Case Conferencing for SO Treatment Interpreters

Are you an interpreter who works in sex offender treatment settings? Do you feel alone, without anyone to talk to about your work? Consider joining Case Conferencing sessions strictly for SO treatment interpreters. Case Conferencing will give you an opportunity to discuss difficult situations that come up in your work with other interpreters doing the same type of work. A trained facilitator will be there to guide the group through processing a particular case and brainstorming options for future encounters.

Time: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm CT
Session Dates: Third Tuesday of the month, Sept-May

Sept 19 · Oct 17 · Nov 21 · Dec 19

Jan 16 · Feb 20 · Mar 19 · Apr 16 · May 21
Cost: Free for Greater MN Interpreters*

$20 for Metro Interpreters
Location: Zoom
CEUs: 0.2 CEUs per session, up to 1.8 CEUs for all nine sessions

* You may be asked to verify that you have worked in an SO Treatment setting in the last six months.

About Sessions

Case conferencing is an intentional professional practice between trained supervisors and practitioner. It provides a way to think about our work to promote ethical and competent services to the consumers we serve. Supervision in interpreting uses the Demand Control – Schema (DC-S) which was developed by Dean and Pollard. Each session one or two interpreters will share a situation they experienced from work. This is done in a confidential matter, sharing only enough details for the group to understand the scenario. Once the interpreter has shared their case, supervision leaders and peers will ask clarifying questions to help identify the demands of the scenario. Participants help each other identify demands, controls, consequences, and resulting demands. These become tools for the interpreter sharing the case, as well as everyone in the supervision group, so they can apply them to their work.

What will I gain from participating?

Awareness of the risks of occupational stress. Knowledge is power and can prevent or lessen the impacts of vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue
Sharing experiences with other interpreters offers social support, normalization of experiences, amends cognitive distortions, and helps to maintain objectivity
You will offer and receive validation and support
Reinforce and broaden options for personal coping strategies
Share new information about the work
Group provides support for dealing with the aftereffects of intensity
Increasing your professional network decreases professional isolation
Interpreters have the opportunity to increase objectivity, empathy and compassion

About the Facilitator

Kate Block

BEI-Advanced, CI/CT, MBA, MM, QMHI-S, SC:L
Certificate in Healthcare Interpreting
Credentialed Supervision Leader (IIRAS International)

Kate is a freelance interpreter who works mainly in Wisconsin. Kate’s work experience includes Mental Health, Legal, VRS, religious and post-secondary environments. She received a Bachelors degree in Mass Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and an Interpreter Technician degree from Milwaukee Area Technical College. Kate spent two summers at Gallaudet University, taking interpreting workshops and ASL classes. She also attended a workshop at Juilliard University in New York focusing on theater interpreting. Kate continued her education with a Masters degree in Business Administration and Masters in Management degree with an emphasis on leadership in a nonprofit organization. Kate also attended the State of Alabama Mental Health Interpreting workshop, received her “Q” and was awarded supervisor status for distance internships. She completed her legal interpreting training with the University of Northern Colorado. Kate’s additional professional achievements are the Certified Healthcare Interpreter (CHI) program with Rochester Institute of Technology and Credentialed Supervision Leader with IIRAS International.

All above Greater MN programs are provided by ASLIS and supported by grant funding from the Minnesota Department of Human Services: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division.