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:
" Just throwing numbers at people does not engage them; pairing data with personal stories or quotes makes the findings resonate. "
Day 3 Theme Panel
March 13, 2025
" The pressure to produce insights quickly defines many organizations shaped by 'move fast and break things' culture. "
The power to heal and harm
March 13, 2025
" There is always going to be a power gap in inclusiveness efforts unless we critically question who is missing. "
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
" You cannot heal your way out of death or oppression by reforming oppressive systems; you can only do so when you dismantle them. "
Leading through the long tail of trauma
July 7, 2022
" Consent is ongoing; check in repeatedly during interviews about participants’ comfort and willingness. "
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
" Harm is inevitably caused by research; the question is how do we reduce that harm as much as possible. "
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
