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Webinar

S26-203 Light in Dark Places: Bringing Hope and Compassion to End of Life Care

Total Credits: 3 Category I CEs

Categories:
200 Adults, Couples & Families |  700 Professional Growth & Development
Instructor:
Lee Westgate, MBA, MSW, LCSW-C
Course Levels:
Intermediate
Duration:
3 Hours 15 Minutes
Target Audience:
Social Workers, LCPCs, and Psychologists
Dates
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Description

Social workers can play a significant role in providing compassion and advocacy to individuals and family systems as they collective attempt to navigate impossible end of life decisions. However, such meaningful contributions are dependent upon becoming versed with supporting family systems in crisis, in facilitating Advance Care Planning, and being attuned as to how the culture of care can and does impact families in crisis. Contributing environmental, psychological, and personal dimensions such as the impact of the hospital culture, the impact of severe stress, and the impact of faith, are often not considered when working with individuals and families during these critical moments. Families are often subject to the cumulative stress and coercion brought on by the flood and frequency of day-to-day decisions they must make as surrogate decision makers. Furthermore, social workers are not consistently prepared in educating patient decision makers and family members on the potential risks that may arise from continued heroic measures. Social workers will increasingly need to enhance their competencies in the aforementioned health care topics to ensure patient choice is honored, family and cultural values are recognized, and that families are provided with appropriate and timely information to create a customized care plan on behalf of their loved one.  

 

This workshop is in accordance and in compliance with the NASW standards with a focus on the principles of service, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, and competence; and the standard of responsibilities to clients, practice setting, as professionals, to the social work profession, and to the broader society. 

This workshop is in compliance with the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners’ COMAR 10.42.03.06.A(5) and with the District of Columbia Board of Social Work 17-70-7008.4.    

Instructor

Lee Westgate, MBA, MSW, LCSW-C Related Seminars and Products

Lee Westgate, MSW, MBA, LCSW-C (he/ him/ his) is a social work advocate with extensive professional experience in social work policy, practice, research, and education. He is a board approved clinical supervisor in the state of Maryland, has held numerous organizational leadership roles, and has served as an educational consultant to a variety of associations and organizational clientele. He has served as a medical social worker in the fields of oncology, critical care, as well as in integrated behavioral health settings and currently serves as the Director of Community and Clinical Linkages at Presbyterian Health Services. Mr. Westgate has participated in a CSWE-sponsored National Trauma Task Force workgroup that focused on the intersection of ethics and trauma-informed practice, and he was awarded an immersion fellowship through Boston University to study addiction and behavioral health. He has participated in AIDS Education and Training Center on behalf of the University of Maryland, School of Social Work, Baltimore, and participated in the MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Workgroup on COVID and HIV. Mr. Westgate continues to serve as a faculty member and instructor at the University of Maryland, School of Social Work and his scholarship include integrated behavioral health, working with individuals with chronic and life-threatening illness, healthcare and social policy, and health equity. He has received numerous recognitions and awards including induction into the National Academies of Practice (NAP) as a Social Work Fellow, the Alumni of the Year Award of 2024, Energizer Faculty Award of 2023, Camara Jones Faculty Award of 2022, Innovation in Social Work Award of 2022, Exemplary Faculty Member of the Year Award along with the Dean’s Teaching Award for several consecutive semesters. He has been published in The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare, The New Social Worker, The Journal of Employee Assistance, Infusion Magazine, Provider Magazine, and Social Work Today. 

Agenda & Learning Objectives

AGENDA:

12:50 pm - 1:00 pm Log On 

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm 

  • Reflect upon concept and associations with “Death” 

  • Discuss social and cultural traditions as they relate to end of life and death 

  • Discuss the impact of cumulative stress on the decision-making process 

  • Case Study Part 1 

  • Discuss key bio-ethical principles as they relate to end-of-life conversations 

2:30 pm - 2:45 pm Break 

2:45 pm - 4:15 pm 

  • Case Study Part 2 

  • Discuss the role or advance care planning and advance care directives 

  • Explore strategies that assist with initiating and facilitating advance care planning 

  • Case Study Part 3 

  • Summary & Final Reflections 

4:15 pm Adjournment 

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Upon the completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Understand an individual's psychological status during a critical end of life discussions. 

  • Recognize the impact of cumulative stress as it pertains to their decision-making process. 

  • Assess individual and family health literacy and knowledge of "heroic measures.” 

  • Apply strategies to support and honor self-determination and autonomy throughout the provision of end of life care.  

Bibliography & References

BIBLIOGRAPHY & REFERENCES

Burke, T. (2019). Exploring life history methodology in chronic illness: a study in Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 36(4), 45–52.  

Centers for Disease Control. (2022). Chronic Diseases in America. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/infographic/chronic-diseases.htm  

Chehal, P. K., Selvin, E., DeVoe, J. E., Mangione, C. M., & Ali, M. K. (2022). Diabetes And The Fragmented State Of US Health Care And Policy. Health Affairs, 41(7), 939–946. https://doi-org.proxy-hs.researchport.umd.edu/10.1377/hlthaff.2022.00299  

Howard, J. (2023). US spends most on health care but has worst health outcomes among high-income countries, new report finds. CNN. Retrieved from: https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/31/health/us-health-care-spending-global-perspective/index.html  

Katharina Niedling, & Kerstin Hämel. (2023). Longing for normalcy in couple relationships: How chronic illness and care dependency change the relationship of long-married couples. Frontiers in Public Health, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1117786  

National Association of Social Workers (NASW). (2021). National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics. Retrieved from: https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English 

Varkey B. Principles of Clinical Ethics and Their Application to Practice. Med Princ Pract. 2021;30(1):17-28. doi: 10.1159/000509119. Epub 2020 Jun 4. PMID: 32498071; PMCID:PMC7923912.  

Wellbery, C. (2004). Four Patterns of Dying Require Different End-of-Life Care. American Family Physician, 69(2), 402.  

Course Completion & CE Information

Category I Maryland BSWE Requirement

The Office of Continuing Professional Education at the University of Maryland School of Social Work is authorized by the Board of Social Work Examiners in Maryland to sponsor social work continuing education programs. This workshop qualifies for 3 Category I Continuing Education Units. The Office of Continuing Professional Education is also authorized by the Maryland Board of Psychologists and the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors to sponsor Category A continuing professional education. 

 

ASWB Information 

University of Maryland School of Social Work Office of Continuing Professional Education, #1611, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 2/11/2024-2/11/2027.  

To receive ACE credit, full attendance is required; no partial credits will be given for partial attendance. 

 

Certificate Access

To access the evaluation and certificate, click on the orange certificate button in your CPE account. Once you complete the evaluation, access to the certificate will be available.  

Live Interactive Webinars (Cat I) and Live Webinars (Cat II) - Allow up to 30 minutes post-training for attendance to be verified, then you will be able to access the evaluation and certificate. 

In Person Trainings - Please allow five (5) business days post-training for attendance to be verified, then you will be able to access the evaluation and certificate. 

 

Please refer to the tab "Live Interactive Webinar Policies & FAQs" for UMSSW Office of CPE policies regarding all live interactive webinar related matters. Contact our office at cpe@ssw.umaryland.edu for more information.  

Evaluation

Participants will have access to the evaluation after attendance has been verified. Evaluations will be available for one (1) week after the workshop has ended.  

After one (1) week, participants will no longer have access to the evaluation and will have to contact CPE about reactivation.

Target Audience

Social Workers, LCPCs, and Psychologists

We welcome anyone interested in the topic!

 

Live Interactive Webinar Platforms

LIVE INTERACTIVE WEBINAR PLATFORMS

The Office of Continuing Professional Education hosts Live Interactive Webinars through Zoom. This platform offers a high quality and user-friendly webinar platform for our registrants.

System Requirements:

  • Operating Systems: Windows XP or higher; MacOS 9 or higher; Android 4.0 or higher.
  • Internet Browser: Google Chrome; Firefox 10.0 or higher.

Our system is not compatible with the Safari web browser.

  • Broadband Internet Connection: Cable, High-speed DSL and any other medium that is internet accessible.

**Please have your device charging at all times to ensure that your device does not lose power during the webinar.

Course Interaction Requirements:

To participate in Live Interactive Webinars, you MUST have a device that allows you to view the presentation on screen and hear the instructor at all times. We do not allow participants to call-in from their phones or mobile devices and solely listen to the presentation. Participation in Live Interactive Webinars is mandatory.

Our webinar policies can be found on our website by clicking here.

Webinar Policies & FAQs

Click The Link to View The Webinar Policies & FAQs

https://umbsswcpe.ce21.com/Page/live-interactive-webinar-procedures-policies-4129

 

 

Code of Conduct

The Office of Continuing Professional Education at the University of Maryland School of Social Work adheres to the NASW Code of Ethics. This policy is to ensure that the training environment for social work professionals remains respectful, productive, and conducive to learning. Disruptive behavior that interferes with the learning process, disrupts the training experience for others, or undermines the integrity of the program will not be tolerated.

 

Expectations for Participant Engagement:

In alignment with the NASW Code of Ethics and the University of Maryland Baltimore Code of Conduct, participants are expected to demonstrate professionalism, which includes respecting confidentiality, maintaining a collaborative and respectful tone, and contributing positively to the group dynamic. Disclosures made during the training (e.g., case studies or personal reflections) must be handled with care and in accordance with ethical and legal guidelines.

All participants in the training program are expected to:

  • Engage actively in the learning process and show respect for the opinions and contributions of others.
  • Demonstrate professionalism in both attitude and behavior, maintaining respect for instructors, peers, and the training environment.
  • Maintain open communication by expressing concerns or disagreements constructively and respectfully.
  • Follow the guidelines and expectations provided by instructors and facilitators.
  • Support a collaborative learning environment where all participants feel valued and safe to contribute.

 

Instructors and CPE staff reserve the right to dismiss participants who do not adhere to ethical/professional principles and standards. If removed, CEs will be adjusted to reflect the time attended, unless otherwise specified. 

ADA Accommodations

To request ADA accommodations:

Please email our office at least four (4) weeks before the workshop. Late requests may not be accommodated.

Our email address is cpe@ssw.umaryland.edu.  

Late Fees and Refunds

The base price is $70, which includes CE credit.  

Late Fee: On 03/05/26, a non-refundable late fee of $20 is added to the base price. Late fees cannot be refunded or applied to account credit.  

Cancellations: **ALL cancellations will be subjected to a $35.00 administration fee.**  To be eligible for a refund or CPE account credit, cancellations must be made at least 24 hours before the workshop. 

For more information, please read the general policies on our website.  

 

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