1st Annual Social Services Workforce Symposium

Senator Michael Padilla Majority Whip (2015 – 2017, 2022- ) New Mexico State Senate New Mexico – District 14 

Senator Michael Padilla is a member of the New Mexico State Senate, representing District 14 since January 2013. Senator Padilla was elected to the Senate Leadership Team in his second year in office, as the Senate Majority Whip, a position he has been elected to three times. Padilla serves on ten legislative committees, including as chairman of the New Mexico Finance Authority, was the chairman of the science, technology, and telecommunications committee ten years, and is the only member of the Senate Finance Committee from Central New Mexico. 

Padilla's primary focus as a legislator is to eliminate widespread poverty that affects most of his state. 

Bringing a positive and high energy approach to his role as a state senator, Padilla was the first senator to move a bill through the legislature in his first, second, and fifth years as a senator. Padilla has successfully passed multiple pieces of legislation to improve job creation and economic development, early childhood education, access to high-speed broadband Internet, child food insecurity, child protective services, and education reform and funding. 

Padilla was the 2017 sponsor of the first in the nation landmark legislation called the Hunger Free Students’ Bill of Rights, receiving positive attention across the globe, and which has now been introduced in 37 state legislatures and the United States Congress. He believes that taking a child’s focus off their stomach and placing it on their studies will help close the achievement gap and improve the child’s social and emotional development for the rest of their lives. 

Padilla worked for nine years to improve early childhood education across New Mexico and in 2019 was successful in creating the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department, a cabinet level agency focused on all birth to five services across state government and making his state a pioneer in providing high quality early education and care services birth to age five, which he believes will improve graduation rates and provide a world class workforce.

Padilla has brought attention to the child protective services crisis in New Mexico since he became a state senator, by successfully enacting legislation to dramatically expand the number of high-quality foster homes available to children in protective services, and to extend optional fostering to the age of twenty-one, providing a ramp into adulthood for vulnerable young adults transitioning out of foster care at age 18, and into adulthood.

Padilla has been able to reform many information technology, high speed broadband Internet, cybersecurity, and new technology services provided by state government. In doing so, he has worked to bring job creation and economic development, telemedicine, and distance learning opportunities to some of the most rural parts of New Mexico. He successfully reformed the New Mexico Local Infrastructure Act to include broadband Internet, reformed the New Mexico Universal Service Fund to focus state dollars on new technologies, modernized the New Mexico Telecommunications Act, which had not been updated since before the Internet was widely utilized, and has made New Mexico an attractive state for technology investment funding. In 2021 he brought a bi-partisan group of legislators together from both legislative chambers to create the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion, which has six primary functions and will help New Mexico be a leader in the delivery of highspeed broadband. And, in 2023, he sponsored legislation that created the Office of Cybersecurity to bring consistency across state government in how any other agency of government performs transactions with state government. 

Padilla is from Los Padillas, a rural farming community that his family helped settle over 160 years ago and is located inside of the district he represents. Padilla has always been involved in the Democratic Party of New Mexico, serving as a precinct chairman, ward chairman, county central committee member and state central committee member. He has also served on numerous boards and commissions prior to becoming a senator, including Youth Development Incorporated, Special Olympics New Mexico, Junior Achievement of New Mexico, Association of Commerce and Industry of New Mexico, the New Mexico State Workforce Development Board, and several others. 

Padilla founded Altivus CRM Solutions, a contact center and consulting firm, in 2000, and grew the company organically to a peak of 3,600 full-time employees. The company specializes in building contact centers and providing operational consulting services affecting people, process, and technology. Padilla still serves as Chairman and CEO of the company. 

Padilla is the youngest of five children. His parents were unable to raise him and his siblings, so they grew up in foster homes across New Mexico, the All Faiths Receiving Home for Homeless Children, and with various family members. Padilla started working when he was eleven years old and is proud of the way he was raised. Padilla has twin sons, Aaron and Zachary, both of whom have earned master’s degrees in social sciences. Padilla has always attributed his sons’ successes to a focus on early childhood education and hard work. He frequently speaks in public about his love from his sons and how they have changed the trajectory of his family in one generation by focusing their educational goals. 

Dr. Steve Peterson

Arizona State University

Title

Research on Mindfulness Training: Enhancing Academic, Emotional and Social Growth

Abstract

Research has supported the value and outcomes of brief mindfulness curricular activities and

professional development training. Promotion of self-awareness, stress-management and concentrated focus offers opportunities for social services professionals to increase their professional performance, emotional well-being, and social aptitude. This discussion will provide an overview of recent research conducted on the impact mindfulness training has on overall quality of life and health and functioning in college students, as informed by evidence-based research and as a contribution to the body of knowledge of complementary alternative practices. There is utility in this specific area of research at the post-secondary level as it identifies a need and application as part of formal academic training for future social services professionals.

This session will empower participants with three integrating concepts:

• Have new knowledge of existing, recent evidence-based research on the efficacy of mindfulness training in a professional setting

• Be able to articulate mindfulness practices and have a working, scalable approach to integrate

brief mindfulness into any training setting

• Be able to share efficacious practices of brief mindfulness as a conversation piece with peers

Mark Munro, MA, LPCC

Detective, Hobbs Police Department

TITLE

Integrated Approach to a Victim-Centered Investigation of Sexual Assault

ABSTRACT

Traditional sexual assault investigations focus on the case, and the victim is a part of this investigation. Victim-Centered sexual assault investigations place the victim as the focus and treat the victim as a person who had experienced a traumatic event. The Integrated Victim-Centered sexual assault investigation moves beyond just a “Victim-Centered Approach” and utilizes community resources, social programs, and behavioral health professionals to provide the best outcome for the victim. In addition to traditional Victim-Centered investigative techniques, the integrated approach understands that housing, financial, and medical assistance may be needed to fully support the victim. This approach also includes the behavioral health professional as a member of the Multidisciplinary Team, and is included in deciding the timing of criminal charges, based on the readiness of the victim.

Virginia L. Bagby, LMSW, M.Adm.

Clinical Program Manager

Childhelp National Hotline

Adjunct Faculty: Arizona State University/Maricopa Community Colleges

Title:

Enhancing staff resiliency through trauma-informed supervisory practice

Abstract:

This presentation will provide attendees with knowledge and concepts of evidence-informed

supervision practices, tools to enhance staff engagement, ways to prevent and identify vicarious

trauma and compassion fatigue, and create collaborative and protected professional space for

the supervisor and staff member to process the work. The presentation emphasizes the use of

agency/organization mission and Trauma Informed tenets in the establishment of Reflective

Supervision (RS) Practices in social service programs.

The Gallup State of the Global Workforce Report (2021) reported that "negative emotions

among employees across the world have been rising for years and reached record levels in

2020"; seven in ten employees are presently "struggling or suffering"; and that 80% of

employees are not engaged or are actively disengaged at work. These statistics demonstrate

not only the challenges that professionals are seeing in their communities and clients, but perhaps more importantly, in themselves and their colleagues. In considering that this field is

acknowledging and calling attention to the existence of and attention required to address

vicarious trauma, PTSD-S, and compassion fatigue, it is increasingly urgent for leaders,

managers, and supervisors to take intermediary action.

Trauma Informed Programming (TIP) requires that organizations have full engagement and

participation in providing services through trauma-informed lenses. Tens of thousands of dollars

are routinely invested by organizations and agencies seeking to implement TIP to best serve

clients and communities. The intentional and detailed instruction and coaching of supervisors in

implementing trauma-informed practices with their supervisees may not be fully provided. There

is a need for leaders to employ supervision strategies that align with the current knowledge of

the impact of trauma on clients while also attending to the impact that trauma has on their

teams.

Judith E Barnstone, MSW, PhD, Principal Investigator

Social Work Educational Enhancement Project (SWEEP)

New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) Facundo Valdez School of Social Work

Title

Raíces: Building Connections To, Within, and Beyond Our Social Work Educational Program

Abstract

Through outreach pláticas and a three-tier advisement model, we strive to meet the

multidimensional needs of social work students by incorporating the concepts of mutualismo,

family systems, and community into our recruitment and retention efforts. During this presentation, we will share and discuss our efforts to build community, navigational capital, and

support systems for students through a DHSI grant-funded program at the Facundo Valdez

School of Social Work at New Mexico Highlands University, NMHU.

Dr. Eli Fresquez

TITLE

Workforce Innovations, Social Services and the Future of Practice

ABSTRACT

Workforce innovations for the future are focused on adapting to the evolving job market, emerging technologies, and changing work dynamics. Here are some key workforce innovations that are likely to shape the future: 

• Remote Work and Telecommuting 

• Gig Economy and Freelancing 

• Automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• Upskilling and Reskilling 

• Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)

• Flexible Work Arrangements 

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

• Data Analytics and People Analytics 

• Collaborative Technologies 

• Well-being and Work-Life Integration 

It's important to note that these innovations are dynamic, and the workforce landscape will continue to evolve rapidly. Organizations and individuals must stay adaptable, embrace change, and continuously explore new ways to thrive in the future of work. 

Tina Jacquez, LBSW (Retired SEL coordinator and Social Worker) 

27 years of service to Gadsden ISD

Title

The Importance of SEL (Social Emotional Learning) within the schools

ABSTRACT

Pandemic 2020 changed lives forever. With this change, schools also had to change. SEL (Social Emotional Learning) became the forefront within our schools. When children and staff members came back in person after the pandemic changes needed to be made. Death and illness were still being hit in our communities and schools. Students and staff were grieving for lost time, lost communication, loss of a loved one etc. Grief now became PGD (Prolonged Grief Disorder). This was uncharted territory that we were all going into. 

Overview of: 

• What is SEL? 

• Implementation of the framework for SEL from NMPED 

• CASEL 5 core Competencies adopted by NMPED

• As the SEL Coordinator my training consists of basic SEL to SEL and the Brain and what is behind SEL and ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences), including bringing programs into the schools. 

• Capturing KId Hearts in secondary schools

• OLWEUS program in elementary schools

Hope Varela, CEO of Outcomes, Inc.

Deissy Villalobos, Client Services Manager

TITLE

Employee Assistance Programs: Shining the Light on Total Wellness in the Workplace

ABSTRACT

This workshop is designed to give attendees information on mental/behavioral health issues in the workplace and the impact of these on productivity and job satisfaction. Attendees will gain knowledge on EAPs as well as Outcomes EAP, how to utilize the programs to achieve total wellness, be happier and ultimately more productive employees.

Arnold C. Farley, Ph.D. (CAPT, USPHS, Retired)

Licensed Psychologist and Massage Therapist, Reiki Master

Healing Touch Practitioner, Level II

TITLE

Resiliency: Making our Way in the World Today

ABSTRACT

This workshop will focus on identifying five pillars of personal resiliency and ways to develop them. There will be practice in implementing these resiliency skills and a brief assessment to identify one’s resiliency. Participants will leave with more skills to improve the quality of personal

and work life and overall personal and professional productivity.

Donna Gallup, Ed.D., MSW, Associate

Professor, University of Nebraska, Kearney

TITLE

Prioritizing Social Worker Recruitment to Address the Homeless Sector Workforce Deficit

ABSTRACT

This workshop will present the consortium program evaluation data, discuss ongoing barriers to recruitment and retention of social workers to the homeless sector, and propose solutions to addressing the recruitment and retention of social workers in the homeless sector. Raising awareness of this systemic issue is critical to reducing homelessness as social workers play an important role in supporting our most vulnerable adults and children. Participants will be encouraged to participate actively in the discussion and share innovations supporting social workers in the homeless sector.

Amanda Browne, LCSW, MPH

TITLE

Burnout Recovery: Reclaiming your Agency

ABSTRACT

Burnout and compassion fatigue are often signs that something is out of alignment with

at least one of three things: our sense of self, our values and beliefs, and/or our sense of purpose. Through a combination of didactic presentation and facilitated exercises, this workshop will facilitate a process to ground into an internal locus of control within any given setting. At the end, participants will have insight and an individualized resiliency framework to empower them in their careers with reduced risk of burnout.

Topics covered will include:

• The impact of burnout on our sense of self, purpose, and meaning

• Reconnecting with your core self

• Clarifying your sense of meaning

• Navigating moral injury

• Re-defining your sense of purpose

• Crafting your own resiliency framework

Tribal members plant seeds of knowledge for cultural preservation. Creations of life, from past seeds, value holistic wellness to provide Growth, Light, Land, Water and Pollination. 

With the H.O.P.E we bear fruit enriched with culture, tradition, wisdom, education and seeds for our people’s future. We are the pollinators who provide the growth and life for seeds of tomorrow.

Humility – Tribal Communities welcomes and respects all providers that come into their homelands. Tribal Communities value honesty. Honest and genuine program approaches.

Opportunity- With opportunities to work with tribes. Opportunity should be valuing input, sharing and respecting each self-governance that exists in tribal community.

Preservation- Tribal communities have traditional knowledge and practices that provides protective factors. Respect what exists that is community driven.

Education- guide and educated tribal communities through community involvement, planning, training, evaluation and evidence-based approaches.

Richard T. Parrott PhD, LCSW-S

TITLE

Supervision, Ethics & Intersubjectivity

ABSTRACT

Supervision is most productive when there is a working alliance viewed intersubjectively as an educational experience to understand a problem in some depth before coming to solutions; to understand relational patterns that interfere with problem solving; and to identify problematic patterns so as to acquire new ways of dealing with them. The importance of critical thinking involves judgment, wisdom, and reflection with respect to principles that underline particular ethical stipulations. It is important to consider whether two or more ethical principles may be in conflict and the probable outcome of different solutions to clinical problems. In all relationships, especially those involved in a power discrepancy, it is easy for people to misunderstand each other because they are interacting from internal schemas. If a person ordinary feels secure with early caretakers, a supervisee is likely to approach supervision with the same sense of safety. On the other hand, if early caretakers were either arbitrary, abusive, or negligent, consisting of post traumatic reactions, then a supervisee is likely to approach supervision with authority difficulties that will interfere with learning.