Program Information
Grand Valley State University works hard to bring our social workers the continuing education clock hours that are required by the state of Michigan. Our goal is to offer quality courses that are meaningful and applicable to professional social workers. We also provide small, personal, and intellectual environments to optimize your learning experience.
What social workers need to know about the IMPLICIT BIAS requirement - ***Please note that paragraph 2, sentence 3, does NOT apply to Social Work professionals. Human Trafficking training is required every time you renew your license. Implicit Bias is currently only required as an initial training, not every renewal cycle. If your license expires before June 22, 2022, you will not need to meet the Implicit Bias requirement just yet. If you renew on or after June 22, 2022, you will need a minimum of 1 hour for each year of your license cycle. Example: License expiration in 2023 = 1 hour, 2024 = 2 hours, 2025 = 3 hours. Those who have recently become licensed will need at least 2 hours within the 5 years immediately preceding issuance of the license.
New Rules for Continuing Education Requirements via NASW-Michigan
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Scheduled Programs
The below programs have been approved for Michigan Social Work Continuing Education Clock Hours through the School of Social Work at Grand Valley State University. Payment is due upon registering for the course. Participants must attend/view the entire program to receive continuing education hours. No partial credit can be awarded.
Click on the title of each course for additional information and registration.
Asynchronous (self-paced) SWCE Programs:
Once you register and pay for the asynchronous course(s), a confirmation will be emailed to you with instructions on how to log into Blackboard, our online course system. If you have any issues accessing your course, please call our office at 616-331-7180 or email [email protected]. You must receive a passing score of 80% or better on the post-test to receive credit for the course. Upon successful completion of the course(s), your Michigan Social Work Continuing Education certificate will be made available to download within Blackboard, or online course system. Please download and save/print this upon finishing the course. If you've finished a course and no longer have access to the certificate, please email us for a replacement copy: [email protected]
Interventions for Chronic Pain - a 2-hour online course that meets the pain management requirement for license renewal and includes 2.0 Michigan Social Work Continuing Education credits.
Navigating Social Work Ethics: Practice and Technology in the Age of a Pandemic and Beyond – a 5-hour online course that meets the Ethics requirement for license renewal and includes 5.0 Michigan Social Work Continuing Education credits.
Human Trafficking for Social Workers – 2-hour online course that reflects the updated requirements for license renewal and includes 2.0 Michigan Social Work Continuing Education credits.
"What about Implicit Bias??" - We are planning to offer more courses that meets the Implicit Bias licensure requirement in the 2022-2023 series beginning in September 2022. The LARA Public Health Code "R 338.7004 Implicit bias training standards" requires that this training be held via one of the following formats: 1) A teleconference or webinar that permits live synchronous interaction. 2) A live presentation. 3) Interactive online instruction.
2021-2022 Synchronous (live) SWCE Programs
SEPT 16 - Trauma: How to Support the Healing - This is a 3-hour in-person course. This grant-funded course is free to all DHHS employees and their private contracted agencies in adoption and foster care (view eligible employer list). - View Flyer (More grant-funded DHHS courses available here)
**Our 2022-2023 programs are currently being developed, and will be released in mid- to late- August. To receive an email update when these are available, please subscribe to our emailing list.
Registration Deadline: Three days prior to each training by 5:00 p.m.
Wait List Policy: Our social work programs, excluding the DHHS programs, may fill up due to interest in the content. If the course becomes full, we will have a limited wait list. Those who get on a wait list for a course, you will be notified as soon as possible if a seat becomes available and payment must be made upon enrollment. When the typical registration period ends two days prior to the begin date, all those on the list will be notified we can no longer accept people into the class.
Cancellation Policy: Should your plans change, you may transfer your registration to another person at any time. You may also choose to keep your registration fee in "escrow" to be used toward a different course in the future. Cancellations must be received by the Center for Adult & Continuing Studies at least 48 hours prior to class start time. Cancellations received before the deadline are eligible to receive a full refund. Cancellations received after the deadline and/or no-shows are not eligible for refunds. If you have questions, please call our office at (616) 331-7180 or email [email protected].
Special Accommodations: Please contact our office for information regarding special needs accommodations. We will work with you to insure your needs are met. (616) 331-7180 or email [email protected] You may also update or add your need when registering for a course or in your account profile at any time.
Grievance Procedures: If at any time, you have a complaint or grievance, please contact our office at (616) 331-7180 or email [email protected]. We will make every effort to resolve the issue.
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY: If Grand Valley State University closes on a program day due to the weather, the class will also be cancelled. If we are open, but you feel that the weather conditions make it unsafe to attend, we will give you a refund for the class. To check to see if the University is closed, please go to WZZM or WOOD TV either online or on television to see their school closings and cancellations. You may also call the university directly to see if we are open: (616) 331-2020.
Approvals: Grand Valley State University School of Social Work, an accredited social work education program, is authorized by Administrative Rule 338.2965 to award Michigan social work continuing education contact hours.
Previous Programs
SEPT 17 - Maintaining Family Roots-The Impact of Sibling and Relative Relationships and Community Connections on a Child's Well-being, Permanency and Identity - View Catalog Page - This is an online, live webinar via Zoom. This course is free under a grant for all DHHS employees and their private contracted agencies in adoption and foster care (view eligible employer list).
OCT 1 - Understanding Loss & Grief - This is a 3-hour, in-person course.
OCT 8 - Building a Progressive Leadership Culture: The Trifecta - This is a 3-hour, in-person course.
OCT 22 - Best Practices for Virtual Supervision - This is a 3-hour, online, live webinar via Zoom.
OCT 29 - Psychological Dimensions of Pain: The Mind Body Connection - *Meets Pain Management requirement for Social Work licensure.* - This is a 2-hour, online, live webinar via Zoom. - View Flyer
NOV 5 - Mental Health Complexities of an Ever-Changing Elderly Population - This is a 6-hour, in-person course. - View Flyer
NOV 12 - Food as Medicine: How Diet Can Prevent & Manage Disease - This is a 3-hour, online, live webinar via Zoom. - View Flyer
DEC 3 - Women & Addiction: An Overview of Gender-Specific Considerations in Substance Use Disorder Treatment - This is a 3-hour, in-person course. *Eligible for MCBAP credits; need to apply.* - View Flyer
DEC 10 - Supporting and Preserving Michigan Families - View Catalog Page - This is a 3-hour, online, live webinar via Zoom. This course is free under a grant for all DHHS employees and their private contracted agencies in adoption and foster care (view eligible employer list).
JAN 14 - Youth Mental Health: Treatment & Strategies to Help Teenagers & Their Families - This is a 3-hour, online, live webinar via Zoom. - View Flyer
JAN 21 - Leaning Into the Grief Journey with Children: Healing Through Play - This is a 6-hour, in-person course. - View Flyer
JAN 27 - Supporting Women of Color - View Catalog Page - This is a 3-hour, in-person course. This course is free under a grant for all DHHS employees and their private contracted agencies in adoption and foster care (view eligible employer list).
JAN 28 - Recommendations & Resources to Do Better for Children with Autism & Their Families - This is a 3-hour, online, live webinar via Zoom. - View Flyer
FEB 4 - Anxiety & Children: Learning to Cope Through Play - This is a 3-hour, in-person course. - View Flyer
FEB 11 - The Effects of Binocular Vision Dysfunctions on Socio-Emotional Development - This is a 3-hour, in-person course. - View Flyer
FEB 18 - Compassion Fatigue & Burnout: Self-Care for Resiliency in Social Work - This is a 3-hour, online, live webinar via Zoom. (Please note: this is a repeat course from last year). - View Flyer
FEB 25 - Art and Science of Aging Conference - View Flyer
MAR 4 - Developing Your Supervision Approach - This is a 3-hour, in-person course. - View Flyer
MAR 11 - Ethical Decision Making in Administration and Supervision - *Meets Ethics Requirement for SW Licensure.* This is a 5-hour, in-person course. (Please note: this is a repeat course from last year). - View Flyer
MAR 18 - Understanding & Treating Eating Disorders - This is a 6-hour, in-person course. - View Flyer
MAR 25 - Supporting Adolescents During Difficult Times -This is a 3-hour, in-person course. - View Flyer
APR 14 - Practicing Resiliency Conference - Join Family Futures in partnership with GVSU for an event aimed to provide tools to promote resilience. This includes 2 Social Work CEUs.
APR 15 - Ethics in Social Work: Navigating the Change - *Meets the Ethics requirement for SW Licensure.* This is a 5-hour, online, live webinar via Zoom. - View Flyer
APR 19 - History of U.S. Indian Boarding Schools: Resultant Intergenerational Trauma and Healing Ways - This is a 2-hour, in-person presentation. *NO COST, but registration is required - View Flyer
APR 22 - How Toxic Male Socialization Can Lead to Sexual Misconduct / Addiction Behaviors -This is a 3-hour, online, live webinar via Zoom. - View Flyer
APR 29 - Implicit Bias for Social Workers - *Meets the Implicit Bias requirement for SW Licensure.* This is a 3-hour, online, live webinar via Zoom.
MAY 6 - Navigating the Special Education System for Children with Disabilities - This is a 3 hour online, live webinar via Zoom. This grant-funded course is free to all DHHS employees and their private contracted agencies in adoption and foster care (view eligible employer list). - View Flyer (More grant-funded DHHS courses available here)
JUNE 14 - "What's Well-Being Got to Do With It?" Pain Management for School Social Workers - *Meets Pain Management requirement for Social Work licensure.* This is a 2-hour, online, live webinar via Zoom. - View Flyer