This course is approved for 3 MSDE Continuing Professional Development/CPD credits as course #22-66-04R and fulfills the requirements of the Maryland State Department of Education for certification of school-based social workers. Because social workers provide related services that are part of the educational programming of students with special needs, they must understand the legal mandates, federal and state policies and standards, as well as the specific instructional methods and technologies used in the classrooms that serve those students, from the least restrictive settings of inclusion to the more clinical settings, including residential.

Washington County Social Work Alliance - VLunch & Learn - John Hopkins Memory Care Family Checklist
Date: Monday, Oct 5th 12:30 - 2:00 pm
Presenter: Mark Tesoro, MA, 
Cognitive and Behavioral Health Specialist, Maryland Department of Aging
Speaker Bio: Mark Tesoro is a Cognitive and Behavioral Health Specialist at the Maryland Department of Aging. He has a background in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Neuropsychology from Loyola University Maryland. For a decade Mark was the Program Coordinator for the Division of Cognitive Neurology at Johns Hopkins Hospital where he conducted research and worked with patients with memory and language disorders. Mark’s role at the Department of Aging is part of statewide effort to address the challenges that impact healthy aging and longevity. His current focus is on expanding services to build the dementia capabilities of Maryland’s aging services network. Mark works to improve dementia navigation services delivered by the Maryland Access Point network by collaborating with local Area Agencies on Aging, state partners, and diverse stakeholders throughout Maryland. 
Synopsis: Families caring for people with dementia often feel overwhelmed and unprepared. Each family has their own unique needs, but all of them need guidance on what to do, what to expect, and how to prepare for the future. Johns Hopkins University, in partnership with the Maryland Information Network and Maryland Department of Aging, has developed a tool that can help.  The Johns Hopkins Memory Care Family Checklist is an innovative resource that helps families impacted by dementia identify their needs, access reliable information, and connect to supports to help them develop a larger care plan.

Register here.

Title: Understanding Structural Racism: Implications for Social Work Practice
Date: Monday, October 5, 2026; 9:00 am - 12:15 pm 
Presenter: Presenter: Kawana Webb, LCSW-C 
Synopsis: Structural racism and implicit bias continue to influence access to opportunities, resources, and outcomes for many individuals and communities. This interactive training explores how historical and contemporary systems contribute to racial inequities across housing, education, healthcare, employment, and other social institutions. Participants will examine the impact of implicit bias on professional decision-making and explore strategies for advancing anti-oppressive social work practice. Through case studies, self-reflection activities, discussions, and practical application exercises, participants will strengthen their ability to recognize and address systemic barriers affecting clients and communities. Participants will conclude the training by developing a personalized Equity Action Plan to promote equity, accountability, and meaningful change within their professional roles.
Our experiences are shaped not only by our individual choices, but also by the systems and opportunities available to us. This interactive training explores how policies, practices, and systems in areas such as housing, education, healthcare, employment, and criminal justice can create advantages for some groups while creating barriers for others. Participants will learn how unconscious assumptions and biases can influence professional interactions, assessments, and decision-making. Through engaging activities, case studies, self-reflection, and discussion, participants will gain practical tools to recognize systemic barriers and promote more equitable outcomes for the individuals, families, and communities they serve. Participants will leave with a personalized Equity Action Plan that identifies meaningful steps they can take to support fairness, inclusion, and anti-oppressive practice in their professional roles.

Register here.