Ocean City Ethics Symposium

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Date: Thursday April 9th 2026
Location: Princess Royale Oceanfront Resort, Ocean City, Maryland
Venue Capacity: Ballroom seating for up to 300 attendees

Purpose & Goals: This one-day symposium will provide social workers with a deep and engaging exploration of contemporary ethical issues impacting the profession. Through two dynamic workshops, attendees will gain insight into emerging ethical dilemmas, reinforce foundational values, and enhance their ability to navigate the complexities of today’s practice environments. The symposium will also provide an opportunity for networking, community building, and resource sharing among Maryland-based social work professionals. This Ethics Symposium will provide a timely, thought-provoking, and professionally enriching experience for Maryland’s social workers. By combining cutting-edge topics with interactive learning and community engagement, the NASW-MD Chapter will reaffirm its commitment to supporting ethical excellence across all areas of social work practice.

Program Layout

Time	Activity	Presenter
7:00 AM – 8:30 AM	Registration & Continental Breakfast	NASW-MD Chapter
8:30 AM – 8:45 AM	Welcome Remarks & Announcements	Karessa Proctor, BSW, MSW
8:45 AM – 12:00 PM	Morning Workshop (including 15-minute break): Part 1. Title: “The Ethics of Innovation: Artificial Intelligence, Documentation Integrity, and Safeguarding Client Privacy”	Dawn M. Hobdy, MSW and Andrea Murray, LICSW
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM	Networking Lunch (Buffet or Plated)	NASW-MD Chapter Staff and Ethics Committee
1:00 PM – 4:15 PM	Afternoon Workshop (includes 15-minute break) Part 2. Title: “The Ethics of Innovation: Artificial Intelligence, Documentation Integrity, and Safeguarding Client Privacy”	Dawn M. Hobdy, MSW and Andrea Murray, LICSW
4:15 PM – 4:30 PM	Closing Remarks & Raffle Basket Announcements	Karessa Proctor, BSW, MSW
4:30-5:30pm	Break
5:30-6:30pm	Optional event: Business Card Swap Happy Hour/Reception	NASW Ethics Committee

Title: “The Ethics of Innovation: Artificial Intelligence, Documentation Integrity, and Safeguarding Client Privacy”

Presenters: Dawn M. Hobdy, MSW and Andrea Murray, LICSW

Description: As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in healthcare and human services, social workers must grapple with both its potential and its pitfalls. This 6-hour, beginner-level workshop explores how AI tools are entering practice—from clinical documentation to assessment support—and the ethical questions that accompany them. Together, participants will explore strategies for ensuring compliance with professional values and the NASW Code of Ethics while protecting client privacy, maintaining accurate records, and addressing bias in machine-generated content. Participants will also consider how technology reshapes power dynamics, informed consent, and professional accountability in practice.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

Demonstrate basic knowledge of AI and its use in social work
Apply relevant sections of the NASW Code of Ethics to evaluate appropriate use of emerging technologies in social work practice.
Identify and analyze ethical risks related to the use of AI in assessments, communications, documentation, and other critical areas of social work practice.
Develop strategies to safeguard client confidentiality and uphold informed consent when using digital or AI-driven tools.
Critically assess issues of bias, accuracy, and equity in AI-generated content and their implications for ethical social work practice.

CEUs: 6 Ethics CEUs

Additional Features of the Conference

Resource Table: NASW-MD literature, advocacy materials, and sponsor resources will be available throughout the day.
Raffle Baskets: Attendees will have the opportunity to win curated wellness, professional development, and self-care baskets, announced during closing remarks.
Breakfast and Lunch: Hot meals provided with your registration
Networking: Business Card Swap Happy Hour/Reception

Hotel Block Information

NASW-MD has blocked off both Ocean View/Pool View rooms and Oceanfront rooms.
Hotel Number: 410-734-2073
Address: 9100 Coastal Hwy, Ocean City, MD 21842
Hotel website: https://princessroyale.com/

Hotel block reservation

SUITE CHECK-IN TIME: NASW-MD staff check-in time is after 2:00 pm on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Check-in time for other guests is after 5:00 pm. Guests arriving before 5:00 pm will be accommodated as rooms become available.

SUITE CHECK-OUT TIME: Check-out time is before 11am. Arrangements can be made for baggage storage beyond 11am

Presenters

Dawn M. Hobdy, MSW

Dawn M. Hobdy, former Vice President of Ethics, Diversity, and Inclusion at the National Association of Social Workers, has over 25 years of experience in developing ethics content and conducting training. A renowned presenter, she has spoken at more than 250 national and international conferences, recognized for her compassion, expertise, and engaging style. Ms. Hobdy has served as Ethics Commissioner for the International Federation of Social Workers and co-chaired the CSWE Ethics Track. She has contributed to various task forces, including the ASWB International Technology Task Force and the NASW Code of Ethics Revisions Task Force. She has led significant efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in social work, advocating for improved representation across different demographics in membership and leadership. Recently, she founded SWSS LLC, a consulting firm supporting social workers. Ms. Hobdy teaches Gerontology and Human Behavior at Howard University and Ethics at the National Catholic School of Social Service. She holds a diversity and inclusion certification from Cornell University, an MSW from Howard University, and a BS in Communications from Syracuse University.

Andrea Murray, MSW, LICSW

Andrea Murray, MSW, LICSW is Director, NASW Office of Ethics and Professional Review. She has served in various roles in the office, with oversight of the Association's ethics programming, and the professional review process. Andrea holds an MSW degree from The Ohio State University, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto. She is also a certified project manager and mediator. Andrea initiated her social work career in the District of Columbia’s child welfare system. As manager of the District’s first post-adoption support unit, she built a program that served over 1300 adoptive families. In her role as Manager, Systems Improvement Methodology at Casey Family Programs, Andrea provided technical assistance and consultation on a wide array of issues to child welfare agencies and associated systems nationwide. Today, Andrea produces a wide array of NASW ethics resources, including the NASW’s Ethics Table Talks, the Ethics 8 tipsheet series, and NASW’s 2022 online ethics course, Understanding the NASW Code of Ethics.