UB School of Social Work launches lunchtime continuing education series

By Matthew Biddle

Beginning this summer, the University at Buffalo School of Social Work is offering practitioners an opportunity to “lunch and learn” — and earn the continuing education credits they need to maintain their licensure.

Hosted by the school’s Office of Continuing Education, the new Lunch and Learn Series features monthly live, online webinars that each provide one CE of training content. Each training is held from noon to 1 p.m. ET, followed by an optional 30-minute Q&A with the speaker.

Participants can purchase a rolling annual subscription for $199, giving them access to the next 12 months of Lunch and Learn webinars, along with a 10% discount on most live trainings and a 20% discount on most self-study courses from the Office of Continuing Education.

The series’ debut coincides with the 40th anniversary of the office’s Buffalo Niagara Summer Institute, which began in 1986 to address a growing need for specialized education in addiction treatment. Since then, it has expanded in scope and audience, becoming one of the longest running professional development programs for social workers and allied professionals in Western New York.

To purchase an annual Lunch and Learn subscription, visit the Office of Continuing Education’s website. In honor of the 40th anniversary, the first 40 Lunch and Learn subscribers can receive 40% off the subscription price using the code 40OFFfor40.

“We developed the Lunch and Learn Series in response to feedback from mental health professionals seeking high-quality, affordable continuing education that fits into busy work schedules,” says Kathleen T. Heim, LMSW, director of continuing education. “By offering one-hour sessions over lunch, we’re making it easier for practitioners to stay current on best practices and stay connected with the Office of Continuing Education and the School of Social Work throughout the year.”

The series kicked off on July 10 with a presentation by Laurie M. Belanger, LCSW-R, that focused on clinical self-development.

For the rest of 2026, participants will hear from a variety of renowned experts — right from their desks at lunchtime:

• August 14: “Rethinking Access: Disability Inclusion and Cultural Humility in Professional Practice,” with Eric A. Deutsch, JD, PhD
• Sept. 11: “Navigating Inclusive Conversations: Working with Diverse Communication Styles,” with Jennifer Loughran, LMSW, MSW ’10
• Oct. 9: “Starting at the Beginning: Your Nervous System, Stress and Returning to Neutral,” with Lidia J. Snyder, LMSW, MSW ’95
• Nov. 13: “Boundaries That Heal: A Guided Conversation for the Wounded Healer in Helping Professions,” with Lisa Connors, PhD
• Dec. 11: “Medical Myth Busters: Debunking Race-Based Misconceptions in Healthcare,” with Tiandra J. Bowman, LMSW, and Alyssa Bakken-Heck, LMSW, MSW ’15

Matthew Biddle
Director of Communications and Marketing
School of Social Work
Tel: 716-645-1226
mrbiddle@buffalo.edu