Structural Racism in Social Work Practice: Systemic Change and Equity in Action

Title: Structural Racism in Social Work Practice: Systemic Change and Equity in Action

Date: Thursday, September 10, 2026; 9:00 am - 12:15 pm

Presenter: Dwayne Buckingham, PhD, LCSW-C, BCD, PCC

Synopsis: This dynamic 3-hour workshop equips social workers with a clear, practical understanding of structural racism and how it shapes client outcomes, service delivery, and ethical decision-making. Grounded in the standards of the ERT Framework, this workshop moves beyond theory. It helps social workers recognize how structural racism and implicit bias show up in real practice across healthcare, child welfare, education, and behavioral health systems. Through real-world case studies and practical frameworks, you’ll learn how to identify systemic barriers, make ethically sound decisions, and take action to advance equity in social work practice. This training helps you move from awareness to action so that you are not just meeting a requirement, you’re elevating your practice.

What You’ll Gain:

A clear understanding of structural racism in social work systems

Practical tools to address bias and systemic barriers

Ethical strategies aligned with the NASW Code of Ethics and ERT Framework

Real-world application you can use immediately

Who Should Attend

Licensed social workers (LCSW-C, LMSW, LBSW)

Case managers

Behavioral health professionals

Learning Objectives: By the end of this training, you will be able to:

1.    Define structural racism and distinguish it from other forms of racism.

2.    Identify how systemic inequities impact client outcomes.

3.    Apply ethical decision-making using the NASW Code of Ethics and ERT Framework

4.    Recognize how implicit bias interacts with structural barriers.

5.    Implement at least two actionable strategies to promote equity and advocacy in your role.

Compliance Statement:

In alignment with Maryland Health Occupations Article §1–225 and Maryland Health-General Article §20–1306, this training fulfills Maryland’s one-time licensure renewal requirement for structural racism education. Final determination of CE acceptance is made by individual state licensing boards.

Content Level: Advanced to Intermediate (appropriate for all levels of social work practice)

CE: 3 Cat 1 in Anti-Oppressive Sociel Work Practice - Implicit Bias
Cost: NASW Member - $50; Nonmember - $75; Retired Member - $30; Student Member - $20
Please Note: This workshop meets the Maryland BSWE's 3 hour requirement in Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice Content  for social workerin Implicit Bias for license renewal
Please Note: This workshop fulfills the Implicit Bias requirement for all first-time licensees in the state of Maryland
Please Note: This workshop fulfills the Structural Racism (non-ceu) requirement for social workers in the state of Maryland

Register now!