Attention Case Managers: A Conference with You in Mind

By: Vincent Lynch, MSW, Ph.D., Founder and Chair, The Annual National Conference on Social Work and HIV/AIDS

On World AIDS Day 2015, as we consider this year’s theme of “Getting to Zero,” please take the opportunity to read here about a four-day annual national conference on psychosocial issues which may very well interest you, your colleagues and possibly your clients. The Annual National Conference on Social Work and HIV/AIDS was founded by me at Boston College in 1988 in response to the growing need expressed by case managers, social workers, client advocates and mental health professionals to develop a major annual conference where these psychosocial AIDS care providers could network and learn from each other regarding new developments in the psychological and social aspects of HIV/AIDS care. Now in its 28th year, the conference moves around the country to a different city each year and consistently draws 400-500 attendees. We typically offer over 100 presentations each year. Here are examples of just a few of the topics we address: new approaches to case management service delivery, updates on ADAP policy/program issues, other HIV policy issues including the changes in the Ryan White Program, effective strategies for treatment adherence, advocacy skill building, self-care for providers, techniques for interdisciplinary collaboration, improving services to communities of color and current medical updates.

Panelists in Photo: (left to right): Russell Bennett, MSW, Ph.D.- conference co-chair; Vincent Lynch, MSW, Ph.D.- conference founder and present chair;  Gina Brown, MSW- Planning Council Coordinator, New Orleans Regional AIDS Planning Council; Randall Russell, MSW- Board Chair, Professional Association of Social Workers in HIV/AIDS.

A high proportion of attendees each year have the MSW degree, but by no means is that degree necessary to participate in the conference (either as a general attendee, presenter or exhibitor). Our next conference will be at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis during May 26-29, 2016.  At present we are receiving abstracts of proposed conference presentation proposals from colleagues. I’d like to invite you to consider sending me a conference presentation abstract if you have a topic that you might wish to discuss. The official deadline for submission of presentation abstracts is December 4, 2015; however, we are willing to extend the deadline until December 21 for readers of this blogpost.

We have four presentation categories at the conference: a 90-minute poster session, 75-minute workshops; 50-minute “conversations on best practices” and 20-minute brief reports.  If you wish to submit an abstract please email it directly to me as a Word document at lynchv@bc.edu. Just send me your title, the name(s) of the presenter(s), a 250 word summary of your topic, email address(es) for presenter(s) and your preference for what presentation category you’d like it to be considered. We’ll get it in review right away and should have a decision for you in 10-14 days as to where it might fit in the conference schedule.

We also have a special “Early-Bird” discount conference registration fee available until January 25, 2016 whereby you can save $100 on the standard conference registration fee if you register by that date. Please note: we can also waive the conference registration fee in full for persons living with HIV/AIDS and also for a limited number of colleagues who wish to serve as conference volunteers. For more details please contact me directly as my email address (noted above).

To obtain a copy of our latest flier which will provide all the information you need about our conference please go to:

www.bc.edu/swhivconf

We have a loyal following… many of our attendees have attended our conference multiple times. Please consider participating with your brother and sister providers of HIV/AIDS psychosocial services. I can guarantee you will meet some fascinating colleagues from around the country (and around the world!). In addition to the valuable learning you’ll be exposed to at the conference sessions, you’ll also have the chance to participate in receptions and other informal “Meet-And-Greet” opportunities. The only way we can “Get to Zero” is for all of in HIV/AIDS to unite our efforts and work together more collaboratively. I do hope to see you in Minneapolis in May where you can meet and collaborate with many others doing the same important work as you. Thank you for all the important service you provide in our common goal of fighting the epidemic. All the best.