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:
"Reframing the question helps us see that we haven't given our power away, it's still there waiting to be recognized."
Day 3 Theme Panel
March 13, 2025
"You can't be neutral on a moving train."
The power to heal and harm
March 13, 2025
"The act of asking a question changes the results; results are nudged by the construction of the prompt itself."
AI: Passionate defenses and reasoned critique [Advancing Research Community Workshop Series]
September 18, 2024
"Burnout and trauma can be seen as related cousins; sharing symptoms and responses but distinct in their implications."
Leading through the long tail of trauma
July 13, 2022
"It’s critical to center the voices and experiences of those directly impacted by trauma in research processes."
Leading through the long tail of trauma
July 13, 2022
"We want the topics to reflect the community's needs and experiences as we highlight diverse perspectives."
Everything You Need to Know about the Civic Design 2022 Call for Presentations
May 17, 2022
"To be trauma informed means recognizing the past experiences of those you're working with."
Learnings from Applying Trauma-Informed Principles to the Research Process
March 10, 2022
"If you’re going to be trauma-informed, you must commit to anti-racist work as well; it’s non-negotiable."
Trauma-Responsive Design: Reimagining the Future of Design Now
December 10, 2021
"You need trusted voices in your research to help navigate potentially triggering topics."
Leading through the long tail of trauma
January 1, 1970
