Does your animal organization employ a social worker? Or maybe you’re considering one? Join us for a 30-minute panel discussion on November 18th at 12PM PT/ 3PM ET with the five social workers who facilitated the national social work teams that collectively authored the new Social Work Guidelines for Animal Welfare Settings through a year-long participatory action research project funded by the ASPCA. The guidelines were developed by and for social workers embedded in animal welfare organizations across North America and are designed to support best practices at the individual, organizational, and systemic levels.

This session, part of the Doors Wide Open webcast series, will explore how animal welfare organizations – whether they currently employ social workers or are considering doing so -can begin to integrate and apply the guidelines in meaningful, sustainable ways that advance their missions.

Panel discussion prompts will include:

• How can these guidelines support animal welfare organizations that employ – or are considering employing – a social worker?
• What challenges might arise when using the guidelines, and how can those be addressed?
• How can non-social work animal welfare staff engage with and benefit from these guidelines?

Come with your lunch and your questions! This will be an engaging, real-world conversation about advancing human and animal well-being together.

The session will be moderated by Janet Hoy-Gerlach, PhD, LCSW, LISW-S, Director of Veterinary Social Work, Open Door Veterinary Collective

Panelists include:

• Kayla Anderson, Veterinary Social Worker, The Program for Pet Health Equity
• Kelly Bremken, Veterinary Social Worker, Oregon Humane Society
• Laurie Maxwell, Director of Veterinary Social Work, MedVet
• Augusta O’Reilly, President, International Veterinary Social Work Association
• Alexis Telfair-Garcia, Director of Social Work Program Development, Austin Pets Alive!

Register now for the 30-minute webcast taking place on November 18 at 12 PM PST/ 3 PM EST.