SWIM Conference

PDAP’s SWIM Conference is the first program of its kind to focus exclusively on Pennsylvania Public Defender SWIM (Social Worker/social service advocate, Investigator, Mitigator) staff. The purpose behind the conference is to create a space for engaging, connecting and training the SWIM community.

Programming consists of plenary sessions, keynote and panel discussions, and breakout workshops designed specifically for investigators or social service/mitigation staff. Featured topics for the 2025 conference included lessons from capital mitigation, mobile forensics and Cellebrite, components of competency, former client perspective, AI for investigations, and much more.

Speaking on the impact of both this conference and the surrounding community, a participant wrote, “SWIM is a valuable resource for me to connect with others. I am inspired by the work everyone does. Everyone is so kind and I feel comfortable reaching out for help when needed.”

In addition to this annual event, PDAP also continues to offer social service referral resources as well as SWIM-specific training and resources year-round. We also encourage anyone interested to sign up for our listserv for information on SWIM-specific meetups, trainings, and resources.