Mitigation Certificate Program
2025 Mitigation Certificate Program Dates
May 7, 2025 10:00-6:00 Eastern Time
Registration Now Open!
$195 NOFSW Members / $245 Non-members (add $25 after April 22)
Draft Agenda
• Participatory Defense
o Guest speaker: Cecilia Chavez
o The basics of participatory defense will be discussed.
o Learning objective: Participants will be able to explain the main tenants of participatory
defense.
• Working with Veterans
o Guest speaker: Brockton Hunter
o This presentation will focus on the needs of veterans going through the criminal justice system
process, how to obtain records, and mitigating themes associated with prior military service.
o Learning objective: Participants will be able to articulate how prior military service serves as
a mitigator in criminal cases.
• Working with Experts
o Guest speaker: Dr. Emily Reeder Abili
o This presentation will focus on the selection of appropriate experts and ideas to retain experts
on limited budget.
o Learning objective: Participants will be able to identify legal considerations when hiring
experts on criminal cases.
• Juveniles and Emerging Adults
o Proposed speaker: Ms. Michelle Callari
o This presentation will focus on the phases of brain development for juveniles and emerging
adults. Participants will be able to identify ways to advocate for juveniles and emerging adults in
the criminal justice system.
o Learning objective: Participants will be able to demonstrate how brain science can be used as a
mitigator in criminal cases for juveniles and emerging adults.
• Competency in Sexual Assault Cases
o Proposed speaker: Ms. Stacey Cramer
o This presentation will focus on advocacy within competency proceedings on sexual assault cases
and how to successfully challenge competency for clients facing sex crimes.
o Learning objective: Participants will be able to list at least 1 method to advocate during the
competency process in sexual assault cases.
• Trauma Informed Mitigation
o Proposed speaker: Dr. Ali Winters
o This presentation will focus on the importance of a trauma-informed approach to mitigation, the neurocircuitry of trauma, best practices for trauma-informed engagement and assessment, and trauma-informed strategies to elicit and integrate trauma narratives in mitigation work.
o Learning objective: By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to describe the neurocircuitry of trauma, define a trauma-informed approach within the context of mitigation, and identify specific strategies used to become more trauma-informed in mitigation work.
• Cybertools in Mitigation Investigation
o Guest speaker: Ms. Maria Sapene
o This presentation will focus on open-source websites and online tools that can be accessed to
locate and discover the electronic footprint of clients and witnesses in criminal cases.
o Learning objective: Participants will be able to list at least 2 open-source websites that can be
utilized to locate information in criminal cases.
Presenter Bios
Learning Objectives
The Non-Capital Mitigation Certificate is a program sanctioned by the National Organization of Forensic Social Work. It would be appropriate to list or note this certificate among a professional’s specialized areas of training. It would not be appropriate to list as a credential after one’s name (e.g. Sallie Sue, NCMFSWC). The program is being offered in a virtual/online format. Participation in all parts of the program is required to complete the certificate program. The format will allow for viewing of the presentation and supporting materials as well as interaction between the presenters and participants in real time. Registered participants will receive instructions on how to gain access to this event via email approximately one week prior to the event. If you have questions about the NCMFSW Certificate, please contact Jim Campbell at jim.campbell@nofsw.org.
Course completion requirements: To earn CE credit, social workers must log in at the scheduled time, attend the entire course and complete an online course evaluation. Certificates of completion will be emailed within 10 business days of course completion.
The National Organization of Forensic Social Work, provider # 1823, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. National Organization of Forensic Social Work maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 07/18/2023–07/18/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 7.0 continuing education credits.
System requirements:
• Operating Systems: Windows XP or higher, MacOS 9 or higher, Android 4.0 or higher
• Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 9.0 or higher, Google Chrome, Firefox 10.0 or higher
• Broadband Internet connection: Cable, High-speed DSL & any other medium that is internet accessible.