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:
" There’s more risk for marginalized people to claim power because of expectations to be silenced or punished, so it’s a calculated bet. "
Day 3 Theme Panel
March 13, 2025
" Slowing down is not inefficiency; it is a commitment to dignity and trust. "
The power to heal and harm
March 13, 2025
" Who was involved in the process? Who benefited? Who was harmed? These are essential questions in AI design. "
AI: Passionate defenses and reasoned critique [Advancing Research Community Workshop Series]
September 18, 2024
" Journaling your stress triggers helps you become self-aware and anticipate stress responses rather than fight them. "
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
" If you work with humans, you work with trauma; it’s inherent in human experience. "
Leading through the long tail of trauma
July 7, 2022
" Our curation process is identity hidden to prioritize equity and thematic mapping over affiliation or geography. "
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
" People must feel emotionally, physically, and psychologically safe in our design spaces. "
Trauma-Responsive Design: Reimagining the Future of Design Now
December 10, 2021
