37th School Social Work Symposium: School Social Work in a Digital World

37^th School Social Work Symposium

School Social Work in a Digital World

Thursday, October 23, 2025 | 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET | Online

L'événement sera traduit en direct en français. Pour consulter le programme et en savoir plus sur nos intervenants, cliquez ici.

Join OASW for the 37th symposium, a half-day virtual event that invites school social workers to reflect, reconnect, and reimagine their roles in times of uncertainty and change.

In partnership with OASW's School Social Work Advisory Group, this symposium is designed by school social workers, for school social workers, offering a collaborative space for shared learning and collective insight. As school communities navigate the complexities of a post-pandemic world marked by digital saturation, rising mental health concerns, and systemic inequities, the role of school social workers has never been more critical - or more complex.

Through an impactful keynote and two thought-provoking sessions, participants will explore how to:

Maintain human-centered practices.
Champion equity in diverse and evolving school settings.
Lead with resilience in an ever-evolving social and digital landscape.

Bring your questions! Each presentation will be followed by a live Q&A with the speaker.

Registration is now closed, registrants can access the Symposium by clicking the link below:

Digital realities—from global crises to AI-generated content—are shaping classroom experiences and student well-being. This insightful keynote will examine the rise of misinformation, vicarious trauma, and emotional dysregulation triggered by digital exposure, especially among students with developing digital literacy. With a focus on the unique challenges faced by marginalized and intersectional students, the session invites school social workers to strengthen trauma-informed and resilient pedagogies. Key takeaways include strategies to address digital misinformation, support emotional regulation, and cultivate inclusive, responsive learning environments in the face of complex digital and global pressures.

Introduction and Land Acknowledgement

Keynote: Navigating Trauma-Informed Pedagogies in the Digital Age
Presenter: Renata Hall

Break

Session 1: 80,000 Voices: What Canada’s Youth Are Telling Us About Their Mental Health
Presenter: Claire Hlavacek, Mental Health Research Canada

Session 2: AI for School Social Work Practice: Ethical & Responsible Use
Dr. Marina Badillo-Diaz

Closing Remarks

Sessions 1 and 2 are concurrent; attendees may choose and switch between sessions on the day.

This event will be recorded. Closed captioning and live French interpretation will be available.

Learn more about our expert speakers and the experiences they bring to the table.

Youth mental health is facing important challenges, and with thoughtful approaches, there is hope we can better support young people in finding their way to well-being. This session shares key insights from MHRC’s polling, highlighting both the current realities such as trends in anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation and the protective influences that make a difference, including peer support and personal resilience. We’ll explore contributing factors like screen use, economic pressures, and service access, while focusing on how knowledge can drive positive change. Participants will also be introduced to MHRC’s new Youth Mental Health Data Hub, a valuable resource to guide evidence-based action in education, policy, and care.

What does ethical and safe use of Artificial Intelligence look like in a school social work practice? This session delves into the fundamental principles of AI technology, highlighting its applications, benefits, and potential risks. Participants will gain an understanding of AI's capabilities, with a focus on how AI can enhance efficiency, save time, and improve service delivery and student outcomes for school social work tasks. The session will address critical ethical considerations, including privacy concerns, bias, and decision-making transparency, ensuring these align with core social work ethics and values. Participants will engage in a live demonstration of AI tools, including ChatGPT and School Magic AI, and participate in hands-on exercises that offer practical experience for school social work practice.

Renata Hall is a PhD candidate, published Black feminist scholar, Woman of Distinction 2022 Awardee, President's Award for Outstanding Individual Service Awardee, co-creator of the Learning in Colour digital platform, and former Inclusion and Anti-Racism Education Manager at McMaster University. Now situated as an anti-racist educational consultant at the University of British Columbia, Renata lives all things social justice through her counseling, teaching, and research pursuits. She loves building community connections, challenging marginalization and the status quo.

Claire Hlavacek is the Manager of Bilingual Partnerships at Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC), a national charity supporting research aimed at improving mental health outcomes for Canadians. MHRC collaborates with researchers, communities, and people with lived experience to transform evidence into practical solutions.

Claire helps oversee MHRC’s national population polling initiative, funded by Health Canada. Through this project, MHRC monitors, analyzes, and reports on the mental health of Canadians, focusing on a different theme each quarter. The data collected is used to produce publicly accessible reports and is shared freely to support research, programs, and policy development across the mental health sector.

She has played a key role in the development of several high-impact reports on youth and broader population mental health. She has also contributed to a range of publications examining disparities in access to care across diverse demographic groups and varying levels of mental health need.

Dr. Marina Badillo-Diaz is a former school social worker and current educator, as well as the founder of MABD Consulting, where she trains educators and social workers on the ethical use of AI in practice. She authors The AI Social Worker blog and teaches in NYU’s postgraduate certificate programs on school social work, technology, and mental health. She also serves as secretary on the NASW-NY Board and formerly represented the Northeast on the School Social Work Association of America board. Dr. Badillo-Diaz has trained more than 3,000 professionals across the U.S. and Canada.

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Registration for this event is now closed.

Program-at-a-glance

Speakers

Speakers

Renata Hall

Claire Hlavacek

Dr. Marina Badillo-Diaz