Incorporating New Laws to Guide Ethical Social Work Practice

Title: MD20260812 – Incorporating New Laws to Guide Ethical Social Work Practice

Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 12:15 PM

Presenters: Gisele Ferretto, MSW, LCSW-C, and the NASW-MD Legislative Committee Panel

Synopsis:
Each legislative session brings changes that require social workers to reassess and strengthen their ethical practice. This workshop provides practical guidance on incorporating new laws passed during the 2026 Maryland legislative session into ethical social work practice.

Participants will examine ethical issues addressed through statutes and regulations, explore how different sources of legal authority influence practice requirements, and learn strategies for integrating legal mandates with ethical decision-making. The workshop will also review the NASW Code of Ethics and Maryland COMAR 10.42.03 Code of Ethics, highlighting their role in guiding professional practice and reducing legal and ethical risk.

A panel of social work experts will provide updates on recent and emerging legislation affecting key areas of practice, including aging and disability, children and families, criminal justice, professional licensing, school social work, and the use of artificial intelligence in behavioral health.

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

1. Identify ethical issues addressed in statutes and regulations relevant to social work practice.

2. Locate laws, regulations, and case law related to behavioral health practice and explain their impact on ethical decision-making.

3. Apply the NASW Code of Ethics alongside legal mandates to guide ethical social work practice.

4. Identify risk management strategies to reduce ethical and legal risk.

5. Describe recent legal developments affecting social work practice.

CE: 3 Category I Ethics CEUs

Cost:

• NASW Member: $50

• Nonmember: $75

• Retired Member: $30

• Student Member: $20

Please Note: This workshop meets the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners (BSWE) requirement for 3 Ethics CEUs for license renewal.

Agenda

9:00 AM
Gisele Ferretto, MSW, LCSW-C

• Ethical issues addressed in statutes and regulations

• Sources of legal authority and their impact on social work practice

• NASW Code of Ethics and Maryland COMAR 10.42.03 Code of Ethics: similarities and differences

• Risk management strategies for ethical practice

• Locating policies and legal guidance governing behavioral health practice through:

  • Legislative Branch (Statutes/Laws)

  • Executive Branch (COMAR, Executive Orders, Policies)

  • Judicial Branch (Court Decisions, Consent Decrees, and Attorney General Opinions)

10:30 AM
Break (15 minutes)

10:45 AM
New Laws Impacting Social Work Practice: 2026 Legislative Session

• Professional Licensing, Artificial Intelligence, and General Social Work Practice: Daphne McClellan, LMSW, PhD, and Arthur Flax, LCSW-C

• Aging and Disability: Liz Horn, LCSW-C

• School Social Work: Gail Martin, LCSW-C

• Children, Youth, and Families: Presenter to be announced

• Forensics and Criminal Justice: Yvonne Davis, LCSW-C

11:50 AM
Looking Ahead to the 2027 Legislative Session

• Ann Ciekot, Public Policy Partners, Lobbyist for NASW Maryland

12:15 PM
Evaluations

Register here.