This presentation will cover history of the LGBTQIA+ community, diversity within the community, and how to make your practice or organization more inclusive. While the topic range is broad, the presentation is meant to appeal to learners from all different backgrounds and knowledge bases. Through learning about history, diversity, and inclusion, you will be more aware of any implicit biases that exist, and meet participants at any point in their journey of cultural awareness, competency, or humility.
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Presenter:
Justin Bennett is a Missouri native and Licensed Clinical Social Worker who discovered his calling for public service over 15 years ago. While hospice ignited his passion for the field, he would go on to spend the majority of his career providing much needed state and federal funded mental health services. He is passionate about mental health care being free of barriers and stigma. While his practice has always involved direct care, he’s worked to change policies and procedures at departmental and state levels to improve access to care. He has taken an active role in advancing the social work profession through advocacy and in developing rules and regulations to improve practice. He also believes in educating and mentoring the next generation of social workers, and as such has taught at a local School of Social Work for over a decade. He has led a variety of professional speaking engagements to help other professionals grow their knowledge and to offer space for them to share their perspective. His commitment to the field of social work and those served has led him to his current role coordinating admissions for a federal agency’s substance abuse program, to serve as a member of a committee governing the practice of social work across the state, and to educate social work students on the ethics of diagnosing and treating mental health conditions. Most recently, he became the owner of Mindful Perspective LLC, where he will help people and organizations find balance through developing perspective in the many facets of their life and practice.