Social work journeys: Qualitative research through Community Conversations

The Association of Social Work Boards recently published a report sharing findings of qualitative research conducted in 2023, known as the Community Conversations. This webinar will outline the inclusive research methodology, key findings, and the ways the perspectives shared will be used to inform the continued development of fair, reliable, and valid competence assessments. After the presentation from ASWB staff and research partners from Human Resources Research Organization (HumRRO), attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions about the report’s findings.

These sessions are designed as webinars. Content experts and/or ASWB staff will present on topics related to the social work licensing exams. These sessions also include time to answer questions via the Zoom platform but do not offer a live chat function. Participants may use the form below to submit questions in advance. If you’d like to share specific feedback or experiences, or if we are unable to answer your question in the time allotted, please email exam@aswb.org.

About the presenters

Emily Borawski, M.S., is a senior scientist in the Validity Investigations in Education and Workplace (VIEW) program at Human Resources Research Organization (HumRRO.) She earned her Master of Science in industrial and organizational psychology with a specialization in quantitative methodology from California State University. She has more than 10 years of experience working in applied research settings and has extensive experience that focuses on closing opportunity gaps for various populations, including BIPOC, food- and housing-insecure students, LGBTQIA+, and traditionally underserved communities.

Soner Dumani, Ph.D., received his Ph.D. in industrial-organizational psychology with a minor in diversity and inclusion from the University of South Florida. Dr. Dumani has more than 10 years of applied experience providing research-based consulting to public and private organizations on a wide range of workplace issues including assessment development and validation, employee selection, and career development. During graduate school and then in his applied research career, his passion has been in the field of diversity-equity-inclusion-accessibility, focusing on creating and ensuring fair employment assessments, identifying barriers to access, and developing opportunities for including and integrating diverse voices.

Stacey Hardy-Chandler, Ph.D., J.D., LCSW, PGDip, is the chief executive officer of the Association of Social Work Boards. Hardy-Chandler’s more than 30-year career has spanned the social work spectrum from direct clinical services to academia to senior leadership. She has served as director of field education for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and at George Mason University. Prior to joining ASWB, she served as director of the Center for Children and Families for the City of Alexandria, Virginia. A “resilient optimist and collaborator,” she leverages her background in social work, psychology, and law toward promoting generative leadership. She recently completed a postgraduate diploma in organisational leadership at Oxford University Saïd Business School.

Lavina Harless, LCSW, serves as senior director of examination services at ASWB, responsible for the development and administration of the social work licensing examinations. Harless oversaw ASWB’s 2022 publication of examination pass rate data as part of a commitment to participating in data-driven conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is the author of Becoming the SME Whisperer: Creating a Culture of Engaged, Hardworking (and Happy) Subject-Matter Experts, a white paper for the Institute for Credentialing Excellence. She has also published articles in The New Social Worker and Social Work Today. Previous experience includes serving as the clinical director at a psychiatric residential treatment facility for children. Harless has a BSW and MSW from Radford University.