The School of Social Work now accepts credit card payments for continuing education events through our online store.
The School of Social Work intends to provide Social Work Ethics and Pain Management trainings on an annual or biannual basis to meet the needs of area social workers. As new events are scheduled, this calendar will be updated.
Saturday, January 12: Integrative Self Care for Helping Professionals
Yvonne Unrau, MSW, PhD; Professor, WMU School of Social Work; Susan Kramer-Bagby, LMSW, CAADC, ACSW; Clinical Director: Addiction Treatment Services; Traverse City, MI
Friday, January 25: Understanding the Continuum of Trauma: Models for Healing the Traumatized System
Frederick MacDonald, PhD Frederick MacDonald, PhD; Professor Emeritus WMU School of Social Work
Friday, February 8: 
Pain Management
Susan Wilson, RN, BSN; Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan
Friday, February 22: Cultural Considerations: Seeking an Understanding of Those We Serve
Cheree Thomas, BA, CDM, Program Director- Hallmark Impact/Interim Children's Center at YWCA of Kalamazoo and Sherry Brockway, MSW, YWCA of Kalamazoo
Friday, March 22: Working with Hard-to-Reach Families
Frederick MacDonald, PhD; Professor Emeritus WMU School of Social Work
Friday, April 12: The Impact of Trauma on Foster Care Children and Their Families and Caregivers
Mary Baggerman, LMSW, LPC, Outpatient Therapist, Family and Children Services, Kalamazoo; Rina Battani, LMSW, Clinical Supervisor: Family and Children Services, Kalamazoo
Friday, April 19: Ethical Dilemas and Legal Issues in Social Work
Linda Reeser, LMSW, PhD, Professor, WMU School of Social Work, Michael Schlack, JD, On Call Legal Resources, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Saturday, May 4: Integrative Self Care for Professionals, in Traverse City
Yvonne Unrau, MSW, PhD; Professor, WMU School of Social Work; Susan Kramer-Bagby, LMSW, CAADC, ACSW; Clinical Director: Addiction Treatment Services; Traverse City, MI
Friday, May 10: An Evidence-based Approach to Working with Individuals with Mood Disorders & Anxiety
Susan Davis, MA, LPC, LBSW, Supervisor, Mobile Crisis Response, Family and Children Services, Kalamazoo
Friday, May 17: Motivational Interviewing and Beyond: Making Sense of Discord and Getting to Change
Jennifer Harrison, LMSW, CAADC, Coordinator of Field Education, School of Social Work
The professional development program at the Western Michigan University School of Social Work is distinguished by its quality instruction and advocacy for social and economic justice and personal well being for all people. The program is focused on the professionalization of social work practice by increasing practitioners' critical thinking and reflective practice skills. The seminars and workshops offered are intended not only to inform participants, but also to challenge them to integrate new learning into their daily practice. The program is the actualization of the WMU School of Social Work guiding principles.
Continuing education courses for social workers that are offered through Western Michigan University's School of Social Work have been approved by the Michigan Continuing Education Collaborative and are included in their online course schedule.
The Continuing Education Collaborative was created to ensure the quality of all continuing education programs sponsored for Michigan's social workers and to conduct activities that will help them meet their defined education needs. The Collaborative serves as the collective body that evaluates applications for provider status. The Collaborative is comprised of members representing academic institutions and social work professional associations.
For information on offering a continuing education training through the School of Social Work at Western Michigan University, or to be added to the e-mail distribution list for continuing education trainings, please contact Rebecca Schrock-Herdeck at:
or (269) 387-3158.
For information on licensing requirements for social workers, see the Michigan Board of Social Work.
