NASW-TX: Advancing Decolonization in Social Work: Principles & Practices for Change

Course overview

WHY DECOLONIZE SOCIAL WORK Decolonizing social work involves challenging and changing the dominant narratives, power structures, policies, and practices that perpetuate colonial ideologies, oppression, and inequalities within the field of social work and broader society. As social workers, we frequently encounter challenges when providing mental health services within a system that prioritizes pathology, despite our training to emphasize strengths. We've observed how the DSM pathologizes factors like poverty, sexual orientation, race, and gender. The presence of systemic racism and the influence of the medical industrial complex highlight the importance of decolonizing our social work practice to align with our fundamental values. It is crucial for social workers to prioritize this initiative to equip future generations in advocating for historically marginalized clients within systems that were not originally designed to support them. BACKGROUND In January 2020, the APA Board of Trustees (BOT) issued an apology to its members, patients, their families, and the public for fostering discriminatory actions within the APA and promoting racist practices in psychiatric treatment for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). As the oldest national physician association in the country, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) is taking a crucial step toward addressing racism within the field of psychiatry. This includes acknowledging and taking responsibility for both direct and indirect acts of racism. Furthermore, in October 2021, the American Psychological Association also apologized to People of Color for its role in promoting, sustaining, and failing to challenge racism, racial discrimination, and human hierarchy in the United States. These apologies mark significant moments in the effort to address systemic racism and were followed by similar acknowledgements within other professional organizations. We must keep the momentum going. COURSE OBJECTIVES By the conclusion of the program, attendees can expect to 1. Describe the colonial origins of our current mental health system 2. Explore ethical and professional responsibility in serving BIPOC populations 3. Formulate a plan for decolonizing their individual social work practices TOPICS COVERED 1. The history of psychiatry in America 2. How psychiatry and systemic racism intersected in the first DSM 3. What decolonization is and why it's necessary 4. How to begin the process of decolonization 5. How to advocate for agency changes 6. How decolonization is an essential part of cultural competency 7. Ethical responsibilities as it relates to cultural competency