Ethics and Boundaries in Community Practice – In Person Training
Presenters: Monica Bear, MSSW and Theresa Fishler, MSSW, CISW
Overview: This interactive 4-hour training, designed to fulfill Wisconsin’s continuing education requirements for social workers, will explore the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) code of ethics, and ethical decision-making frameworks relevant to community-based practice. Through group discussion and individual reflection, participants will reflect critically on common ethical issues and responses that arise when providing individualized, person-centered support. Scenarios and case studies will focus on the values of service, social justice, the dignity and worth of the person, the importance of social relationships, integrity and competence in the provision of long-term care services. Together, the group will examine moral injury, burnout, compassion fatigue and strategies to address them. The target audience is both social workers and other long-term care professionals.
This training meets continuing education requirements for social workers as prescribed by the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing Chapter MPSW 19.
Registration Change: All trainings occurring after May 15, 2026 will be processed through a new online system which will require payment via credit/debit card at the time of registration. We will no longer be issuing invoices for training registrations. If you are a caregiver who is wanting a CLTS plan to cover the registration fee, email Michael Truman at mltruman@wisc.edu to coordinate this process. Do not register here.
Registration closes Tuesday, January 12 at 4:00 PM.
About the Presenter:
Monica Bear, MSSW, recently retired, spent her 40-year career supporting people with developmental disabilities to work, live and thrive in the community. For over three decades she worked for Dane County Human Services as a case manager, case manager supervisor and administrator of community-based programs for children and adults with disabilities.
Her passion for individualized, person-centered work began in the 1990’s, when helping adults in state institutions return to their home communities. As institutions down-sized, collaborating with families to ensure their children and young adults received the support necessary to remain at home, attend their neighborhood schools, leave high school with paid employment and eventually move out. Monica passionately believes that good lives begin with deep listening, solid relationships, big dreams and the opportunity to share one’s gifts. She is interested in the innumerable, and unique ways that people blend public funding, paid support, community connections and personal relationships to create meaningful lives and build stronger communities.
Theresa Fishler, MSSW, CISW, now retired, worked in the Dane County area supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, physical disabilities and older adults in a variety of capacities. She has done case management, program development, project management, staff and student supervision, and served as a non-profit agency executive director. She was also a Teaching Faculty at the UW Madison Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work teaching field seminars and health, aging and disability policy and practice courses.
Community Outreach Wisconsin and the Waisman Center value inclusion and access for all participants and are pleased to provide reasonable accommodations for this event. Please contact Michael Truman at mltruman@wisc.edu to make a reasonable accommodation request. Requests must be submitted by December 30, 2026.