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:
" I made the mistake of arguing in the chat instead of slowing down and asking the group what would make qualitative data persuasive for them. "
Day 3 Theme Panel
March 13, 2025
" The power of a bold idea uttered publicly in defiance of dominant opinion cannot be easily measured. "
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
" Giving people control over their work is just as important as validating their experiences to reduce burnout. "
Leading through the long tail of trauma
July 13, 2022
" Trauma is not so much an external event as it is the way that event embeds in individual bodies. "
Leading through the long tail of trauma
July 7, 2022
" I’ve never gone into an Indigenous community alone; relationships and partnerships are vital. "
Leading through the long tail of trauma
July 7, 2022
" Workshop content is equivalent to a one-day in-person event spread over 10 virtual hours with coaching and support. "
Everything You Need to Know about the Civic Design 2022 Call for Presentations
May 17, 2022
" Compensation should be culturally competent and consider all supports participants might need to show up fully. "
Learnings from Applying Trauma-Informed Principles to the Research Process
March 10, 2022
" Authentically engaging with people traumatized by racism demands a significant abundance of care. "
Trauma-Responsive Design: Reimagining the Future of Design Now
December 10, 2021
