History of OASW - Ontario Association of Social Workers

OASW ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
REFLECTIONS ON THE PAST 50 YEARS
INTRODUCTION
The following reflections provide a brief
“snap shot” of the past 50 years based
upon a review of minutes and archival
documents.
Highlights of a sampling of some of the
themes addressed during those years will
be presented.
THINGS CHANGE: THINGS STAY THE SAME
What has changed?
Many things have changed in relation to the profession,
society as a whole and client populations.
Ontario has been shaped by:
 immigration which has led to increased diversity of
our communities;
 shifts in the province’s economic fortunes;
 aging of our population;
 impact of the women’s movement;
 size and structure of family units; nature of
employment; rapidity of change; and the list goes on.
THINGS CHANGE: THINGS STAY THE SAME
What has changed?
In regard to the profession, changes include, but are
not limited to:
 evolution of social work practice;
 public policy which has shaped how services are
funded and delivered;
 growth of independent practice; and
 impact of technology.
THINGS CHANGE: THINGS STAY THE SAME
What has remained constant?
Common themes emerge related to fundamental
advocacy issues and concerns that OASW has
championed:
Social Justice/Social Advocacy
 Human Rights

 Poverty

Promotion of Profession/Professional Advocacy
 Lack
of understanding and valuing of the
profession’s role, skills and contribution to service
delivery
 Salaries and working conditions
1960s: A Decade of prosperity
and expansion in Ontario
Provincial Context:
Demographics and Family Size/Structure
 Economy
 Employment

1960s: A Decade of prosperity
and expansion in Ontario
During the 1960s:

Lack of Provincial Voice for Social Workers:
Beginning in 1955, representatives of city-based
chapters of the Canadian Association of Social
Workers (CASW) discussed the need for social
workers in Ontario to have “a voice”. Between
1960 and 1962, a broad-based Ontario
Committee provided leadership in bringing the
idea to fruition.
1960s: A Decade of prosperity
and expansion in Ontario
During the 1960s:
Establishment of the Association: In 1962, the
Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW) was
formed, under the presidency of Florence Philpott.
 Membership Requirements: Membership was
restricted to individuals from accredited programs
in social work or those deemed to have equivalent
social work qualifications by CASW.

1960s: A Decade of prosperity
and expansion in Ontario
During the 1960s:

Incorporation: In 1964, the Ontario Association of
Social Workers (OASW) was incorporated.
1970s: Prosperity and Growth Continues
Provincial Context:
Economic Prosperity
 Influence of the Women’s Movement

1970s: Prosperity and Growth Continues
During the 1970s:
 Focus of Social Work Practice: Growing focus of
practice was work with individual and family
systems and the emergence of family therapy.
Concerns about the emergence of private practice
led to OASW establishing a policy regarding the
qualifications and experience required for
independent practice.
1970s: Prosperity and Growth Continues
During the 1970s:
 Women’s Issues: Consultations related to
discriminatory practices affecting women in
regard to human fertility and reproduction;
inequities in family law; and employment
practices. Participated in a Task Force studying
the relationship of social work to the status of
women; hosted a Provincial Conference entitled,
The Status of Women in Society at Large.
1970s: Prosperity and Growth Continues
Poverty: Participation in Anti-Poverty Coalition
 Aging Population: In 1978, OASW’s first
Committee on Aging was struck.
 Wages and Employment Practices within the
Profession: Actively monitoring employment
practices and developing materials and guidelines
related to hiring practices, salary guidelines and
personnel practices to guide bargaining disputes.

1970s: Prosperity and Growth Continues

Quest for the Regulation of Practice: Draft bill was
submitted to the Ministry of Community and
Social Services (MCSS) seeking regulation of the
practice.
1980s: Ontario Government
Begins to Tighten its Belt
Provincial Context:
Economy Slowing
 Workplace Legislation

1980s: Ontario Government
Begins to Tighten its Belt
During the 1980s:
 Social Assistance Review Commission (SARC):
Meetings with government and stakeholders
resulted in submitting a written response in the
Transitions Report.
 Violence Against Women and Children:
Handbooks on both woman abuse and child
abuse were developed and published.
 Impact of HIV/AIDS: OASW’s Statement on
HIV/AIDS: Social Work Perspective.
 Child Poverty: Joined Campaign 2000’s goal of the
elimination of child poverty.
1980s: Ontario Government
Begins to Tighten its Belt
Establishment of Ontario College of Certified
Social Workers (OCCSW): In 1982, OASW
established a voluntary, self-regulatory body.
 Bilingualism: In 1986, 3-year grants from the
federal and provincial governments enabled the
development of bilingual policies, staff language
training, the translation of key documents, etc.
 Purchase of Provincial Office: Permanent office
space by purchasing 410 Jarvis Street in Toronto.

1980s: Ontario Government
Begins to Tighten its Belt

Project Legislation: In 1985, a request for
inclusion of social work as a regulated profession
under the Ministry of Health when the Ministry
undertook the Health Professions Legislation
Review was made.
 In 1987, a Project Legislation Levy was
instituted.
 In February 1989, the provincial government
produced a Policy Paper on Social Work
Regulation and held a Stakeholder
Consultation.
1990s: Slowing Economy and Political Turmoil
Provincial Context:
Major Recession
 Common Sense Revolution
 Challenges to Principle of Universal Access to
Publicly Funded Services
 Globalization

1990s: Slowing Economy and Political Turmoil
During the 1990s:
 Poverty: Activities included a response to a
consultation paper on A Housing Framework for
Ontario; press conference at Queen’s Park in
response to Premier Rae’s “Economic Address”; a
written submission regarding a government paper
on Social Welfare entitled, “Turning Point”,
expressing serious concerns about the adequacy
of benefits.
1990s: Slowing Economy and Political Turmoil
During the 1990s:
 Sexual Discrimination: OASW publicly spoke out in
the media in favour of same-sex couples gaining
access to spousal benefits. In the mid-1990s,
OASW developed A Policy Statement on Promoting
Equity for Lesbians and Gays.
 Merges and Restructuring of Health Care: OASW
became involved in two research projects and
held forums for social workers to discuss the
implications.
1990s: Slowing Economy and Political Turmoil
During the 1990s:
 Social Work Week (SWW): In 1994, OASW
launched Social Work Week as an opportunity to
celebrate the role and contribution of the
profession.
1990s: Slowing Economy and Political Turmoil
Separation of Association and OCCSW: In 1992,
formal separation took place, based on political
advice that the independence of OCCSW was
necessary for the voluntary College to fulfil its
mandate of protecting the public.
 Name Change: In 1995, the word “Professional”
was removed from the Association’s name, to
bring the social work association in Ontario in line
with sister associations across the country.

1990s: Slowing Economy and Political Turmoil

Health Care Consent Act, 1996, and the
Substitute Decisions Act, 1992: Representation
on a ministerial committee re: the inclusion of
social workers in the regulations was imperative
because, not only was social work not regulated
under provincial legislation at the time, but these
regulations were under the Regulated Health
Professions Act (RHPA).
1990s: Slowing Economy and Political Turmoil

Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998:
Culmination of a strong, focused and active
leadership by the Association over a 20-year
period.
2000s: A Time of Uncertainty
Provincial Context:
 Economic Climate
 Organizational Restructuring/Constraints in
Funding
 Impact of Global Economic Crisis
 Poverty Reduction Strategy
 Privatization
2000s: A Time of Uncertainty
During the 2000s:
 Poverty Reduction: Ontario’s Poverty Reduction
Strategy was introduced in the fall of 2008.
 Human Rights re: First Nations Children: Support
for the work of the First Nations Child and Family
Caring Society of Canada and the assembly of
First Nations in their challenge of the Government
of Canada for discriminating against children who
live on reserves providing less child welfare
supports. OASW attended the Human Rights
Tribunal Hearing and set up a Facebook Group.
2000s: A Time of Uncertainty
During the 2000s:
 Proclamation of SWSSW Act and New College:
Proclamation of the Social Work and Social Service
Work Act, 1998, was an important milestone for the
profession.
 Quality of Work Life Survey: OASW conducted an
online survey to gather information about salaries
and working conditions. In December 2006, a
report was released on the findings which were
widely distributed through a media release,
presentations at national and provincial
conference, and articles.
2000s: A Time of Uncertainty
During the 2000s:
 Hosted the 2008 National Conference: Copartnered with the Canadian Association of Social
Workers and the Canadian Association of Social
Work Educators.
 GST/HST Exemption: OASW successfully lobbied,
together with sister associations in other
provinces, to achieve GST exemption for the
provision of clinical social work services.
2000s: A Time of Uncertainty


Inclusion in Psychotherapy Act, 2007: OASW
formalized its government relations strategy, and
working with OCSWSSW, successfully spearheaded
a province-wide campaign involving the profession,
employers and service associations to actively lobby
the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care and
MPPs to secure inclusion of social workers in the
Psychotherapy Act, 2007.
Access to Title “Psychotherapist”: OASW
successfully lobbied to gain use of the title
“Psychotherapist”. OCSWSSW subsequently
prescribed how this title can be used in conjunction
with protected titles “Social Worker” and
“Registered Social Worker”.
2010 Onward: Continuous Change
Provincial Context:
 Minority Government
 Fiscal Constraints
2010 Onward: Continuous Change
2010 to Present:
 Social Work Determinants of Health (SDH): OASW has
framed social work contributions to health care as
tied to the SDH, and positioned the profession as a
cost-effective alternative to more expensive medical
alternatives.
 Communicating the Value and Contribution of the
Profession: OASW’s increasing focus on succinctly
articulating the role of social workers with key
decision-makers and influencers in government to
counter an increasing medicalization of health care
as well as the erosion of social work roles, and to
ensure that social work is considered for emerging
roles.
2010 Onward: Continuous Change
Suspension of CASW Membership
 Response to the Social Assistance Review:
Campaign 2000, in advocating with government
to implement progressive reforms to Social
Assistance and the Ontario Disability Supports
Program, as well as to raise the minimum wage.
 Use of the Title “Doctor”: OASW successfully
lobbied the provincial government to grant
individuals who have been granted a doctorate in
social work and provide clinical services, access
to the title “Doctor”.

2010 Onward: Continuous Change

Recognition as a “Medical Practitioner” in Income
Tax Act: In 2012, after years of lobbying by OASW,
the Income Tax Act recognized clinical social work
services as a medical expense which could be
claimed by the public as a tax deduction.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
Thank you to all of our members, staff,
the previous Boards of Directors and
Committees over the past 50 years.
We look forward to ensuring that OASW
remains relevant and continues to be the
voice of social workers in Ontario.