components of a comprehensive domestic violence center while incorporating innovative practices that have addressed the complex trauma that victims experience. Prior to CHANA, Ms. Shaivitz worked as a forensic interviewer at the Baltimore Child Abuse Center. She worked at Sinai Hospital’s Family Violence Program and as a pro-bono domestic violence attorney at the law offices of Rubenstein and Rubenstein. Ms. Shaivitz also served as president and a board member of the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence. She began her career as an attorney at House of Ruth Maryland. Ms. Shaivitz received her B.A. from Hamilton College, her MSW from the University of Maryland School of Social Work, and her J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law. In 2018, she received the Outstanding Jewish Communal Professional Award.
Presenter Bio: Alicia Bickoff, Esq.
Alicia Bickoff is the Deputy Director of CHANA, a Program of the Associated. Ms. Bickoff oversees the clinical and legal response to domestic violence, elder abuse and sexual abuse, including supervising clinical staff, grant writing and reporting, program development, and community collaboration. She also serves on collaborative task forces, including serving as the co-chair of the Baltimore County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Teams.
Prior to joining CHANA, Ms. Bickoff was a national and local technical assistance provider and trainer for the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence. She supervised the implementation of the Lethality Assessment Program – Maryland Model throughout Maryland, provided technical assistance to Domestic Violence Fatality Review Teams and worked to implement a national based assessment and implementation program with the Office on Violence Against Women. Ms. Bickoff previously practiced family law in the Baltimore area for a private firm and represented domestic violence victims in civil protection order cases for the Women’s Law Center of Maryland. While in law school, she worked for the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, prosecuting child abuse crimes and clerking in the domestic violence unit. She graduated from Barnard College and holds a law degree from the University of Maryland. She is licensed to practice law in Maryland.
Mark your calendar for more upcoming CEU workshops!
*CHANA, an agency of The Associated, has been awarded a grant to partner with Pro Bono Counseling to provide a series of continuing education workshops on various topics for mental health clinicians related to working with victims/survivors of domestic violence. All workshops are free for mental health clinicians.
- Fri, Nov 15 9:00 – 11:00 AM – Safety Planning for Clients and Clinicians
- Wed, Dec 18 9:00 – 11:00 AM – Underserved Populations
Grant Information
This project was supported by 15JOVW-23-GG-00730-UNDE by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.
EVENT INSTRUCTIONS
Workshop registrants will receive a code prior to the webinar to log on to Zoom and participate in the online session.
IMPORTANT: Attendance will be monitored. Participants must be logged on to the meeting by the workshop start time and participate in the entire event in order to earn CE credit.
Pro Bono Counseling is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Pro Bono Counseling maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The Maryland Boards of Social Work Examiners and Professional Counselors and Therapists certify that this program meets the criteria for two (2) credit hours of continuing education for social workers (Category 1), professional counselors, and therapists (Category A) licensed in Maryland.
CE credit is granted to participants with documented attendance at individual workshops. Attendance is monitored. Credit will not be granted to registrants who log on late or depart early from a session. It is the responsibility of registrants to comply with these requirements.
Please note that upon attendance verification, you will receive your CE certificate within four weeks via email. Please add Pro Bono Counseling to your contacts and check your SPAM folder to ensure delivery.
By registering for this event, all participants agree to abide by the following code of conduct:
Workshop Code of Conduct
Pro Bono Counseling (PBC) is dedicated to providing a positive continuing education experience for everyone of all backgrounds and identities. We do not tolerate disrespectful behavior or harassment of workshop participants, facilitators, or PBC staff in any form. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of characteristics that include but are not limited to: gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, citizenship, veteran status, pregnancy status, race, ethnicity, or religion. Anyone asked to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in unacceptable behavior, PBC may take any action it deems appropriate, including warning or expelling the offender from the event with no refund.
Workshop Views Disclaimer
The views expressed by the workshop presenter(s) and participants are their own opinions and do not represent Pro Bono Counseling, and do not imply an endorsement of them or the organizations they represent.
