麻豆区

Social Work Practice with Immigrant Communities:  Addressing Trauma, Building Trust and Resilience

FRIDAY, January 30, 2026
10:00 am 鈥� 12 pm (eastern time)
Live Webinar on Zoom
(You will need to register to receive login information)

Registration: 2 CEU Credit Hours
General:  Through Jan. 20: $50; Jan. 21-29: $60
Wurzweiler Alumni and Current WSSW Practicum Instructors: Through Jan. 30: $40; Jan. 21-29: $50 
All Current Students: $15

Registration closes on 1/29/26 at 5:00 Eastern Time (EST)

Our country has struggled with accepting and integrating immigrants with compassion, especially those from south of the border. This session offers a trauma-informed, culturally responsive discussion to better prepare social workers for clinical practice in schools, mental health, and healthcare settings. 

Vivian Morales will apply culturally responsive, trauma-informed approaches to working with immigrant communities through team collaboration. 

Lissi Garci will consider the gang violence, community unrest, devasting poverty, and abuse that leads families to make the heart-wrenching decision to flee and begin the difficult journey to the US. She will explore the lived experiences of undocumented youth, the mental health impacts of legal insecurity and family separation, and ethical, strengths-based clinical approaches that center dignity, resilience, and social justice. 

Anthony Cruz will examine the impact of recent immigration policies on immigrant families, service providers, and community agencies. 

Learning Objectives

Participants will be better able to:

1. Recognize the scope of social work practice with immigrant communities.
2. Identify key psychosocial stressors affecting immigrant communities.
3. Apply trauma-informed, strengths-based, and culturally responsive clinical frameworks.
4. Understand how to exercise legal rights when being stopped or when witnessing an enforcement operation.
5. Appreciate the role of collaboration among social workers, legal service providers, and community organizations.

Presenters

Vivian K. Morales Narvaez, LCSW is Manager of Social Work Services at the Central American Refugee Center (CARECEN) in Long Island, NY. Vivian is an immigrant twice over, first leaving her native Colombia and moving to Spain as a teenager. During her studies in Italy, she developed a passion for helping those with the greatest need, becoming involved in social welfare initiatives with under-privileged children and families in Spain, Cuba, and Peru. 

When Vivian immigrated to the US in 2012, she earned her MSW from Adelphi University while working full-time with at-risk communities. She joined CARECEN in 2020, where she created its social work program, and now serves as social work manager. Vivian understands the challenges that immigrant communities face, and supports clients in navigating those obstacles, while finding meaningful solutions through mental health support and empowerment.

Lissi Garc铆a, LMSW is a clinical supervisor and social worker at Abbott House, a Westchester County-based children鈥檚, family, and disability services organization. Additionally, she works with immigrant youth as a school social worker in Mamaroneck, NY. 

For the past 15 years, she has worked across settings, providing support and advocacy for undocumented clients, children, and families.  As a supervisor and direct practitioner to undocumented school aged children, she knows firsthand the journey to healing that young people face in a new country. Lissi earned her MSW from Lehman College-CUNY.

Anthony Cruz is a Pro Bono Supervisor and U.S. Department of Justice Accredited Representative for immigrants at the Central American Refugee Center (CARECEN). Anthony earned a master鈥檚 degree in Human Rights and has over 11 years of experience in immigration advocacy and legal support. 

His advocacy includes assisting individuals and families navigating complex immigration proceedings. Throughout his career, he has worked on diverse cases, however, his most rewarding and impactful experience has been advocating for detained minors, ensuring that their rights are protected and their voices are heard within the immigration system.

Podcast

Rabbis, chaplains, and social workers are often called on to provide spiritual care near life鈥檚 end. Whether in response to serious illness, advanced cognitive or physical decline in old age, or unexpected, tragic violence, health care professionals and clergy need to respond compassionately and effectively with families facing spiritual, emotional, and existential crises. Clips from Wurzweiler School of Social Work鈥檚 鈥淪pirituality Near the End of Life鈥� Conference in July 2019 include leading clergy, chaplains, and social workers offering their knowledge, skills, and wisdom to assist professionals seeking to better integrate spiritual care into their professional and community work.

Episode 1

Episode 2