The Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare (SSW) welcomed over 120 school social workers from public and private schools across Nassau and Suffolk counties for the second annual Long Island School Social Workers' Conference on June 2.
This year’s theme, School Social Work: Embodiment and Emotional Regulation Strategies for Students, focused on somatic practices and emotional wellness tools designed to support students in school settings.
Co-sponsored by the New York State School Social Workers’ Association, the event was organized by Robin DeLuca-Acconi, PhD, LCSW, clinical associate professor and director of the SSW Workforce Development, Programs and Partnerships.
The conference created a dynamic space for school social workers to connect, collaborate, and share practical strategies that support their day-to-day work. Notably, the event welcomed many SSW alumni, whose presence underscored the strong professional network that the program has cultivated.
"It was a heartfelt gathering of professionals and kindness; you could feel the joy and buzz throughout the day,” said Chris Carlozzo, LMSW, a 2018 graduate of the SSW’s Advanced Standing MSW Program and 2017 BSW graduate, who now serves as a district social worker in the Central Islip School District.
“Each of the keynote speakers was engaging, refreshing, and innovative to our field, and the breakout rooms were geared to our daily work,” Carlozzo added. “Since we as a profession do not always have representation or time to collaborate, it was truly a great experience.”
Creating a community of support
DeLuca-Acconi also led a session titled “Somatic Practices for Educational-Based Systems Change,” emphasizing the importance of body-based interventions in reshaping educational systems to better serve both students and professionals.
"School social workers provide a crucial link between home and school, ensuring students receive the support they need to thrive both inside and outside the school environment,” said DeLuca-Acconi.
“It is a wonderful career, but it can be isolating, which makes coming together and creating a community of support essential,” she added. “My vision is to continue to create spaces where school social workers can be seen, understood, and mostly valued for their work, which is indispensable."
The conference featured a diverse range of workshops tailored to the realities of school social work, including:
- "Factors Associated with Police Bringing Children to a Psychiatric Emergency Room"
- "Seeing Your Students Through a Somatic Lens”
- "Attending to the Nervous System Through Play in Schools”
- "Using the Emotionally Focused Technique in Schools”
- "What Better Looks Like: Visioning and Creating Community through Communi-tea”
In addition to faculty and guest speakers, Ken Edwards, LCSW, and Kathy Rogers, DSW, both adjunct faculty members at the SSW, presented workshops, further strengthening the conference’s connection to the school’s academic community.
Praised for its relevance, energy, and sense of unity
Mara Kasdan ’91, LCSW, a social worker at the Brentwood School district, reflected on the strength of the professional community: “When school social workers come together, we don't just strengthen each other—we strengthen the entire system. When we stand together, no one stands alone. The challenges are great, but so is the power of our school social work community.”
Katie Kelly ’02, PhD, LCSW-R, a social worker at Bay Shore High School, added: “This was the most informative and well-organized social work conference I've attended in many years. Understanding more about the importance of the school-to-community connection and the ways the body exhibits and heals from trauma are essential parts of school social work, and this conference provided a clearer vision into the lens of these topics.”
As the conference continues to grow, so too does its role in strengthening the school social work community across Long Island and beyond.
