National Conference on Police Social Work

History of the National Conference on Police Social Work

The first National Conference on Police Social Work was held in October 2021. The conference emerged from the Bloomington Police Department (Indiana), Social Work & Law Enforcement (SWLE) Project Network members, due to the high volume of calls for guidance on Police Social Work that the Bloomington Police Department was receiving. The conference attracted more than 100 stakeholders and professionals, all interested in learning about social work and law enforcement practice. The Bloomington Police Department created the conference in 2021.

The Bloomington Police Department renamed the conference the National Association of Public Safety Social Workers in 2022. In 2023, the conference came under the umbrella of the Social Work and Law Enforcement (SWLE) Project, and reclaimed its original name, the National Conference on Police Social Work.

The conference combines the vision of the Bloomington Police Department and the SWLE Project to move forward in 2024. The National Conference on Police Social Work offers the opportunity for national leaders from the law enforcement and social work fields to explore and share successful methods and best practices for social workers and police departments to work together. The conference seeks to bridge communities at the national and state level in the 21st century through education, professional development, and networking. The conference brings together social workers, law enforcement, and community members through leading edge content from experts in the fields of social work and law enforcement.

The 5th National Conference on Police Social Work will be held May 27-29, 2026 in the Student Center, at ÿ�մ��.

Keynote Speaker: Kevin Fischer

Kevin Fischer is the Executive Director of NAMI Michigan and Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) International Michigan. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation ÿ�մ�� .�s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Crisis Intervention Team International is a community partnership of law enforcement, mental health and addiction professionals, Individuals who live with mental illness and/or addiction disorders, their families, and other partners to improve community responses to mental health crises.

Tentative Conference Schedule

The Michael J. Adanti Student Center at ÿ�մ�� (SCSU) is located at .

**Day 1 Wednesday, May 27, 2026**
Schedule	Location	Program
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.	3rd floor 313AB Ballroom	Registration and Networking Luncheon
12:30 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.	3rd floor 313AB Ballroom	Welcome Address (Honor Guard and Anthem)
12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.	3rd floor 313AB Ballroom	Opening Keynote: Kevin Fischer
1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.	3rd floor 313AB Ballroom	Opening Panel- Stabilize and Mobilize Crisis Intervention From Clients to Communities
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.		Breakout Sessions How Am I With Myself? Why Clinical Supervision Matters as a Brave Space for Truth, Tension, and Growth Mezzo matters: Bias, Bridges, and Building Better Narratives Elevate Your Mental ÿ�մ�� .�: Trauma-Informed Cognitive Strategies for Reducing Escalation and Recidivism Language Microaggressions Experienced by Bilingual Professionals in Legal Settings and Impact on Professional Identity, Team Dynamics, and Service Delivery
4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.	3rd floor 313AB Ballroom	Conference Information and Update

**Day 2 Thursday, May 28, 2026**
Schedule	Location	Program
8:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.	3rd floor 313AB Ballroom	Continental Breakfast and Welcome
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.		Breakout Session Who Holds the Holder? The Critical Role of Clinical Supervision in Police Social Work. Building Capacity for Youth Justice Trainings in CT Intern Realities Self-Care for Police Social Workers
10:45 a.m. - 11:45 p.m.	3rd floor 313AB Ballroom	ÿ�մ�� .�Us vs Them ÿ�մ�� .� Documentary-Viewing and Discussion With Cast Members
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.	3rd floor 313AB Ballroom	Lunch (On-site, Included)
1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.		Breakout Sessions Embedding Clinical Social Work in Law Enforcement: Practical Models, Ethical Boundaries, and Measurable Outcomes How Police Social Workers Change Perception, Practice, and Policy Linked Up with Linked: Building Collaborations and Communications Within the Differently Abled and Social Work Community Building a Police Social Work Hub: Bridging a Legislative Mandate to a Center
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.		Breakout Sessions Social Work Supervisory Strategies for Growth and Retention Shared Decision Making for Older Adolescents and Their Caregivers During Recognizing and Managing Boundaries in Police Social Work Practice Beyond the Moment: Micro and Mezzo Approaches to Crisis Intervention
3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.		Afternoon Breakout Sessions Elders in Crisis: Meeting Complex Needs with Alternative Response Models Introduction to Police Social Work: Immersive Learning Project with Undergraduate Social Work Students Engaging and Building Relationships: Working Respectfully and Effectively with LGBTQIA+ Persons Zen Den

**Day 3 Friday, May 29, 2026**
Schedule	Location	Program
8:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.	3rd floor 313AB Ballroom	Continental Breakfast and Greetings
8:45 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.		Morning Session: Healing in Partnership: Animal-Assisted Services for First Responders Through Attachment, Attunement, and Regulation
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.	3rd floor 313AB Ballroom	Breakout Session Law Enforcement Perceptions of Behavioral Health Collaborations Two Sides of the Same Badge: Practical Strategies for Police and Clinician Collaboration Across Cultures Working with Youth Boots on The Ground Capstone Celebration
11:15 p.m. - 12:15 p.m.	3rd floor 313AB Ballroom	Closing Keynote Rep. Jillian Gilchrest
12:15 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.	3rd floor 313AB Ballroom	Closing Remarks
12:30 p.m.		Safe Travels

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