Forensic and Legal Social Work

This information is especially relevant for social workers engaging client populations that interface with the criminal and juvenile legal systems, including but not limited to: assessing and treating survivors or offenders of domestic violence, sexual offenses, substance use/addiction, and youth violence. Service settings may include prisons or jails, residential centers, outpatient settings, supervision services (such as diversion, probation, or parole), or other linked systems, such as child welfare. Participants will gain an improved understanding of the major processes – policing, courts, and corrections / re-entry – and the related dynamics that clients (and their families) face and engage in a number of activities and discussions to practice and enhance abilities to work with clients.

CEs: 8

Please note date changes.

Dates : Tuesdays, October 10, 2023, October 24, 2023, November 7, 2023, November 21, 2023 (Registrants must attend all 4 sessions to receive CE credit)

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Increase knowledge of criminal and juvenile legal system processes and client experiences (in policing, courts, and corrections / re-entry).
• Develop practice skills for engaging, assessing, and treating criminal and juvenile legal system-involved clients (and clients at-risk of involvement) in multiple practice settings.
• Improve the ability to navigate ethical dilemmas related to working with criminal and juvenile legal system-involved clients (including clients at-risk of involvement), as well as the systems and professionals from an interdisciplinary standpoint.
• Critique the contemporary role of the social work profession in engagement in criminal and juvenile legal system reform.

Tuition

• $200 -Registration Fee
• $160 – Alumni, Field Instructor, FFL, Adjunct Rate
• $140 – Veterans Rate/Adelphi School of Social Work Students

Faculty Bio

Dr. Jacoba Rock

Dr. Jacoba Rock (she/they) is a Social Work faculty member at Boise State University. She holds a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies, with a doctoral minor in Criminology, from the Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Rock received her M.S.W. from the University of Denver, where she also earned a graduate certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution, and her B.A. in Sociology from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she also received an undergraduate certificate in Peace and Conflict Studies.

Dr. Rock’s primary experience as a forensic social work practitioner and scholar focuses on needs, strengths, pathways, and treatment opportunities with incarcerated juveniles and young adults. She has provided assessment, consultation, and testimony as a legal expert on over 50 cases of juvenile life without parole and other cases of juvenile sentencing in adult court, as well as a small number of death penalty cases, and supervised many social workers and social work interns in these capacities. Dr. Rock is also a leader in state- and national- level policy initiatives and program development opportunities that initiate or enhance trauma-informed care, mental health service access, family involvement, and re-entry opportunities for incarcerated and system-involved populations. Over the past fifteen years, Dr. Rock has also held positions as a group treatment provider for young adults with substance-related violations, individual and group provider in a state youth corrections system, counselor in a juvenile diversion program, and program coordinator for two restorative justice programs (one based in a police department, and another based in a university student conduct office), as well as previously holding assessment specialist and caseworker roles in the child welfare system.

Dr. Rock is also invested in progressing social work education and continuing education through a focus on equity, innovation, and collaboration. She is an advocate for making a social work degree accessible and optimally valuable for both practitioner and community. Dr. Rock teaches across the social work practice, policy, and research curriculum, and has taught at B.S.W., M.S.W., and D.S.W. levels since 2012, including for Boise State University and Simmons University (current), and University of Denver and Juniata College (prior).

Credentialling Information

Adelphi University School of Social Work is an approved provider for continuing education credits for the following:

• Social Workers
• LMHC
• LMFT
• CASAC Renewal upon approval
• APA Psychology
• LCAT
• NYSED Psychology

Successful completion for the award of approved continuing education credits requires attendance at the entire training/workshop and submission of a completed evaluation form.

See full credentialing information and CEUs

Cancellation Policy

Unfortunately, we cannot provide refunds for cancellations made seven working days or fewer before the event for any reason—or for no-shows. We can provide credit towards a future workshop up to 24 hours before the event. After that, no credit will be issued.

Accessibility Statement

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Adelphi University require that all events be accessible. To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the event host identified on the event webpage; please allow for a reasonable time frame. The event host, when necessary, will collaborate with the Student Access Office.