Educating Social Workers in Palliative and End-of-Life Care
An innovative training program designed by social workers, for social workers — building the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead in primary palliative care.
Course Overview
ESPEC is a state-of-the-art curriculum that delivers interactive coursework with engaging videos of patient and family encounters, highlighting best social work practices using the eight domains of palliative care identified by the National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care.
The program enhances social workers' knowledge, skills, and competence; increases their visibility; and positions them for leadership roles within their healthcare teams.
What You'll Learn
- Identify best practices for front-line health social workers to integrate key palliative care principles into clinical work.
- Recognize the knowledge base and practice skills necessary to pursue additional competency in palliative social work.
- Apply the skills necessary for more effective interprofessional communication and increased visibility in the health social work role.
Curriculum: 9 Modules
Each module includes recorded audiovisual content, interactive exercises, reflective questions, and a post-test. Learners may retake post-tests until they achieve the required 80% passing score.
Orientation & Introduction
Structure & Processes of Care
Physical Aspects of Care
Psychological & Psychiatric Aspects of Care
Social Aspects of Care
Spiritual, Religious & Existential Aspects of Care
Cultural Aspects of Care
Care of the Patient Nearing the End of Life
Legal & Ethical Aspects of Care
Who Should Enroll
Health social workers and other social workers who work with individuals and families affected by serious illness. Educational level: Beginner / Intermediate.
Continuing Education Credit
| Credit Category | Hours |
|---|---|
| Clinical Social Work | 5.5 |
| Cultural Competence | 1.5 |
| Ethics | 1.0 |
| Total CE Hours | 8.0 |
Continuing Education Provided By:
University of Louisville Trager Institute (ASWB ACE)
Educating Social Workers in Palliative and End-of-Life Care (ESPEC), [6736], is approved by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program to be offered by the University of Louisville Trager Institute as an individual course. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE course approval period: [4/15/2026-4/15/2027]. Social workers completing this course receive 8 total credits, including 5.5 clinical, 1 ethics, and 1.5 cultural competency continuing education credits.
Disclaimer: It is the responsibility of the attendee to check with their state board to determine if the ethics and/or cultural competency hours offered meet the regulations of their Board. Certificates of attendance and verification of credit will be issued to those who registered for CEs after completion of the online post-tests and course evaluations.
NYS SWK CE Provider Statement: MJHS Institute for Innovation in Palliative Care SW CPE 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 #0242.
Faculty
Myra Glajchen, DSW, MSW, BSW, ACSW, APHSW-C
Dr. Glajchen leads ESPEC, a national training program focused on building palliative care knowledge, skills, and leadership among social workers. A past SWHPN board member and Past President of APHSW-C, she is widely published and nationally recognized for expertise in caregiver burden, interprofessional training, and palliative social work.
Completion Requirements
To receive continuing education credit, participants must:
- Complete all required modules in their entirety
- Pass the post-test for each module with a score of 80% or higher (retakes permitted)
- Complete the required course evaluation
Certificates of completion are available for immediate download upon successful completion.
Ready to advance your palliative care practice?
Join social workers nationwide building the skills to lead in palliative and end-of-life care.
Enroll Now — $200Grievance Policy: Participants with questions, concerns, or complaints related to an ASWB ACE continuing education learning activity may submit a written grievance to the University of Louisville Trager Institute at [email protected]. All grievances are reviewed in accordance with ASWB ACE requirements, with involvement of the Social Work Consultant and, when applicable, the interprofessional Curriculum Committee.
ADA Accessibility Statement: The University of Louisville Trager Institute is committed to providing inclusive and accessible learning experiences for all participants. Reasonable accommodations will be provided in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Participants who require accommodations to fully engage in any learning activity are encouraged to contact the Trager Institute as early as possible to discuss their needs. Requests for accommodations may be submitted to [email protected].
Cancellation Policy: We understand that circumstances may change. If you need to cancel your participation in the ESPEC program, please submit your cancellation request via email to [email protected].
If you have any questions, please contact Trager Education Manager Justin Magnuson at [email protected].