Providing Mental Health Services to People with an Intellectual/Developmental Disability

Presenter: Joseph F. Anastasio, MS, LCSW

Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2026 NEW DATE

Time: 10:00-1:15 pm 

Description: This interactive workshop explores the complexities and possibilities of providing effective mental health services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD/DD). Participants will examine the historical and current landscape of services, ethical responsibilities, and the evolving role of social workers in promoting dignity, inclusion, and self-determination. Key topics include guardianship versus supported decision-making, person-centered planning, and the impact of viewing individuals through a capacity-based rather than a deficiency-based lens. Special emphasis will be placed on culturally responsive practices, the importance of building trust, and supporting autonomy in decision-making. This training aims to deepen participants’ awareness and equip them with tools to improve service delivery and advocacy for this underserved population.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the historical development of mental health services for individuals with IDD/DD and it's ongoing impact.

• Differentiate between guardianship and supported decision-making and explain their ethical and legal implications

• Apply person-centered and self-determination principles to clinical and service planning.

• Analyze the implications of a capacity-focused versus a deficiency-focused framework in mental health practice.

CEUS: 3 CAT I

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This course is geared toward equipping participants with the skills necessary to sit for the Licensed Graduate Social Worker exam (LGSW) or the Clinical Exam (LICSW or LCSW-C). A thorough overview of the test content will be provided as well as an analysis of test-taking strategies and tips useful for success on the exam.

Many social workers were raised in a culture that held up monogamy as a romantic ideal. However, the concept of ethical non-monogamy has increasingly become part of mainstream conversation and social workers are likely to find themselves working with clients who are considering experimenting with ENM in their romantic relationships or clients who are already in ethically non-monogamous relationships.

This interactive workshop explores the complexities and possibilities of providing effective mental health services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD/DD). Participants will examine the historical and current landscape of services, ethical responsibilities, and the evolving role of social workers in promoting dignity, inclusion, and self-determination. Key topics include guardianship versus supported decision-making, person-centered planning, and the impact of viewing individuals through a capacity-based rather than a deficiency-based lens. Special emphasis will be placed on culturally responsive practices, the importance of building trust, and supporting autonomy in decision-making. This training aims to deepen participants’ awareness and equip them with tools to improve service delivery and advocacy for this underserved population.

Section 1.06 of the NEW NASW Code of Ethics states: Social workers should be aware that posting personal information on professional websites or other media might cause boundary confusion, inappropriate dual relationships, or harm to clients. Social workers should be aware that personal affiliations may increase the likelihood that clients may discover the social worker’s presence on Web sites, involvement in electronic communication with groups social media, and other forms of technology. Social workers should be aware that involvement in electronic communication with groups based on race, ethnicity, language, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical ability, religion, immigration status, and other personal affiliations may affect their ability to work effectively with particular clients. This interactive training will examine considerations that social workers should take into account when deciding to join online groups, post videos to social media sites, and post comments to online articles. Lastly, the training will make use case study reviews and small group discussions.