Rachael Dietkus, LCSW
Digital Services Expert in Design & Social Work, United States Digital Service
Rachael Dietkus is a pioneering social worker-designer specializing in trauma-informed care and ethics within civic and public interest design and technology. With nearly 25 years of experience in social justice, Rachael most recently was the first social worker ever hired at the United States Digital Service, where she focused on integrating trauma-informed practices into federal technology projects. As the founder of Social Workers Who Design, she consults globally on design, research, and strategy projects, nurturing trauma literacy and care humility among designers. Rachael is an RSA Fellow, a Design Council Expert, and a contributor to key publications, including "Feminist Designer" and the forthcoming "This is Journey Management" and "Designed with Care: Creating Trauma-Informed Content." She is also working on her first book on care, trauma, and design with MIT Press. Rachael's work bridges the gap between social work and design, advocating for more humane, care-centered approaches in public service delivery and civic tech.
Rosenverse talks by Rachael:
" As researchers, we stand on the shoulders of many before us; attribution helps us honor that lineage and curiosity. "
Day 3 Theme Panel
March 13, 2025
" Discomfort should not be dismissed; it’s a signpost for necessary change. "
The power to heal and harm
March 13, 2025
" AI allows us to explore multiple imaginaries and possibilities, expanding how we question and understand the world. "
AI: Passionate defenses and reasoned critique [Advancing Research Community Workshop Series]
September 18, 2024
" Humanity doesn’t stop at the door just because you’re a leader — you still have vulnerabilities and struggles. "
Leading through the long tail of trauma
July 13, 2022
" If you have any leadership in your organization and you want to be trauma-informed, start with how you organize and support your people. "
Leading through the long tail of trauma
July 7, 2022
" People from different cultures have different ways of experiencing and showing trauma; body language is not universal. "
Leading through the long tail of trauma
July 7, 2022
" The community is a big tent - welcoming diverse perspectives and geographies to define and shape civic design. "
Everything You Need to Know about the Civic Design 2022 Call for Presentations
May 17, 2022
" Even offering an 'other' category in gender questions implies the participant deviates from a presumed norm. "
Learnings from Applying Trauma-Informed Principles to the Research Process
March 10, 2022
" Our ability to entice participants to share their most personal stories raises the potential to exploit them for design research. "
Trauma-Responsive Design: Reimagining the Future of Design Now
December 10, 2021
