27th Annual Summer Institute: Healing Communities: Trauma-Informed Social Work Practice in the Southwest 2026

This year's conference centers on the urgent and ongoing need to strengthen trauma-informed practice across the Southwestern United States---a region shaped by cultural richness, historical resilience, and deeply rooted community identities, yet also impacted by complex layers of trauma, inequity, and systemic challenges. Healing Communities: Trauma-Informed Social Work Practice in the Southwest brings together social workers, behavioral health providers, community organizations, educators, students, and policymakers to explore how trauma-informed frameworks can promote healing, resilience, and sustainable change across micro, mezzo, and macro systems. Grounded in the lived realities of our communities, this conference will explore the unique social, cultural, and environmental factors shaping trauma and recovery in the Southwest. Topics include trauma and resilience across diverse communities and settings such as integrated health, child and family well-being, and community-based settings. Culturally responsive healing practices, access to services in underserved areas, and the broader impacts of social injustice and violence will be key areas of focus. Participants will engage in interactive workshops, keynote presentations, and panel discussions led by experienced practitioners, researchers, and community leaders who are shaping the future of trauma-informed care in the region. Sessions will emphasize: Evidence-informed approaches to trauma treatment and support, Strength-based and resilience-focused frameworks, Innovative models of care across diverse settings, Policy, advocacy, and systems-level change, Practical tools for social workers at every career stage. Whether supporting individuals and families directly, leading programs and organizations, influencing policy, or educating the next generation of practitioners, attendees will gain strategies and insight to enhance their professional practice and deepen their capacity to foster healing. This conference is not only an educational experience but also a space for connection, renewal, and inspiration. It honors the dedication of social workers and allied professionals who continue to show up for their communities with compassion, skill, and commitment to justice---recognizing that healing is both possible and powerful when guided by trauma-informed, culturally grounded social work practice.