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:
" We haven’t lost our power as a discipline — we just need to reclaim agency and make others recognize the power we already hold. "
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
" It's all about balance: being aware of AI’s issues while remaining open to its incredible opportunities. "
AI: Passionate defenses and reasoned critique [Advancing Research Community Workshop Series]
September 18, 2024
" If a workplace is a dirty fishbowl, forcing someone to take vacation is just putting the fish in a clean bowl temporarily. "
Leading through the long tail of trauma
July 13, 2022
" Being trauma-informed means restoring a sense of safety, power, and self-worth. "
Leading through the long tail of trauma
July 7, 2022
" Self-care after trauma work includes debriefing, therapy, time off, and reconnecting with loved ones. "
Leading through the long tail of trauma
July 7, 2022
" Having a Slack channel for chat and resources creates ongoing conversations and historical artifacts beyond the live talks. "
Everything You Need to Know about the Civic Design 2022 Call for Presentations
May 17, 2022
" Over-researching vulnerable populations repeats colonial patterns of extracting trauma without care. "
Learnings from Applying Trauma-Informed Principles to the Research Process
March 10, 2022
" What if we moved at the speed of care, support, and hospitality instead of just the speed of trust? "
Trauma-Responsive Design: Reimagining the Future of Design Now
December 10, 2021
