Homeless Outreach: Taken it to the Streets

Central Region Educational Meeting

1 CEU - may be counted as Cultural Responsiveness and Clinical

Speakers: Denis McGuinness, MSW, LICSW, St Cloud VA; Pam Illg, Stearns Co Outreach Social Worker; Crystal Petersen, LSW, Social Worker 2, Stearns Co Human Services

The speakers will discuss the perception of homelessness, what homelessness looks like in Central MN, triggers of homelessness, barriers to leaving homelessness, how outreach Social Workers approach people who are experiencing homelessness, dying with dignity, and more.

About the Speakers:

Denis McGuinness has worked in the human service field since 1990,  graduated from Temple University in 1998 and credentialed as an LICSW in 2007. Denis initially started work with children and families, in school settings and then shifted over to the geriatric field doing assessments for dementias, to serving Veterans who were experiencing homelessness since fall of 2010. Denis has taught at St Cloud State University in the Social Work department, and does presentations on dementia and homelessness. In addition, Denis has been involved in a national Social Work mentor program and supervised LGSW Social Workers for their clinical licensure.   Fun facts about Denis: “I have lived on both coast several time as well as the middle of this county twice and lived in Europe as well.  Social Work is my second career, I was an electrician first but knew it was not my vocation.  My hobby/therapy is building, including my house and a timber frame project in Albany MN.  And finally my passion is sailing, nothing heals my soul better then spending time in the ocean.”

Pam Illg has double Bachelor degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology and has 30 years experience in Human Services including: Child protection, emergency on-call after hours response service, probation, licensing Adult foster homes, corporate adult foster homes, child foster care and day care homes in Stearns County, Stearns County PATH outreach Social Worker, Adult Mental Health case management, Release Advance Planning team member and SOAR trained provider. She was also a member of the Community Health Improvement Plan- CAT team and a Co-leader of Community Action Team for the St Cloud area.  

Crystal Petersen has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from St. Cloud State University and is a licensed social worker with over 18 years of experience, over 11 of those with Stearns County. Crystal has been on the HOME Team doing outreach mainly with families since April 2023. Prior to joining the Home Team, Crystal worked in the Family and Children’s Division with children and youth in foster care and as Adult Mental Health Targeted Case Manager. Before coming to Stearns County, Crystal worked at a non-profit agency that focused on improving child care quality. Crystal also coordinated their program for grandparents and other relatives raising relative children.

Registration:

Free for members - REGISTER HERE

$15 for Not-Yet-Members - REGISTER HERE

THIS EVENT IS VIRTUAL

All social workers are welcome to register. However, content may be specific to Central MN

Central MN Region Educational Meetings

Every 1st Tuesday of the month from 5-6 p.m. via Zoom

FREE for Members, $15 for not-yet-members (1 CEU)

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