Portraits of Professional CAREgivers

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This event is FREE and open to the public. Join us in-person. (We are at capacity for joining via Zoom. This option is no longer available.)

Portraits of Professional CAREgivers: Their Passion, Their Pain is a documentary film based on interviews with nurses, social workers, clinical psychologists, doctors, firefighters, first responders who rescue, assist, and help to heal the injured and traumatized—and also tell their own remarkable and often painful stories. The film takes us on a journey into a world the public rarely sees, depicting emotional costs experienced by professional care providers and probing the emotional consequences of professional public service.  

The film asks the question: How are professional caregivers and first responders affected emotionally and physically? Who helps them? Viewers discover that engaged, empathic caregiving can sometimes be an occupational hazard; we explore the painful and human sides of these professions and vulnerable responses to trauma -- Compassion Fatigue -- also known as Secondary Traumatic Stress or Vicarious Trauma. The film also addresses high levels of career satisfaction and professional meaning that caregivers experience. Ultimately, the film provides ways to cope and recover from toxic stress in the workplace. 

“A powerful and poignant film that touches on a subject that is frequently ignored. The film covers so many aspects of secondary trauma in a meaningful and poignant way. It also offers hope.”

-Donald M. Friedman, M.D.

Panelists will respond to the film, acknowledging highlights of the subject of secondary trauma and staff resiliency. The audience will have an opportunity to engage with their own observations, experiences and questions.

Objectives:

Participants will be able to identify: 

1. Compassion Fatigue/ Secondary Trauma and 5 symptoms of it 
2. Three or more Structural Models of Organizational Support for Staff 
3. Examples of Compassion Fatigue—either from one’s personal experiences or observation of colleagues 
4. Experiences of Compassion Satisfaction in one’s work 
5. One action step to create a more supportive workplace environment

Agenda:

6:30 p.m. Doors Open and Sign-in 
7:00 p.m. Welcome and Introductions
7:10 p.m. Film
8:00 p.m. Panel Discussion 
8:30 p.m. Closing Remarks

In-Person Location:

Bryn Mawr College
Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research | KL Conference Room
300 Airdale Rd.
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
(LINK)

OR via Zoom  (We are at capacity for joining via Zoom. This option is no longer available.)

Those who registered as attending via Zoom will be provided a Zoom link in a separate email the week of April 17th.

CEUs: 1.5 (FREE)
Those seeking CEUs will be required to complete a program evaluation at the close of the program. 

Welcome/Discussant: 
Janet Shapiro, PhD, MA, MSW is Dean, and Mary Chase Hale Professor of Social Work and Social Science at the Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research at Bryn Mawr College. Dr. Shapiro’s research and practice is focused on the application of developmental theory to models of practice with children, adolescents and families, early adversity and trauma on neurobiological development. Her most recent research has focused on trauma informed approaches in infant and early childhood mental health, especially attachment and healing relationships as protective factors for children and adolescents with experiences in early adversity. Dr. Shapiro recently led a study through community-campus partnership focused on trauma-informed care approaches in homelessness services from a provider/human services practitioner perspective.

Moderators:
Tamarah Moss, PhD, MPH, MSW Dr. Moss has a PhD in Social Work from Howard University and is currently on faculty at the Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research, Bryn Mawr College. Dr Moss’ scholarship is at the intersection of health and mental health service delivery, culturally responsive and equitable evaluation, community-based practice and training, as well as social work education. As a community-engaged scholar she has administered trainings on trauma-informed approaches for multi-disciplinary practitioners and organizations. She also continues research utilizing community-campus partnerships both in the United States and internationally.

Rodney Whittenberg is an Emmy Award winning composer and an Emmy nominated film producer. He is also a multi-instrumentalist, audio engineer, sound designer, music producer, writer, podcast producer, film director, editor, producer, and educator. Rodney is the founder of Melodyvision, a full-service media production company that serves as a platform for him to bring fresh perspectives to each client and project while adding value that results in creative solutions for often complex problems. Rodney has produced and directed the award-winning documentary Voices of Ages, produced and co-directed the Emmy nominated Portraits of Professional Caregivers - their Passion, their Pain and the award-winning documentary Angels and Saints - Eros and Awe.

Panelists: 
Vic Compher, MSS, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience in providing training to social workers and other professional care providers. He is the creator of a widely offered workshop on compassion fatigue, “When Trauma or Death Occurs on the Caseload: Ways of Supporting Staff and Promoting Learning.” Vic is a graduate of the Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research, author of Family Centered Practice: the Dance Beyond the Family System (Human Sciences Press/ Plenum) and has produced 5 documentary films on social themes, including peacemaking, positive aging, intergenerational learning, secondary trauma, sexuality and religion. 

Pam Kasinetz, LCSW is a graduate of Temple University, Pam Kasinetz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 25 years’ experience working in behavioral health and substance abuse settings. Currently, Pam is a Corporate Clinical Director at Resources for Human Development, working with various mental health, substance use and homeless services programs across the state of Pennsylvania. Her primary focus in this role is implementing and evaluating evidenced-based and emerging best practices in community settings with a diverse work force. Pam’s passion and focus is creating Trauma-Informed programs that prioritize the health and well-being of staff, clients, families, and communities to promote long-term recovery and healing. Pam also has a private practice with a specialty in working with individuals in caregiving professions. 

Sebrina Tate, MSW, MS is a native Philadelphian with nearly 30 years experience working as an administrator in various aspects of the social work field including Mental and Behavioral Health, Housing, Education, Social Services, and Community Relations. In addition, she was previously the primary evaluator for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant awarded to the School district of Philadelphia for several years. She joined Bebashi after leaving her role as Director of Student Services at a small for-profit company that provides behavioral support to primarily autistic students throughout the state of Pennsylvania. In her current role as Executive Director, she has focused her efforts on ensuring that uninsured and underinsured residents of the city of Philadelphia receive the services they need to close the health disparity gaps that exist in Black and brown, LGBTQI, and other underrepresented groups in the city through education, nutrition, and preventive healthcare services. Sebrina received an MSW from Howard University and a MA in Criminal Justice with a concentration on Applied Behavior Analysis from Saint Joseph’s University.