2026 NASW-NE Annual Conference "Championing Community with Creativity"
Description
Join social workers, students, educators, advocates, and community leaders from across Nebraska and the region for the 2026 NASW Nebraska Annual Conference, September 24-25, 2026, at the Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. This premier professional development event offers engaging keynote presentations, innovative workshops, networking opportunities, and practical tools to strengthen your practice and advance the profession of social work. Whether you work in clinical practice, schools, healthcare, child welfare, aging services, policy, advocacy, or community-based settings, you'll gain valuable insights, earn continuing education credits, and connect with colleagues dedicated to creating positive change.
Registration opens July 15 and closes September 16, 2026. Secure your spot today and join us for two days of learning, inspiration, and professional connection as we work together to advance social work and social justice across Nebraska.
Room reservation information
Are you coming in from out of town? We have a room block available for our attendees.
Please use this link to book your room.
The Scarlet Hotel
2101 Transformation Drive
Lincoln, Nebraska, USA, 68508
Telephone: +1 531-300-6300
Directions: https://www.bing.com/maps/directions?FORM=HDRSC6&style=r
Conference agenda
- 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Adult ADHD Assessment: Resolve Diagnostic Dilemmas - Shelby Czarnick, LICSW, ADHD-CCSP - virtual option/main dining space
2 CE - Adult ADHD referrals are increasing and so are diagnostic gray areas. Many adults present with inattention, overwhelm, and executive dysfunction, but the underlying cause is not always ADHD alone. Symptoms may reflect sensory processing differences, slow processing speed, speech or auditory processing challenges, trauma-related adaptations, anxiety, or other co-occurring conditions. Without careful differentiation, clinicians risk both over- and under-diagnosis, leading to treatment plans that miss the true driver of impairment. This training provides a practical framework for differentiating ADHD from common look-alike and co-morbid presentations in adults. Participants will examine key overlap patterns between ADHD, anxiety, learning and processing differences, sensory dysregulation, and secondary executive dysfunction. Through case examples and structured clinical reasoning tools, attendees will learn how to analyze lifespan patterns, stimulation response, functional impairment, and error patterns to clarify diagnostic impressions.
- 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
"Healing Childhood Wounds with Redecision Therapy" Part 1 MMD - Michael Harsh, M.A., LIMHP, CTA - Conference Room A
CEU - 2 - In this breakout session participants will learn techniques to help heal many of the wounds of childhood and help clients overcome suicidal thoughts and desires. It will be both informational and experiential. Redecision Therapy is a powerful therapeutic intervention rooted in the theory of Transactional Analysis (TA) and Gestalt Therapy. TA begins with the fundamental belief that all persons have dignity and worth and therapists must be in touch with their own sense of dignity and worth and that of the client. It is in this relationship that profound change can occur in Redecision work. Redecision Therapy focuses on childhood wounds. The wounds of childhood are not stored cognitively; they are stored emotionally and somatically. What children do in a dysfunctional setting is for them “functional” because it helps them survive and cope, but in adulthood they often use the same strategies which block them from living happy, fulfilling lives. In order to heal these wounds, the client needs to experience the emotional/somatic parts of themselves. Redecision Therapy can be a powerful tool for shifting clients out to those old, no longer useful strategies using the creative, playful, resilient child within all of us to heal wounds and live free, joyful lives. Participants will also learn a TA technique for closing escape hatches. Clients are often troubled by destructive thoughts, such as suicide or homicide, even if those thoughts never progress to serious consideration or a plan. Such thoughts are often formed as a childhood strategy known as an escape hatch, which provides a child a way of escaping seemingly unbearable situations. An escape hatch gave the child, and now unconsciously the adult, a sense of safety. Once the escape hatches are closed, clients often feel freed of those destructive thoughts and experience a sense of relief.
- 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
"Tools, not just talk: CE-CERT and the skills of sustaining a career in the helping profession" Ethics - Jamie Bahm, MS, IMH-E/Toni Jensen, DSW, CSW - Conference Room B
CEU - 2 - Compassion fatigue. Burnout. Vicarious trauma. Moral Distress. Though these terms differ in definition, they all describe the emotional toll exacted upon professionals in helping professions. Whether in clinical practice, child welfare, the courts, advocacy, early childhood, health care, or education, professionals often face overwhelming exposure to trauma, stress, and systemic barriers that undermine a sense of purpose and leave professionals feeling depleted or disengaged, causing an ethical concern related to competence. This session explores CE-CERT (Components for Enhancing Career Experience and Reducing Trauma), an evidence-informed model designed by Dr. Brian Miller, to support professionals in navigating these challenges. This session is designed to provide an introduction to the CE-CERT framework. CE-CERT moves beyond awareness of secondary trauma by introducing acquirable, practical real-time emotion regulation strategies that can be used in the midst of daily work to sustain a career in the helping profession. CE-CERT's five skill domains offer accessible skills that serve as a buffer to mitigate the emotional and physical toll of the helping professions. Ultimately, the goal of CE-CERT is not merely to survive the work; rather, the goal is to have a vocation that is uniquely and deeply satisfying.
- 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Break - Trusted Life Choice sponsored YOGA and breathing session
Join our sponsor, Trusted Life Choices, and take a little break for some yoga and a little time to ground yourself. There will be snacks and beverages, and a chance to network and visit with old and new friends. This refreshing yoga break is led by Allison Bock, RYT200 instructor. Join us for a gentle 30-minute practice to support your own well-being. This session offers a quiet, supportive space to release physical tension, practice mindful breathing, and restore your mental energy. Allow yourself a moment of grace & gratitude through movement and breath. All skill levels are welcome; no experience or equipment needed.
- 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
"Before the intervention: A clinical readiness framework for complex mental health treatment" MMD - Beth Farrell, LIMHP, LCSW, CSATP - virtual option/main dining space
CEU - 2 - Effective therapy begins long before selecting a therapeutic intervention. Yet many clinicians are taught to identify a diagnosis and choose a treatment modality without first assessing whether the client’s nervous system is prepared to engage in that work. This can result in interventions that are technically appropriate but poorly timed, leading to frustration for both clinicians and clients. This workshop introduces a practical Clinical Readiness Framework designed to help clinicians determine when clients are prepared for cognitive, behavioral, or trauma-focused interventions—and when regulation, stabilization, or other preparatory work should come first. Participants will learn to recognize observable indicators of nervous system activation, identify when a client has shifted outside their window of tolerance, and adapt interventions in real time as readiness changes throughout a session. Rather than promoting a single therapeutic orientation, this framework integrates principles from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), polyvagal-informed care, and trauma-focused approaches. Emphasis is placed on understanding the function of behavior, recognizing treatment readiness, and selecting interventions based on what the client is capable of engaging with in the present moment. Using case examples, live decision-making exercises, and practical clinical scenarios, participants will develop greater confidence in recognizing when to regulate, when to teach, when to challenge, and when to process. Attendees will leave with an immediately applicable framework for improving treatment planning, strengthening therapeutic effectiveness, and responding more intentionally to complex mental health presentations.
- 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
"Healing childhood wounds with Redecision therapy" Part 2 MMD - Michael Harsh, M.A., LIMHP, CTA - Conference Room A
CEU - 2 - Part 2 from the earlier session
- 3:30 pm - 4:30 am
Just added! "Truth is Stranger Than Fiction" Ethics in today's world with Dr. Susan Mayerly, LIPC
This session will review the recent actions taken by licensure boards for unethical behavior of licensees. We will consider the actions taken by the licensee and how to avoid the same mistakes in your own practice by applying Codes of Ethics and considering state and federal regulations.
Interested in a discount on your registration? Sign up to volunteer!
https://doodle.com/sign-up-sheet/participate/db70fcef-b649-4ba5-b782-2142fc6a3889/select
2026 NASW Nebraska Conference Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are an important part of making the 2026 NASW Nebraska Annual Conference run smoothly. These opportunities are perfect for social work students who want to meet professionals from across Nebraska, support the conference, and get a behind-the-scenes look at a statewide professional event.
Volunteers will receive a 50-100% discount on registration based on the time they are volunteering at the conference.
Room Hosts: Remain in an assigned breakout room to welcome attendees and assist the presenter. Help speakers connect to AV equipment, confirm microphones and presentations are working, introduce the speaker, and manage session sign-in sheets used to verify attendance and continuing education (CE) participation.
Conference Runners: Help keep the conference running smoothly by assisting speakers, room hosts, conference planners, and registration volunteers as needed. Tasks may include delivering materials, locating supplies, relaying information, and handling quick errands throughout the event.
Welcome Bag Team: Help prepare Visit Lincoln welcome bags before the conference by stuffing each bag with conference lanyards and a designated swag item. This is a great short-term volunteer opportunity for those who may not be available during the full conference.
Setup & Teardown Team: Assist conference organizers with preparing the venue before attendees arrive and packing up at the conclusion of the event. Tasks may include arranging materials, signage, registration areas, sponsor displays, and other conference supplies.
50/50 Lottery Teams: Three teams of two students will sell 50/50 lottery tickets to conference attendees during designated times. Volunteers should be comfortable approaching and engaging attendees and explaining the fundraiser. Proceeds will support the NASW Nebraska Student Membership Fund, helping provide NASW memberships to Nebraska social work students.
Volunteers should be friendly, dependable, flexible, and comfortable helping wherever needed. No previous conference experience is required.
Lineup
Shelby Czarnick, LICSW, ADHD-CCSP
Shelby Rae Czarnick, LICSW, ADHD-CCSP, is a therapist, speaker, program builder, and founder of Essential Life Tools in Genoa, Nebraska. She helps clinicians, families, and organizations understand ADHD, neurodivergence, trauma, emotional regulation, and complex overlapping presentations through a practical, real-life lens. Shelby’s work focuses on moving beyond shame, blame, and checklists alone by helping professionals ask better questions, recognize hidden patterns, and choose supports that fit the actual need. Known for her warm, honest, and highly practical teaching style, she translates complex clinical concepts into clear assessment questions, treatment insights, and tools providers can use immediately. Her presentations are rooted in connection, regulation, strengths-based care, and creating environments where people can move from stuck to thriving.
Kelly Keller, CBSW
Kelly Keller has been working in the field of social work, social change and hospice for over 30 years. Her career started in the area of faith-based community organizing and social justice work in the areas of immigration, death penalty abolition work, anti-racism and economic justice. Currently working in the field of Hospice, Kelly continues to work on these issues and community resilience in a volunteer capacity including in her own Neighborhood Association, church-based outreach, Civic Nebraska, League of Women Voters and the Nebraska Social Worker's Legislative Advocacy committee. Kelly came to Braver Angels during the pandemic as she was looking for ways to overcome the rancor and demonization that was increasingly prevalent. She enthusiastically jumped in as the George Norris Alliance for a Better Nebraska (local chapter of Braver Angels) was formed and has recently become certified as a Moderator in addition to being a part of the Omaha Steering team.
Barbara Dewey, LICSW
Listening, acknowledging, working collaboratively to identify community needs has been a through line in Barb’s career path. She taught in urban schools, piloted the integration of special needs children into national Head Start programs, served as a union organizer, and became an international management consultant. After 20 years, she returned to Lincoln where she opened a children’s clothing store, adopted a sibling-set of three from foster care, and served as the Coordinator for the Council of Family Centers. She is a founding mother of Nebraska Foster and Adoptive Parent Association, Families Inspiring Families, and Parenting Across Color Lines. Barb recently retired after 20 years as a Clinical Social Worker. Barb says that her kids sent her back to school and that her clients led her to Braver Angels. Barb serves as Co-Chair of the Braver Angels Nebraska Alliance and continues to facilitate Circle of Security Parenting classes.
Jaiden Davis, MSW-S
Jaiden Davis is a Master of Social Work student at the Grace Abbott School of Social Work at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and serves as a Graduate Assistant to the Director of Social Work. Her professional interests include hospice, geriatric social work, and improving access to social services in rural communities. With a goal of returning to rural Central Nebraska, Jaiden is passionate about strengthening social work practices and resources in underserved areas. She has experience in medical social work, research, marketing, and is currently exploring rural social workforce access and community needs across Nebraska.
Dr. Susan Reay, EdD, LICSW
Dr. Susan Reay is a John Christensen Community Chair of Social Work and Director of the Grace Abbott School of Social Work at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Her research areas include ethics, licensure, and lifespan career development. Dr. Reay has 30 years of clinical experience and is dedicated to promoting ethical clinical social work mental practice.
Tricia Kingsley MSW
My name is Tricia Kingsley. I graduated from the University of Nebraska Omaha with my Masters in Social Work in 1994. After graduation I began providing therapeutic services for children and families in the child welfare and juvenile Justice systems. I continued that work until I stepped away when my oldest daughter, Mackenzie, was diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum. Two years later my son, Austin, was also diagnosed with Autism. Austin has a twin sister, Caitlin. I transitioned my work experiences to Disability Rights Nebraska where I did Special Education advocacy and investigated abuse and neglect at the Beatrice State Developmental Center. I return to the child welfare system and provided oversight of the education and Special Education services for chidren in the Child Welfare system. After 35 years in state and private organizations, I stepped away and joined Southeast Community College as faculty in the Human Services Program. I also adjunct in the Social Work program at the University of Nebraska Omaha. I continue to provide Special Education advocacy services to families through the Autism Family Network and in private practice.
April Viverette, PhD, MSW, MBA
April Viverette, PhD, MSW, MBA, LCSW, is an Assistant Professor of Social Work, licensed clinical social worker, researcher, speaker, and entrepreneur specializing in the intersection of social work, business, and organizational leadership. She helps social workers and behavioral health organizations build ethical, financially sustainable practices through leadership development, nonprofit management, private practice, and entrepreneurship. Drawing on experience in higher education, clinical practice, program evaluation, and organizational consulting, Dr. Viverette delivers practical, evidence informed strategies that bridge business principles with the values of the social work profession. Her scholarship focuses on behavioral health services, healthcare organizations, workforce development, and social work education. She is passionate about equipping social workers with the leadership and business competencies needed to strengthen organizations, expand access to care, and advance the profession.
Gina Simanek
Gina Simanek holds a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology and has dedicated more than 35 years to supporting individuals with brain injury and mental health challenges. A Licensed Mental Health Practitioner, she has served as the Brain Injury Association of Nebraska's Statewide Information and Referral Specialist since 2008 while also working at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's Disability Services Office. Throughout her career, Gina has provided outreach, advocacy, and support to individuals with brain injury and their families across Nebraska. Drawing on decades of firsthand experience, she understands the profound and lasting impact brain injury can have on every aspect of a person's life. Gina is a passionate advocate for increasing awareness, expanding access to services, and ensuring individuals with brain injury have the resources and support they need to live with dignity, independence, and hope.
Emme Hooks, PLHMP, PCMSW, MT-BC
Emme (they/them/theirs) is a white, Queer, Trans+, Neurodivergent, and Disabled person who works as a mental health provider and board-certified music therapist at a group practice in Omaha, Nebraska.They are passionate about creating affirming and accessible therapeutic experiences for LGBTQIA2S+, Autistic, and intellectually and/or developmentally disabled people of all ages, including providing gender affirming care evaluations and letters of support. They received a Bachelor’s in Music Therapy from Appalachian State University in North Carolina and a Master in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Outside of work, you can find them cooking, singing, playing the piano, hanging out with their dog, and doing crossword puzzles.
Beth Farrell, LCSW, LIMHP, CSATT
Elizabeth (Beth) Farrell, LCSW, LIMHP, CSATT is a licensed clinical social worker, licensed independent mental health practitioner, and co-owner of Thrive Collaborative Care in Omaha, Nebraska. She specializes in anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), chronic illness, neurodivergence, and the intersection of physical and mental health. Beth provides clinical supervision to developing therapists and is passionate about helping clinicians integrate evidence-based practice with compassionate, practical care. An early adopter of artificial intelligence in behavioral health, Beth teaches clinicians how to ethically and effectively integrate AI into clinical practice, supervision, education, and business operations while maintaining professional standards and client-centered care. Known for making complex topics accessible and engaging, she enjoys helping professionals connect the dots between emerging technology, clinical ethics, and real-world practice to improve outcomes for both providers and the communities they serve.
Jamie Bahm, MS, IMH-E
Jamie Bahm is an Assistant Project Director with the Nebraska Resource Project for Vulnerable Young Children at UNL's Center on Children, Families, and the Law. She leads the Lancaster County Safe and Healthy Families Initiative, a community coordinated response team addressing the intersection of domestic violence and child welfare. Jamie also partners with juvenile court jurisdictions to integrate therapeutic practices into court processes and contributes to infant and early childhood mental health policy initiatives in Nebraska. Jamie is endorsed as both a Reflective Practice FAN (Facilitating Attuned Interactions) and CE-CERT (Components for Enhancing Career Experience and Reducing Trauma) trainer. Her previous experience includes providing technical assistance to states integrating behavioral health into primary care and serving in supervisory and case management roles with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Jamie holds bachelor's and master's degrees in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Nebraska.
Toni Jensen, DSW, CSW
Toni Jensen serves as an Associate Professor of Social Work, as well as the Program Director for the MSW program at Nebraska Wesleyan University. Toni teaches subject matter related to human development, administration, supervision, grant writing, public policy and leadership. Toni received her DSW from the University of St. Thomas in 2020 and her MSW/MPA from UNO in 2007. In 2003 Toni received her BSW from Dana College.
Elizabeth Davis, DSW, MSW, LCSW
Dr. Elizabeth M. Davis, DSW, MSW, LCSW, is a behavioral health clinician and prevention professional with more than 20 years of experience working with military service members, veterans, and their families. Her clinical career has centered on suicide risk assessment, crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and behavioral health treatment across military, medical, and community settings. She is currently serving as a Behavioral Health Officer in the U.S. Nebraska Army National Guard and previously held senior clinical leadership roles with the U.S. Public Health Service, including Chief of Embedded Behavioral Health Services, where she oversaw multidisciplinary care, and ensured quality behavioral health services for service members and families. Her experience also includes supporting individuals impacted by trauma, domestic violence, and deployment-related stressors. Dr. Davis previously served as Program Director for the Social Work Program at Union University in Lincoln, Nebraska, where she provided academic leadership and strengthened community partnerships. Across her roles, she integrates clinical expertise with prevention-focused, community-based approaches to improve behavioral health outcomes.
Michael Harsh, M.A., LIMHP, CTA
Michael Harsh, M.A., LIMHP, CTA, is a Counselor at Great Oaks Counseling, LLC in Omaha, Nebraska, having practiced for over 25 years. Michael is a Certified Transactional Analyst (International Transactional Analysis Association) and has a certificate in Redecision Therapy from the Southeast Institute. He is also certified as a Transactional Analysis Practitioner Instructor through the North American Transactional Analysis Association. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the International Transactional Analysis Foundation. In addition to his background in Transactional Analysis and an M.A. in Counseling (University of Nebraska, Omaha), Michael has a B.A. in Philosophy (University of Colorado, Boulder), and an M.A. in Christian Spirituality (Creighton University).
Tina Rockenbach
Tina Rockenbach is the Director of Policy and Advocacy at RISE, a Nebraska nonprofit dedicated to breaking generational cycles of incarceration through successful reentry. With nearly 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, public policy, and advocacy, she has worked to remove barriers to basic needs and advance policies that promote socioeconomic mobility for Nebraskans. Tina has advocated at both the Nebraska Legislature and Capitol Hill and was invited to participate in a 2023 White House summit on the impacts of post-COVID inflation on Nebraska communities. Formerly the Executive Director of Community Action of Nebraska, she brings extensive experience in poverty, public policy, and systems change. Tina is currently pursuing a master's degree in Criminal Justice Policy and Administration at Penn State University, where she continues to deepen her work at the intersection of poverty, advocacy, criminal justice, and successful community reentry.
Allison Bock - yoga instsructor
My name is Allison. I am a RYT 200-certified instructor and have taught off and on for over 10 years. I focus mainly on Ashtanga, Yin, and Adaptive Yoga. My training has included making yoga accessible to all, making space for the individual, and slowing the body down through movement and breath. I currently work at the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools, working hand in hand with Social Workers like yourself! When I am not working or teaching, I am spending my time with my 7-year-old son and two cats. We spend a lot of time outdoors, taking care of our houseplants, and learning how to cook fun new meals!
Colby Coash
Colby Coash is the Associate Executive Director for the Nebraska Association of School Boards, providing leadership and government relations work on behalf of elected leaders across Nebraska. This work gives him an opportunity to engage with policymakers and elected leaders using his experience as a former two-term State Senator. During his tenure in the Nebraska Unicameral, Coash championed various causes, including child welfare, tourism, criminal justice reform, and support for people with disabilities. Prior to his public service, Colby worked for many years in the field of developmental disabilities while operating group homes and emergency shelters for kids with disabilities. There, he learned the value of advocacy and inclusion in all settings while working with the most vulnerable citizens of his State. He has spoken regionally about his passion for advocacy and taking a simple approach to leadership. His work has taken him from group homes to the Capitol. His training as an actor allows him to use storytelling to share his passion for advocacy and his simple approach to leadership. Colby speaks nationally in the areas of advocacy, employee engagement, performance coaching, communication, and leadership. Colby holds a Masters Degree in Leadership Education and is an adjunct faculty member at Doane University and the Bryan College of Health Sciences. He is married with one son and enjoys filmmaking, having appeared in dozens of short and feature films. His debut memoir, Running Naked, Surviving the Legacy of Family in Rural Nebraska, was released in 2024 and won the Nebraska Book Award.
Petra Wahlqvist
Petra Wahlqvist is the Program Director of NAMI Nebraska. In her role, Petra strengthens and expands NAMI Nebraska’s education and support programs in Lincoln and across the state. Petra is a nonprofit professional with over 25 years of experience, with particular expertise and experience in community building, welcoming and belonging, strategic planning, and interdisciplinary programs. She is the co-founder of BLIXT ARTS LAB, a nonprofit organization in Lincoln. Former leadership positions include Executive Director of Nebraskans for the Arts and Director of Education and Community Engagement at the Lied Center for Performing Arts. She is originally from Sweden and travels there about three times a year to see family and friends.
Miranda Stoll
Miranda Stoll, LIMHP, LADC, is a trauma-focused mental health practitioner, educator, and consultant specializing in trauma, nervous system regulation, resilience, and the psychological impact of high-stress helping professions. She is EMDR Certified and an EMDR Consultant-in-Training, with additional training in Synergetic Play Therapy, DBT, TF-CBT principles, somatic interventions, parts work, and polyvagal-informed practice. Miranda works extensively with first responders, law enforcement professionals, veterans, survivors of interpersonal trauma, families, and rural Nebraska communities. Her approach bridges clinical knowledge with practical, body-based strategies professionals can apply immediately in their work and their own lives. Miranda is passionate about moving conversations beyond traditional self-care toward a deeper understanding of how chronic stress, trauma exposure, grief, moral distress, and repeated responsibility affect the brain, body, identity, relationships, and capacity to remain connected to meaningful work.
Dr. Susan Meyerly, LIPC
With her experience as an educator, regulatory board member, therapist, author and inspirational speaker, Dr. Susan makes reviewing ethical protocols interesting, engaging, and relevant. Dr. Susan has a rich background in ethics and integrity which created the foundation for Ethics Rock! She has served as chair for the Nebraska Board of Mental Health Practice, elected President of the American Association of State Counseling Boards, appointed to the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards Telehealth Committee, and served on the Board of Directors for the Federation of Associations of Regulatory Boards.
Sponsors and Exhibitors
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