Wednesday, December 2, 2026 - 12:00-1:00 PM CT (Virtual via Zoom)
Presenter: Melissa Russiano, LICSW, LCSW
1.0 CEU - Ethics
No social worker expects to become suddenly unable to practice. Yet illness, injury, and other unforeseen events can leave clients, colleagues, and practices without direction if no plan is in place. Inspired by the presenter's unexpected hospitalization and six-day stay on a ventilator, this session explores the ethical imperative of professional wills, continuity planning, and recognizing the cumulative eff ects of chronic stress on ethical decision-making. Participants will examine how proactive preparation protects clients, families, and professional legacies while strengthening resilience, reducing risk, and promoting ethical practice long before a crisis occurs.
Learning Objectives:
- Evaluate the ethical responsibilities of social workers related to professional wills, continuity of care, practice interruption, and client protection during unexpected incapacity.
- Analyze how cumulative occupational stress, compassion fatigue, and chronic over functioning increase vulnerability to ethical decision-making challenges and professional impairment.
- Develop a personalized action plan that includes key components of a professional will and additional strategies to strengthen ethical preparedness, professional resilience, and continuity of client care.