A Social Workers Guide to Understanding the Rights of Immigrants in the US
Date: Saturday March 1st, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Virtual via Zoom
CEU: 1
Sponsored by: Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work
Cost: $20 Members and $30 Non-Members
About this workshop:
This workshop is designed for social workers working or interested in working with immigrant and refugee communities. Participants will gain essential knowledge about the rights of immigrants and refugees in the U.S., how to respond in cases of immigration enforcement, and ways these communities can protect themselves and access support. The session will equip attendees with actionable tools and resources to integrate into their practice and advocacy while staying informed about the impact of current immigration policies.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Identify the fundamental rights of immigrants and refugees in the U.S.
- Utilize relevant resources to provide informed support to immigrant and refugee communities.
- Recognize at least one way how current immigration policies impact the mental health and well-being of the communities they serve.
Maria Jose Sotomayor-Giacomucci, MSS, LSW
Before becoming a social worker, Maria Jose Sotomayor-Giacomucci dedicated years to immigrant rights advocacy, community organizing, and mental health support for immigrant and refugee communities. She served as the Deputy Director of the Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition, a statewide immigrant rights coalition, where she worked on policy advocacy, community education, and coalition-building. She also served on the boards of La Puerta Abierta and Centro de Apoyo Comunitario, organizations focused on providing mental health support and resources to immigrant communities.
Her work in these spaces deepened her understanding of the intersection between immigration, trauma, and mental health, ultimately leading her to return to school to become a social worker. Maria Jose earned her Master’s in Social Services from Bryn Mawr College and a B.A. in Psychology with a Minor in Communications from Neumann University.
Now a clinically trained therapist, she has advanced training in EMDR and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and specializes in working with immigrant and refugee communities, community activists, children (8+), adolescents, adults, families, couples and groups. Her work focuses on trauma, grief and loss, depression, anxiety, relationships, and life transitions. Committed to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion, Maria Jose creates healing spaces that honor the resilience and lived experiences of those she serves.
Continuing Education Credits:
FOR PENNSYLVANIA SOCIAL WORKERS, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS, AND PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS: This program is approved for credits for professional workshops sponsored by the Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work, a state affiliate of the Clinical Social Work Association listed in Section 47.36 of Title 49, Chapter 47 of the PA Code, State Board of Social Work Examiners. This program is also approved for 3 credits for professional workshops for marriage & family therapists (Section 48.36) and professional counselors (Section 49.36).
FOR NEW JERSEY SOCIAL WORKERS: This program is approved for 3 clinical credits. Attendance at programs or courses given at state and national social work association conferences, where the criteria for membership is an academic degree in social work, are a valid source of continuing education credit (N.J.A.C. 13:44G-6.4(c)4).
PSCSW Members - Before you begin any registration, you must log in to the website to pay the member rate. If you register without logging in, you will pay at the nonmember rate. If you need assistance logging in, please contact our Association Management Team: pscsw@pscsw.org.