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
" 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
" Sometimes the most ethical and just path for humans is also the most effective for preserving natural systems. "
AI: Passionate defenses and reasoned critique [Advancing Research Community Workshop Series]
September 18, 2024
" Good ethical trauma responsive design should really be what we just call design — it should be intrinsic. "
Leading through the long tail of trauma
July 13, 2022
" Self-care is as much about preparing before you enter the field as it is about debriefing afterwards. "
Leading through the long tail of trauma
July 7, 2022
" Breaks equalize stress and can prevent trauma responses from spilling over. "
Leading through the long tail of trauma
July 7, 2022
" Attendee cohorts meet daily in small groups with facilitators to share learning goals and deepen engagement. "
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
" To be anti-racist, you must be trauma-informed; to be trauma-informed, you must commit to anti-racist work. "
Trauma-Responsive Design: Reimagining the Future of Design Now
December 10, 2021
