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«Back to all edWebinarsHow to Instill Cultural Humility into the Classroom: The Social Worker Perspective
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EDT
Presented by Cathy Routhier, LCSW, Adjunct Instructor and Associate Director of Practicum Education, Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University; and Debbie Chanan, DSW, MSW, Adjunct Instructor and MSW Online Academic Advisor, Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University
Moderated by Eliana Morris, Senior Admissions Advisor, Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University
Sponsored by Yeshiva University Wurzweiler School of Social Work
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
In an increasingly diverse educational landscape, K–12 educators are tasked with meeting the unique cultural, emotional, and academic needs of their students. This engaging edWebinar offers a social-work-centered perspective on how to embed cultural humility into everyday classroom practices to foster inclusive, supportive, and academically enriching environments.
Through the lens of school-based social workers, attendees will explore actionable strategies that address:
- Navigating the complexities of immigration and supporting immigrant and refugee students
- Integrating education behavior and mental health practices to better understand student needs
- Employing trauma-informed approaches to foster resilience and safety
- Promoting student wellness through holistic and culturally attuned practices
- Advancing social and emotional learning (SEL) as a tool for equity and engagement
- Building effective partnerships through proactive social worker engagement
- Strengthening student outcomes by aligning academic instruction with emotional and cultural supports
Educators will leave this session with concrete tools and renewed insight into how cultural humility can serve as a bridge between equity, student well-being, and classroom success. Whether you’re a K-12 teacher, counselor, or school leader, this edWebinar will empower you to create a learning environment that honors every student’s identity and experience.
About the Presenters
Cathy Routhier is a clinical social worker completing her degree at the University of Maine at Orono. She brings more than 30 years of experience working with children and families across Boston and Maine, with a deep commitment to supporting vulnerable populations, particularly those involved in child protection and the foster care system. Cathy previously served as the clinical coordinator of a community mental health center for 12 years, overseeing child, adult outpatient, and crisis services. She also spent 18 years as a school social worker, providing critical support to students and families facing poverty, homelessness, substance misuse, involvement with foster care services, and addressing issues of truancy and juvenile justice.
Cathy is trained in restorative justice practices and integrates these principles into her work, fostering healing and accountability in challenging situations. Her work has consistently focused on trauma-informed care, system navigation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. In her current roles as Adjunct Instructor and Associate Director of Practicum Education at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Cathy is dedicated to preparing social work students for the realities of clinical and community practice through robust practicum experiences.
Dr. Debbie Chanan is a certified school social worker and school counselor in the state of Florida with more than 20 years of experience working with socially vulnerable youth in K-12 settings throughout the northern suburbs of Chicago and South Florida. This work also included serving as a Mental Health Coordinator in the Miami-Dade County school system in K-12 schools. Prior to joining Yeshiva University’s Online MSW Program as an Academic Advisor and Adjunct Instructor, Dr. Chanan served as the Bachelor of Social Work Director at the Barry University Department of Social Work.
She holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and an Educational Specialist degree in counselor education from Florida Atlantic University. Additionally, because of her passion for leadership and clinical practice, she recently completed her doctoral degree in social work at Barry University with a research focus on social work pedagogy and political conflict.
About the Moderator
Eliana Morris has served for nearly four years as an Admissions Outreach Advisor with Everspring, supporting the online Master of Social Work (MSW) Program at Yeshiva University. In this capacity, she collaborates closely with prospective students, guiding them through the admissions process and helping them determine how YU’s MSW Program can support their professional and personal aspirations. While this edWebinar focuses on empowerment strategies for educators, Eliana will also offer valuable insights into Yeshiva University’s MSW Program and provide a clear overview of the admissions process for those considering a career in social work. She looks forward to engaging with attendees and assisting individuals in taking this important step in their educational journey. Eliana holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from Bradley University.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Join the Mental Health and Wellness community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
Wurzweiler School of Social Work has been a leader in social work education for over 60 years. With a focus on cultural responsiveness, social justice, and human transformation, our community of students, faculty, administrators, and alumni all work to create positive change in the world. Wurzweiler is committed to connecting passion to purpose by training social workers who can navigate modern obstacles and complex systems with the ultimate goal of helping communities heal.
