Social Work, the Environment and Wellbeing
Presented by:
Tommy Wells, MSW, JD past Director for the Washington DC Dept. Of Energy and Environment
Amy Krings, Ph.D., M.S.W.
12-1pm CST Apr. 1, 2026
1 FREE General Knowledge CE Credit
Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective #1
Social workers will better understand how social work can be applied to environmental improvement efforts.
Learning Objective #2
Social workers will better understand environmental advocacy.
Learning Objective #3
Social workers will learn about international collaboration on environmental concerns, psychosocial assessment, caregiver evaluation, and identifying barriers that impact treatment success.
Speakers
Tommy Wells, MSW, JD
Tommy Wells brings a 35-year track record of driving progressive policies in Washington and the ability to build coalitions among diverse interest groups. As the Director of the District Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) and Chair of DC Water from 2015 to 2023, Wells became a nationally recognized proponent of carbon emissions reduction, climate change resilience, river and stream restoration, and the activation of parks and public spaces. Serving two terms on the DC City Council from 2007 to 2014, Wells was known for promoting livable walkable neighborhoods through innovative urban transit, environmental restoration, and the enhancement of community amenities including schools, parks, and libraries. He was a leading advocate for sustainable development, fueling unprecedented economic revitalization in Ward 6. He also stood firmly for adhering to a strict code of ethics at a time when many of the city’s leaders were mired in controversy. Previously, as a social worker, school board member, and nonprofit director, Wells spent 15 years devising, advancing, and executing measures to improve public education and social services. As the Director of the Consortium for Child Welfare, he helped forge a coordinated response to the effects of the AIDS crisis on families. He also partnered with leaders in Congress to create the DC Superior Court’s Family Court, which led to a 300% increase the number of foster children adopted into permanent homes every year. Wells currently serves on the board of directors for Anacostia Riverkeeper and Greater Washington. He has a law degree from the Catholic University Columbus School of Law and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Minnesota. He lives on Capitol Hill with his wife, Barbara Wells.
Amy Krings, Ph.D., M.S.W.
Dr. Amy Krings examines how members of impacted groups come together to prevent, mitigate, and resist environmental and other social injustices. Her research questions and community-engaged methods are grounded in her previous practice experience as a community organizer and nonprofit leader. A leading scholar in the fields of macro and environmental social work, her research sheds light on opportunities and strategies for social and political change, including the development of ecosocial work theory, education and practice. Dr. Krings serves in several leadership positions that support social work researchers, educators, students, and practitioners. She co-leads the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare’s Grand Challenge to Create Social Responses to a Changing Environment. She is a co-editor of the Journal of Community Practice and a co-chair of the SSWR Cluster on Communities and Neighborhoods. She is a former elected board member of Influencing Social Policy (ISP) and the Association for Community Organizing and Social Development (ACOSA). Dr. Krings received her Ph.D. from the Joint Doctoral Social Work and Political Science Program at the University of Michigan. In 2021, she was a Visiting Scholar through the University of Jyväskylä, Finland where she collaborated with international scholars to integrate environmental justice theory and practice within eco-social work.