Description:
Prior to this Social Worker’s Association of Alberta webinar, participants will have the opportunity to view the CBC Fifth Estate documentary Trapped: The Online Terror Network (originally aired on March 21, 2025). The documentary focuses on a network of individuals and groups that use online platforms to coerce minors into behaviour that is harmful, extreme, and sometimes illegal.
Social workers, Laura Stolte and Peter Smyth, who appear in the documentary, will build off this topic to present and facilitate discussion about the intersections between violent extremism, the online environment, and youth. They will introduce their work with the Evolve Program, part of the Organization for the Prevention of Violence, and share information about how to access this community resource. While vulnerable youth are more at risk, other youth can be caught up in harmful violent hate groups leaving parents, teachers, community members, and those in the helping professions wondering what to do and where to turn.
Countering violent extremism is a lesser-known area of practice for social work, but one that is emerging. Social work has a vital role to play both in developing casework practices to help youth and adults disengage from violent extremism, and in identifying and addressing extremist-related topics as they arise in various settings and areas of practice. Laura and Peter will address comments, insights and questions arising from participants about the documentary, as well as offering thoughts and strategies from their work of countering violent extremism.
Presenters:
Laura Stolte, MSW, RSW
Laura is the lead case worker with the Evolve Program, a community-based countering violent extremism (CVE) program that is part of the Organization for the Prevention of Violence (OPV). Laura received a Bachelor’s degree in Child and Youth Care from Grant MacEwan University, as well as a Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Calgary. She has worked with youth and families for over 15 years, spending much of her early career working in youth transitional housing and mental health programs. Laura began working in the area of CVE since starting with the OPV in 2020. Within this space, she aims to support individuals and families to live good lives, reduce hatred and harm, and to contribute to the development of best practices in this area of practice more broadly. Laura uses a relational and person-centered approach in her work, believing that human connection can be an antidote to the complex harms that extremism can bring.
Peter Smyth, MSW, RSW, MSM
Peter is currently working with the Organization for the Prevention of Violence focusing on countering violent extremism. Previous to that Peter coordinated the High Risk Youth Initiative with Alberta Children and Family Services, Edmonton Region. He developed a practice framework and philosophy incorporating non-traditional intervention methods to better meet the needs of complex, troubled and street-involved youth. Peter has written a book, book chapters and articles about issues confronting youth. He provides consultation, training and workshops on engaging and working with youth. Peter is a sessional instructor at the MacEwan University Social Work Program.
His book High Risk Youth: A Relationship-Based Practice Framework, Second Edition, was released in 2024.