2026 Mitigation Certificate Program Dates

November 18, 2026 10:00-6:00 Eastern Time

Registration Opening Soon!

$195 FSWA Members / $245 Non-members  ​(add $25 after November 25)

Draft Agenda

• Participatory Defense

  • The basics of participatory defense will be discussed.

  • Learning objective: Participants will be able to explain the main tenets of participatory 
    defense.

• Working with Veterans

  • 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.

  • Learning objective: Participants will be able to articulate how prior military service serves as 
    a mitigator in criminal cases.

• Working with Experts

  • This presentation will focus on the selection of appropriate experts and ideas to retain experts 
    on limited budget.

  • Learning objective: Participants will be able to identify legal considerations when hiring 
    experts on criminal cases.

• Impact of Juvenile Incarceration

• Competency and Intellectual Disability

• Trauma Informed Mitigation

  • 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.

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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

references

The Non-Capital Mitigation Certificate is a program sanctioned by the Forensic Social Work Alliance.   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 Forensic Social Work Alliance, provider #1823, formerly the National Organization of Forensic Social Work, 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. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit.  ACE provider approval period: 07/18/2023–07/18/2026.  Social workers completing this course receive 7.0 continuing education credits.

National Organization of Forensic Social Work is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0876.

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.