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Biennial Conference

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Register now!

September 20-23rd

NOW: In Person!
Alaska Airlines Flight Code -- ECME662
Location:
The Hotel Captain Cook
Anchorage, Alaska
Code for groups: NASW23
Online Booking Link: AK Chapter Of the National Assoc. Social Workers
Click for Individual Hotel Rate

Present at the 2023 Conference!

Complete our Breakout Session Presenter Proposal form



Travel Scholarship Application

2023 Sponsors

Nasw Assurance logo
school of social work university of alaska anchorage Affirming our identities conference

Congratulations to our Award Winners

Social Worker of the Year: Leigh Bolin & Melissa Merrick
Member of the Year: Rachel Gearhart
Elder of the Year: Elizabeth "Liz" Sunnyboy Yup'ik Elder
MSW Student of the Year: Guy Harris
BSW Student of the Year: Leigh Smith

Learn more about our winners


Full conference schedule

Our conference theme is Alaskan Social Workers: Strengthening Roots through Connection. We will be providing informational and inspirational keynote speakers to our social workers about connecting with their micro (self/individual clients), mezzo (agencies/colleagues), and macro (community/social justice/research and development) systems, which will collectively strengthen the roots of social work and our Alaskan culture. We are working to organize an incredible slate of presenters to provide a four-day conference that not only provides training, advocacy and networking, but also focus on human connection, grassroots work, resilience-building, and with real-life takeaways that attendees can start to use right away.

Earn up to 24 CEUs!* Credits offered include Alaska Native, Cross Cultural, Ethics, Substance Use Disorder, Telehealth, and General Social Work.

*Reflects the maximum number and type of credits that may be awarded. Individual credit earnings will vary per attendee based on attended sessions.

Daily outfit themes

Wednesday: Come as you are! Dress your best!
Thursday: RED – Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
Friday: Qaspeq Friday
Saturday: NASW Colors/Logo – Teal

Register Now


Pricing

  • Full Conference $300
  • Full Day ONLY $100
  • ONE DAY Morning only $50
  • ONE DAY Afternoon only $50
  • Board Meeting Free
  • SAC Luncheon ONLY (Thursday 12:30) $15
  • Awards Breakfast $15.00

Award Nominations

Find the nomination form and instructions here

Nominate someone for an award now!


Travel Scholarship Application

Criteria for Awards:

Social Worker of the Year

  1. NASW membership in good standing
  2. Personal and professional integration of experience and education to help people
  3. Taking risks for better social services
  4. Enlisting public support for improved social services.
  5. Contributing to the public’s knowledge of social work in the area of the recipient’s expertise
  6. Representing the professional ethics of social work as defined in the NASW Code of Ethics

Read the Full Description

Public Citizen of the Year

  1. Non-Social Worker
  2. Personal action to help people
  3. Taking risks for better social services
  4. Enlisting public support for improved social services
  5. Contributing to the public’s knowledge of social work in the area of the recipient’s expertise
  6. Reflecting the professional ethics in social work as defined in the NASW Code of Ethics

Read the Full Description

Legislator of the Year

  1. A current elected member of the Alaska State Legislature or representing Alaska in the U.S. Congress
  2. Represent NASW Alaska Chapter’s mission within their voting and service record as a legislator.
  3. Taking risks for better social services
  4. Outspoken advocate of social service and social work issues;
  5. Contribute to the public’s knowledge of social work and social issues.
  6. Substantially assisted in the advancement of our policy agenda and legislative priorities

Read the Full Description

Students of the Year

  1. Enrolled in Social Work degree program in NH or in another state and doing a field work practicum in Alaska
  2. Demonstrated integration of academic knowledge and personal experience to help people.
  3. Demonstrated leadership within school or field work setting
  4. Involvement in the community to improve, extend, or expand social services
  5. Representation of professional ethics of social work as defined in the NASW Code of Ethics

Read the Full Description

Agency/Department of the Year

Agency:
  1. Be an overall organization, social institution, or large employer, such as a school district, medical institution, advocacy or client service system. This also includes a department within an organization and a social service agency/group practice.
  2. Have a professionally trained social worker involved in the leadership/creation/ management of the nominated program
  3. Have a focus on continuing professional development and education
  4. Have recognition and encouragement of the continuum of professional credentials of staff development: i.e. BSW, MSW, ACSW, Specialty.
  5. Be involved in managerial and administrative development of an effective employee/work environment.
  6. Currently employed staff of NASW-Alaska may be utilized as a resource but may not make nominations or write letters of support.
  7. Current NASW Alaska Board members or Leadership Search Committee Representatives agencies, departments or programs may not be considered for any award
Department:
  1. Allows/encourages its staff to be involved in professionally affiliated groups, to do presentations on their services area, to serve on task forces, board of directors, and committees, and to work as field liaisons and mentors, which all enhance the social work profession
  2. Develops new or innovative services, programs, and outreaches to serve their clients or to serve emerging social programs, such as AIDS, homelessness, and chemical dependency programs
  3. Supports an advocacy focus for its client population, for example, taking a leadership focus to meet gaps and needs in services or coordinating and assessing resources while also advocating politically for legislation that works to improve client situations.

Read the Full Description



Find the nomination form and instructions here

Nominate someone for an award now!

Wednesday September 20 – Dr Chase

Thursday September 21 – Dan Bigley

Friday September 22 – Dr Jessica Sanigaq Ullirich

Saturday September 23 – Dr Debra Lavender-Bratcher

Bios

Dr Yvonne Chase

Yvonne Chase

Yvonne Chase, PhD, ACSW, LCSW, is an Associate Professor at the University of Alaska/Anchorage. She has an MSW from Howard University and a PhD in Social Work from Norfolk State University. Dr. Chase is active on state, national and international levels. Her areas of interest include social work ethics, child welfare, serving diverse client populations, and the global social work community.

Dan Bigley

Dan Biglet

Dan Bigley is the CEO of Denali Family Services in Anchorage. A grizzly bear mauled him in the summer of 2003 on the shores of the Russian River and left him for dead. The odds were against him, but Dan survived, and after many surgeries and rehabilitative efforts he has made quite the life for himself and his family. Dan earned his M.S.W. in '09 from UAA. He authored Beyond the Bear with Debra McKinney; it was published in 2013 and is now being made into a movie.

Dr Jessica Sanigaq Ullirich

Jessica Sanigaq Ullirich

Jessica Saniguq Ullrich is an Inupiaq scholar, a tribal citizen of Nome Eskimo Community and a descendant of the Native Village of Wales. Jessica worked in the Alaska child welfare system as a frontline family services worker, ICWA Specialist, and developed and supervised the first Alaska Native family services unit in the state before becoming a child welfare trainer. Jessica’s passion and drive has been to end the disproportionate number of Alaska Native children removed from their families and community. Jessica’s dissertation research from 2019-2020 focused on the development of an Indigenous Connectedness Framework for child and collective wellbeing that was guided by 25 knowledge bearers of Alaska Native child welfare. Now as an Assistant Professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage in the School of Social Work, she focuses on the promotion of connectedness, wellbeing, relational healing, as well as social and environmental justice. Jessica is currently engaged in efforts that involve digital storytelling with Alaska Native youth on documenting community strengths; culturally based intervention development for her Tribe; Tribal child wellbeing and prevention efforts; authentic youth engagement in child welfare; language revitalization and connectedness for systems change. Storytelling through research, education, and authorship is central to her work.

Dr Debra Lavender-Bratcher

Debra Lavender-Bratcher

Debra Lavender-Bratcher PHD, LCSW, (she, her, hers), associate professor of Social Work Practice at Texas Tech University Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work Department, College of Arts and Sciences. She received her master’s degree in social work (MSW) from University of Denver and is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in the states of Colorado, Alaska, and Texas. Her earned doctorate from Capella University is in Human Services: Community and Social Services. She has over 20 years of professional experience working with families, individuals, and groups, in the areas of addiction, mental health, grief, and diversity. Her academic focus is Community Outreach and Engagement. She facilitates learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students at the TTUHSC Free Medical Clinic hosted by Lubbock Impact, a nonprofit organization that serves the working poor. She is board member of Council of Social Work Education (CSWE). She is a member of the steering committee for the South Plains NASW Chapter, part of the NASW state and national organization. She is on the City of Lubbock Urban Design and Historic Preservation Commission. Dr. Lavender-Bratcher philosophy is “Ubuntu, I am because We are.”

Topic: Power of We: Social Workers Reaching Communities
This presentation will address social work diversity and ethics in community work. 90 minutes

captain-cook-hotel

The Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage, Alaska! More information to come


Code for groups: NASW23 Online Booking Link: AK Chapter Of the National Assoc. Social Workers
Click for Individual Hotel Rate
Alaska Airlines Flight Code -- ECME662

Exhibitor pricing

  • 1/8 Page Ad $100
  • 1/4 Page Ad $150
  • 1/2 Page Ad $250
  • Full Page Ad $500
  • Non-profit Exhibitor $350
  • For-profit Exhibitor $500
  • Community Table Exhibitor Free
  • Bronze Partner $500
  • Silver Partner $1,500
  • Gold Partner $2,500

Register Here

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Grand Canyon University

Tanana Chiefs Conference

Sitka Counseling

Alaska Behavioral Health

SPONSORS

Greetings from the NASW Alaska Chapter 2023 Biennial Conference Planning Committee! You or your agency can be a part of connecting social workers from around this great state. While that may sound dramatic, it’s true! The NASW Alaska Chapter’s conferences have a long, rich history in Alaska, and we are honoring that history and the importance of connection by holding our Biennial Conference live in Anchorage in September 2023.

Our conference theme is Alaskan Social Workers: Strengthening Roots through Connection. We will be providing informational and inspirational keynote speakers to our social workers about connecting with their micro (self/individual clients), mezzo (agencies/colleagues), and macro (community/social justice/research and development) systems, which will collectively strengthen the roots of social work and our Alaskan culture. We are working to organize an incredible slate of presenters to provide a three-day conference that not only provides training, advocacy and networking, but also focus on human connection, grassroots work, resilience-building, and with real-life takeaways that attendees can start to use right away.

Whether you offer health and human service products and services, continuing education opportunities, or simply want to get in front of social workers, the 2023 NASW-Alaska Conference is the place to be. By becoming a sponsor or vendor, you would get in front of social workers throughout Alaska and the country at every career level and every area of practice e.g., health and mental health care, substance abuse, child welfare, veterans and military families, school social work, criminal justice, aging, and care coordination– serving people of all ages – from infants to the elderly.

In addition to more traditional modes of sponsorship such as advertising in our conference program/materials and exhibition booths, we will again offer the opportunity to donate a conference registration fee. By donating a conference registration fee, you will receive recognition in our conference program, and pre-conference marketing which can include social media. We’re thrilled to host our live NASW-Alaska 2023 Biennial Conference in Anchorage and thank you for your support of our conference and the healing of our state.

Partner Levels

Bronze Partner ($500)

  • Company name, logo and partner level included in all promotional materials
  • Company name included on webpage for 1 year
  • Social media shout out a week after the event has ended

Silver Partner ($1500)

  • Company name, logo and partner level included in all promotional materials
  • Company name included on webpage for 1 year
  • 5 Social media shout outs after the event has ended

Gold Partner ($2500)

  • Company name, logo and partner level included in all promotional materials
  • Company name included on webpage for 1 year
  • On-going social media shout outs for a month after the event has ended
  • A live shout out during the event

2023 Sponsors

Nasw Assurance logo

school of social work university of alaska anchorage

Affirming our identities conference

SPONSORSHIP
Interested in highlighting your company? Download the Sponsor Packet for the full application form.


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20% off Kenai Fjords Tours

Offering glacier and wildlife viewing cruises into the Kenai Fjords National Park. A 2.5 hour drive from Anchorage makes this a good day trip, or even an overnight, depending on what tour a guest chooses.

Learn more and book today


See the full brochure and day cruise routes

Kenai Fjords tour QR code

Call for Presentations

2023 NASW - Alaska Chapter Biennial Conference

September 20th, 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, 2023
The Hotel Captain Cook | Anchorage, AK

Proposals are for 1- or 2-hour segments (longer sessions will be considered)

Thank you for considering offering training at the Alaskan Social Workers: Strengthening Roots through Connection conference. Submitted proposals are not automatically accepted, though all are acknowledged. After proposals are reviewed, accepted presenters will be notified and each presenter will be offered $100 off full registration rate.

Important Notes, and if you have any questions please email us.

  • Please use brevity in the submission of your proposal.
  • Presenters are expected to provide their own handouts. Presenters should be prepared for an audience of 25-50 attendees per break-out session and 300 attendees for keynote sessions.
  • Presentations should be targeted toward social work practitioners and students, as well as other health, mental health, and community wellness practitioners.

Complete our breakout session form!


Registration & Refund Policy

Revision Adopted by the Chapter Board, 2015)

Cancellation/Closing/Notices

  • Professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar may be canceled if a minimum of 20 (or break-even point if less than 20) paid registrants are not registered by the deadline.
  • NASW-Alaska Chapter will notify registrants by phone and e-mail of any cancellations. Refunds will be made within 30 business days of cancellation if no other professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar is scheduled.
  • Professional development workshops, symposiums, conferences, conference calls or webinars will only be canceled in extreme inclement weather conditions. If the weather is questionable, please contact the Chapter staff at info.naswak@socialworkers.org or 907.332.6279. If a professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar is cancelled, every effort will be made by the Chapter staff to announce cancellations of a professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar due to the extreme inclement weather conditions in advance by phoning the registrants, and disseminating an e-mail notice. The Chapter Staff will contact all registrants within five (5) business days of the event cancellation date to notify them of rescheduling or a refund. In the event the professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar is cancelled while in progress, registrants will receive a full credit of their registration fees minus any non-refundable additional fees valid for one year to be utilized toward the rescheduled or other professional development workshops, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar sponsored by NASW-Alaska Chapter.
  • NASW-Alaska Chapter reserves the right to substitute presenters when necessary without any prior notification.
  • Any opinions, findings, recommendations or conclusions expressed by the author(s) or speaker(s) do not necessarily reflect the views of NASW-Alaska Chapter. This will be displayed on all professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar material for the chapter.
  • When a professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar is canceled by the chapter and a registrant transfers to another professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar and then the registrant cancels their attendance to the subsequent workshop a $15.00 non-refundable processing fee will be accessed.

Registration Process

  • All registrants must complete an NASW-Alaska Chapter Registration Form for professional development workshops or conferences:
    • Fill in all requested information on form.
    • Full payment is required at the time of registration. No registration will be processed without full payment.
  • When registering online, review the following process:
    • ONLINE: Visit the NASW-AK email announced links to register online or to view Professional Development Workshops or Conferences.
  • Registrant’s professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar fees are based on the current Membership category as listed in the Association’s Database System at the time of the registration. Membership status will be verified and credit card charges will be adjusted accordingly if necessary.
  • All Registration Forms will have the following language included: NOTE ON ACCOMMODATIONS: If you require accommodations to permit your attendance or participation, please provide a written request, along with a completed registration form and payment at least 30 business days prior to the registration deadline for the professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar. Requests received after the 30 day deadline may not be able to be processed or fulfilled in time for the activity. Send requests to NASW-AK Chapter PO Box 241292, Anchorage, AK 9952.

Registration Refunds/Credit/Transfers

  • If a registrant is unable to attend (i.e.-notification to the chapter office prior to, the day of, or not attending at all for the professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar) or registers for the wrong professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar, 75% of the paid registration fee minus any non-refundable additional fees will extend to the next available NASW Alaska Chapter professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar of the registrants choice within one year. The remaining 25% and any non-refundable additional fees will be applied to the original professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar to cover processing fees.
  • Registrants will receive no "partial refunds" for missing a portion of any professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar.
  • If a registrant has a personal or professional emergency, a written refund request must be received by the chapter office. Refund requests received 5 business days before the professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar will be considered for an 80% refund. The remaining 20% and any non-refundable additional fees will be retained by the chapter to cover processing fees.
  • Refunds will not be given after the program has been conducted and the participant has attended, received the material and knowledge of a professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar.
  • If a registrant requests a “transfer” to a designated workshop then all paid registration fees will be transferred minus any additional processing fees. Registrant is responsible for any additional professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar fees for the new professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar plus a $15.00 non-refundable processing fee which must be paid at the time of transfer and paid with a valid credit card.
  • If a registration is paid by two payer sources, NASW Alaska Chapter will acknowledge the first payment as a completed registration and paid in full for the program. Any duplication of a registration or duplication of payment will be subject to credit only, a refund will not apply.

Certificate of Attendance

  • During check-in for all professional development workshops or conferences, registrant must show valid picture ID and membership ID (if applicable) to receive credit for a professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar attendance.
  • Certificates of Attendance will be distributed at or within thirty (30) business days of the professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar.
  • Certificates of Attendance for a “live” webinar or teleconference will be issued upon completion of a professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar evaluation. Registrants will have thirty (30) business days to complete an evaluation and return to the chapter office. After 30 business days, the professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar file will be closed and all requests for production of the Certificates of Attendance will be charged a $15.00 non-refundable processing fee.
  • If a registrant must leave early or sign in late, the number of professional development hours will be adjusted to reflect the total number of hours of attendance at the end of the professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar. All registrants will be issued one (1) Certificates of Attendance (ce) per professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar. If a replacement copy is needed, a $15.00 processing fee will be incurred at the time of request.
  • If a webinar or conference call registrant does not answer all roll-calls, participate in the discussion, acknowledge staff’s inquiries, or contact the chapter office to acknowledge connection, a 10 question exam over the presentation will be provided upon request to the registrant to be completed within 5 business days of issuance. Registrant must successfully complete the exam with a passing score of 70 percent or above in order to receive a Certificate of Attendance. All webinar or conference call registrants must be authorized to utilize only one exam pursuant to this section per calendar year.

Notice to all potential Professional Development Workshop, Symposium, Conference, Conference call or Webinar Registrants

Registration and Refund policy subject to change without notice. Depending on publication date, Professional Development professional development workshop, symposium, conference, conference call or webinar marketing material may not reflect the most current Registration and Refund Policy. Please be advised that the most current Registration and Refund Policy applies to all NASW Alaska Chapter professional development workshops, symposiums, conferences, conference calls or webinar. To view the most current Registration and Refund contact the chapter office.

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PO Box 241292
Anchorage, AK 99524

National Member Services: 800-742-4089

Membership Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. ET

membership@socialworkers.org

NASW National: www.socialworkers.org

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