2025 Fall Registration Brochure

Registration Brochure 9 Morning Session Andrew MacMath Owner and Consultant Next Wave Solutions Number and Type of Credits: General Strategic Planning in Uncertain Times: A Strengths-based Approach Using SOAR and Appreciative Inquiry, Course #6430 is approved by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program to be offered by the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies (NJAMHAA) as an individual course. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE course approval period: 8/15/2025 - 8/15/2027. Social workers completing this course will receive 1 general continuing education credit. This course is approved by the NJ Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies (NJAMHAA), as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #87719, NJAMHAA is responsible for all aspects of the programming. Strategic Planning in Uncertain Times: A Strengths-based Approach Using SOAR and Appreciative Inquiry SESSION 1.5 . ................................................................ 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM COURSE DESCRIPTION: In today’s rapidly changing social service landscape, social workers are called to be both innovative and grounded—responding to emerging needs while staying true to the profession’s core values. This course equips social workers with practical tools and collaborative experiences to guide effective, ethical, and strengths-based strategic planning, even in times of uncertainty. Using the SOAR (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, Results) framework— rooted in the principles of Appreciative Inquiry—participants will shift from a deficit- focused problem-solving mindset to an approach that identifies possibilities, builds on community and organizational strengths, and fosters resilience. Social workers will learn to envision aspirational goals that align with client-centered practice, social justice priorities, and measurable community impact. Whether you are developing a new program, leading a team through change, or reimagining service delivery, this training offers a collaborative, evidence-informed approach that inspires innovation and sustains positive change for individuals, families, and communities. Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, attendees will be able to: 1. Explain the core principles of Appreciative Inquiry and how they complement social work values such as empowerment, collaboration, and strengths- based practice. 2. Describe how to apply the SOAR model in strategic planning to enhance program development, community engagement, and organizational growth in social service settings. 3. Apply practical tools and techniques to integrate Appreciative Inquiry and SOAR into case management planning, interprofessional collaboration, agency meetings, and strategic initiatives. Audience Target Levels: Intermediate Mary Jo Buchanan, LCSW, MPA Consultant On A Mission Consulting Target Audience: Behavioral Health Management