Thursday, March 26, 2026
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM
Registration & Breakfast
Break
UC Annex
Thursday, March 26, 2026
8:45 AM - 8:55 AM
Welcome
Ceremony
Dr. Summer Woodside, Chair, Department of Social Work
UC Annex
Thursday, March 26, 2026
8:55 AM - 9:00 AM
Introduction of Keynote Speaker
Ceremony
Ms. Janiya McCollum, MSW Candidate & UNCP Department of Social Work Intern
UC Annex
Thursday, March 26, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
1 CEU
Keynote Session: Policy is Practice: Social Workers Shaping Carolina's Future
KeynotePolicy & Advocacy1 CEU
Jovita Lee Miller, EdD, MPA, PgD
UC Annex
Thursday, March 26, 2026
10:00 AM - 10:15 AM
UNCP Department of Social Work Legacy of Leadership Award Presentation
Ceremony
UC Annex
Thursday, March 26, 2026
10:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Break and Transition to Breakout Sessions
Break
Thursday, March 26, 2026
10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
0.75 CEU
Problematic Sexual Behavior–Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (PSB-CBT): Meeting the Needs of Rural Youth and Families
BreakoutClinical Practice0.75 CEU
Stephanie Edwards, MSW, LCSW-A
UC Room 213
Using the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model to Examine Urban-Rural Differences in STI Testing: The Role of Information Search
BreakoutResearch0.75 CEU
Walter L. Ellis, PhD, MSW
UC Annex
How Substance Use Disorders Exacerbate Trauma in Low-Income Women in Rural Communities: Pathways, Challenges, and Intervention Implications
BreakoutClinical Practice0.75 CEU
BreeAnna Joy Johnson, MSW Student
UC Annex Room 203
Thursday, March 26, 2026
11:15 AM - 11:30 AM
Break and Transition to Block 2 Concurrent Sessions
Break
Thursday, March 26, 2026
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Ethics0.75 CEU
Understanding and Addressing Spiritual Trauma in Social Work Practice
BreakoutClinical PracticeEthics0.75 CEU
Frederick H. Stephens, LCSW, LISW-CP & Zavery McDougald, MSW, LCSW-A
UC Annex Room 203
Aligning Services With Need: Visualizing Opioid Overdose Risk and Treatment Access in Rural North Carolina
BreakoutPolicy & Advocacy0.75 CEU
Yale Kodwo-Nyameazea, PhD, MSW
UC Annex
Rebuilding Trust and Accelerating Recovery: A Trauma-Informed Integrated Care Pathway Using Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
BreakoutClinical Practice0.75 CEU
Bonnie Russo, LCSW, QS & Ashley Buckner, LCSW, MCAP, ICADC, CSW-G
UC Room 208
Seeds of Liberation: Land-Based Healing in Rural Social Work Practice
BreakoutCommunity Practice0.75 CEU
Keara Ndhlovu, DSW
UC Room 213
Thursday, March 26, 2026
12:15 PM - 1:30 PM
Lunch & Exhibitor Hall
Meal
UC Dining Room / UC Mall Area / Chavis Student Center Dining Room
OPTIMISE Networking Lunch
Meal
OPTIMISE-affiliated trainees, alumni, and field supervisors
Chancellor's Dining Room
Thursday, March 26, 2026
1:30 PM - 2:15 PM
Ethics0.75 CEU
The Tiger's Table: Strengthening Food Security and Community through Social Work at Benedict College
BreakoutCommunity PracticeEthics0.75 CEU
Dr. Kennard DuBose, DSW, LMSW, LAC & Felix Weston, PhD, MSW
UC Annex
The Workforce is Here: Addressing the needs of NC social workers through the Public Service Leadership Program (PSLP)
BreakoutProfessional Development0.75 CEU
Sarah Reives-Houston, PhD
UC Room 208
Co-Creating Rural Practice: Community-Engaged, Anti-Oppressive Social Work
BreakoutCommunity Practice0.75 CEU
Briana Carr, MSW, LCSW & Tiffany Lane, PhD, MSW
UC Room 213
Navigating the Transfer Journey: Rural Community College Students' Experiences in the UNCW HST-BSW Program
BreakoutEducation0.75 CEU
Megan S. Bolden, EdD, MSW
UC Annex Room 203
Thursday, March 26, 2026
2:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Break and Transition to Block 4 Concurrent Sessions
Break
Thursday, March 26, 2026
2:30 PM - 3:15 PM
Ethics0.75 CEU
SUPERvision: Building New Social Workers into Competent and Ethical Practitioners
BreakoutProfessional DevelopmentEthics0.75 CEU
Shannon Cousineau, DSW, LCSW
UC Annex
From Crisis to Compassion: Transforming Mental Health & Substance Use Crisis Calls
BreakoutClinical Practice0.75 CEU
Kristen Hunt, MSW, LCSW-A & Kirby Jones, LCMHC-A
UC Room 213
Game-Based Learning to Building Awareness of Food Insecurity
BreakoutEducation0.75 CEU
Erica Campbell, PhD, MSW
UC Room 208
Field Without Borders: Innovations in Preparing Social Work Students for Rural Communities
BreakoutEducation0.75 CEU
Monique Holsey-Hyman, EdD, MSW, LCSW-R, Christopher Solomon, MSW, CSWM & Yolanda Massey-McCullough, MSW
UC Annex Room 203
Thursday, March 26, 2026
3:15 PM - 3:30 PM
Break and Transition to Closing Speaker
Break
Thursday, March 26, 2026
3:30 PM - 3:40 PM
Gold Sponsor Presentations
Ceremony
Latasha Murray, Robeson Health Care Corporation & Cecelia Peers, Trillium
UC Annex
Thursday, March 26, 2026
3:40 PM - 3:45 PM
Introduction of Plenary Speaker
Ceremony
Ms. Emily Allen, MSW Candidate & Graduate Assistant
UC Annex
Thursday, March 26, 2026
3:45 PM - 4:45 PM
1 CEU
Plenary Session: Effects of Tap Water Quality on Public Health in North Carolina
PlenaryPublic Health1 CEU
Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson, PhD
UC Annex
Thursday, March 26, 2026
4:45 PM - 4:55 PM
Door Prizes & Closing
Ceremony
UC Annex