On-Demand CE Training
ODL 381: The Clinician’s Guide to Supporting Children and Adolescents with Chronic Pain & Co-Occurring Conditions
Please make sure to check with your own state board to ensure the transferability of CE credit for an asynchronous course. Some state boards may place restrictions regarding the modality of training required for ethics credits to be awarded. If this training indicates ethics credits are available, please verify that your state allows them to be earned through an on-demand course format.
Please note: This on-demand webinar is a replay of a live CE event. The format reflects the original presentation and may include live Q&A, transitions, and intermittent audio/visual fluctuations typical of a live recording.
5 CREDIT HOURS APPROVED FOR:
Social Workers
ASWB ACE – 5 Clinical Continuing Education credits
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work – 5 Contact hours
Psychologists
APA – 5 CE credits
Counselors 5 Contact hours
NBCC ACEP – 5 Contact hours
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners – 5 Contact hours
Addiction Professionals
NAADAC – 5 Contact hours
Nurses
California Board of Registered Nursing – 5 Contact hours
Case Managers
CCMC – 5 Contact hours
Created On: 1/23/26
Target Audience:
This course is targeted for social workers, psychologists, counselors, nurses and case managers.
Counselor Skill Groups:
3. Treatment Plan
4. Counseling Services
7. Discharge and Continuing Care
Overview:
Estimates indicate that approximately 30% of children and adolescents are impacted by pain. The adolescent population is particularly at risk for pain. Pain, particularly chronic pain, can have adverse outcomes on children and adolescents across multiple facets of life. This training course provides a framework to understand the nature and derivation of pain. A special focus will be devoted to varying understandings of pain, options for assessing pain, and treatment options. Co-occurring, comorbid conditions will be discussed with an emphasis on at-risk populations who may experience chronic pain. Supports and strategies will be discussed aimed to improve quality of life and enhance comfort for children and adolescents living with chronic pain.
Course Objectives:
By the end of the session, the participant will be able to:
- Describe multiple understandings of pain and the derivation of pain.
- Explain the prevalence of chronic pain in children and adolescents.
- Define chronic pain and the impact on clients.
- Identify how co-occurring health and mental health conditions may exacerbate chronic pain experiences.
- Examine the impact of chronic pain on family systems.
- Explain five different treatment options and strategies to support children and adolescents living with chronic pain.
- Identify resources for people living with chronic pain and their families.
Presenter:
Christina Marsack-Topolewski, PhD, LMSW
Christina Marsack-Topolewski, PhD, LMSW, is a licensed social worker and an Associate Professor of Social Work at Eastern Michigan University. She received her Bachelor of Science in Special Education from Wayne State University, Master of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan, and her PhD in Social Work with a dual title in Gerontology from Wayne State University. She has 20 years of experience supporting individuals with disabilities and their family caregivers. She has consulted on cases of individuals with disabilities with various co-occurring conditions. Dr. Marsack-Topolewski has worked as a professor, clinical therapist, teacher, consultant, and speaker. She has published over 80 research articles in scholarly journals and encyclopedias regarding individuals with disabilities, family caregiving, and aging.
Dr. Marsack-Topolewski has served as the lead principal investigator on multiple grant-funded programs tailoring services for individuals with disabilities, older adults, and chronic illnesses. She is an appointed board member of the U.S. National Task Group (NTG) on Intellectual Disability and Dementia Practices. Dr. Marsack-Topolewski’s research has been featured on National Public Radio (NPR) and ABC News Detroit. Over the past 5 years, she testified before members of the Michigan Legislature to advocate for new laws that protect against the exploitation and abuse of adults with disabilities. The first of these house bills was signed into law in the state of Michigan in December 2023. In 2024, she received the Ronald W. Collins Distinguished Research Award for Research Excellence. In addition, she received the Arc of Oakland County’s Advocacy Hall of Fame Award in 2024.