F25-104 A Social Work Approach to Family-Centered Interventions for Children with Autism and Other Developmental Differences
Total Credits: 3 including 3 Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practices CEs
- Bundle(s):
- Fall 2025 Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice Workshops
- Categories:
- 100 Children & Adolescents | 200 Adults, Couples & Families | 900 Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice
- Instructor:
- Sarah Dababnah, PhD, MPH, MSW
- Course Levels:
- Intermediate
- Duration:
- 3 Hours 15 Minutes
- Target Audience:
- Social Workers, LCPCs, and Psychologists
Description
Parents and other family caregivers of autistic children have significant strengths but also face challenges, both on the individual/family level (e.g., child behavior challenges, parent depression) and on the systems level (e.g., lack of family-centered services). Furthermore, autism intervention research has historically overrepresented White, highly educated participants from high-income countries, ignoring the racial, ethnic, geographic, and socioeconomic disparities in autism services. Thus, families often struggle to access inclusive and culturally relevant interventions to address child, parent, and family concerns. This presentation will focus on research and social work practice to close these gaps in knowledge and improve service access.
This workshop is in accordance with and compliance with the NASW Standards with a focus on service, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, competence, and social workers’ ethical responsibilities to clients, in practice settings, as professionals, to the social work profession, 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.
Maryland: This workshop meets the license renewal requirement for Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice for Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners’ COMAR 10.42.06.03.A.(1)(d) with a focus on social justice.
Instructor
Sarah Dababnah, PhD, MPH, MSW Related Seminars and Products
Sarah Dababnah, PhD, MPH, MSW, is an associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work, as well as primary instructional faculty in the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Master of Public Health Program. She is a former U.S. Fulbright scholar at the American University in Cairo (Egypt) and a faculty affiliate at Yonsei University School of Social Welfare (South Korea).
Dr. Dababnah specializes in the intersection of practice, policy, and research aimed at improving the health and well-being of families of individuals with intellectual and developmental differences. Her research focuses on family-centered, community-engaged, and culturally relevant strategies to address racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in autism-related services.
She received specialized training in early childhood, disability practice, research, and policy from the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities (Chapel Hill, NC), the Kennedy Krieger Institute (Baltimore, MD), the Columbia University National Center for Children in Poverty (New York, NY), and the Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health (Washington, DC). Additionally, Dr. Dababnah is a former Peace Corps Volunteer and holds advanced degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Johns Hopkins University.
Her research has been recognized with awards from the American Public Health Association and the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Dr. Dababnah has also contributed her expertise to various committees, including those organized by the World Health Organization.
Agenda & Learning Objectives
AGENDA:
8:50 am – 9:00 am Log on
9:00 am – 10:30 am
-
Welcome, Introductions, and Review of Objectives
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Definitions and notes about language
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Case study discussion
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Ethnic, racial, geographic, and socioeconomic disparities in autism and other IDD
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Research and services
10:30 am – 10:45 am Break
10:45 am – 12:15 pm
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Role of parents and other family caregivers in autism and other IDD interventions
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Culturally responsive interventions for parents of young children with autism and other IDD
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Case studies and small group work
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Large group discussion
12:15 pm Adjournment
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Upon the completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:
-
Describe ethnic, racial, geographic, and socioeconomic disparities in autism and other neurodevelopmental disability research and services.
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Describe the role of parents and other family caregivers in autism and other neurodevelopmental disability interventions.
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Detail types of interventions for parents of young children with autism and other neurodevelopmental delays and disabilities.
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Examine ways in which social workers can eliminate structural barriers to autism-related services.
Bibliography & References
BIBLIOGRAPHY & REFERENCES
Dababnah, S., Reyes, C., Kim, I., Badawi, D. G., Chung, Y., & Shaia, W. E. (2023). Pilot trial of a peer-to-peer psychoeducational intervention for parents of Black children awaiting a developmental evaluation. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 44(5):e370-e378. https://doi.org/10.1097/dbp.0000000000001182
Kim I., Dababnah, S., Wang, Y., & Reyes, C. (2022). Diagnostic process and barriers among Asian American parents of children with autism. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 43(6):327-334. https://doi.org/10.1097/dbp.0000000000001070
Lewis, E. M., Dababnah, S., Hollie, K., Kim, I., Wang, Y., & Shaia, W. E. (2022). “The Creator did not give me more than I can handle”: Exploring coping in parents of Black autistic children. Autism, 26(8), 2015–2025. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613211070865
Dababnah, S., Kim, I. & Shaia, W. E. (2022). “I am so fearful for him:” A mixed-methods exploration of stress among caregivers of Black children with autism. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 68(5), 658-670. https://doi.org/10.1080/20473869.2020.1870418
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 for anti-oppressive social work practices. 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
If you are requesting ADA accommodations, please contact our office via email at least two weeks prior to the workshop date. Requests after that date may not be fulfilled.
Our email address is cpe@ssw.umaryland.edu.
Late Fees and Refunds
The base price is $70, which includes CE credit.
Late Fee: On 11/05/25, 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.