Presenter: Dawn E. Shedrick, LCSW

CE: 2 Social Work CE contact hour

With a staggering 53 million unpaid, informal family caregivers in the United States, social workers play a critical role in supporting these individuals in their healing and wellness. Caregiver stress and burden can lead to various health problems and social isolation. As the number of caregivers continues to grow alongside expanding health issues, social workers must be equipped to cater to the specific needs of this population.

Dawn Shedrick, LCSW, our CEO, exemplifies the challenges of balancing a career, business, and caring for her mother, who was diagnosed with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis in 1996. Serving as her primary caregiver since then, Dawn has firsthand experience with the rigors of caregiving, allowing her to understand the needs of caregivers on different levels.

Recognizing the importance of supporting caregivers, Dawn Shedrick has developed a comprehensive 2 CE HOUR workshop aimed at helping social workers grasp the dynamics of caregiver stress and provide effective assistance. Through this workshop, participants will gain valuable knowledge and strategies to better engage with caregivers and alleviate the impact of caregiver stress.

Learning Objectives:

• Define and describe family caregiving in the United States

• Define a family caregiver

• Explain the systems-level impact on caregiving in the United States

• Define caregiver stress

• Describe the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual effects of caregiving on the caregiver

• Describe and implement at least 4 ways social workers can effectively support family caregivers in reducing the impact of caregiver stress

Cost: $29