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NSASW N€wsletter
2OOa-O3-04
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c-o-N-N-E-C-T-r-O-N
WlntGr 2008
Voluma 14, No. 1
is involvedln manyactivitiesbothwithin
is the first edltlonfor 2008.TheAssociation
Thtsissueof CONNECTION
the organizatlon
as wellas withlnthe broaderNovaScotiacommunlty.It ls our Intentlonto usethe CONNECTION
of wherethey practicewill be well
to informthe membe6hipofthese activitiesso that membersregardless
lnformed.
websltewhlchcan be prlntedfor thosewho preferto havea hard
Thislssuecan alsobe foundon the Association's
copy.Please9o to the NSASWWebpageClickHere
Social Work Week Celebrations
"SocialWorke6Advocatlngfor HumanRightsin a DlverseCommunity"
Thlsis the themefor NationalSoclalWorkWeek,March2 - 8, 2008- a wonderful
the strongsoclallustlceorientationof the socialwork profession,
oppoftunltyto acknowledge
recognlzlng
SOCIALWORKWEEKIn NovaScotlasignedby Rodney
Thefollowlngls the ofriclalproclamation
Premierof NovaScotia.
MacDonald,
PROCLAMATION
of SOCIALWORKWEEK2OO8
WHEREAS
dedlcatedto creativeand positivechangeln our worlcl;and
socialwork is a profession
WHEREAS
socinlworkersbelievein the Inherentdlgnityand worthof e6chindividualand are calleduponby thelr
Codeof Ethicsto pursuesoclallustlce,includlngthe eliminationof poverty;and
with whlchthey $,ork;and
WHEREAS
soclalworkerscelebratethe dlversltyof the communltles
wHEREAS
the advancement
of humanrtghtsis an intrlnsicpad of socialwork; and
WHEREAS
the themefor this year'sSocialWorkWeekis "SocialworkersAdvocatingfor HumanRightsin a Dlverse
Community";
Premlerof NovaScotla,do herebypro€laimthe weekof
THEREFORE
be lt resolvedthat I, RodneyMacDonald,
March2nd - 8th, 2008,as SocialWorkWeekin the provinceof NovaScotia.
order- pleaselet SusanNasserknowof othereventsthat are
socialWorkweek eventsto date, in chronological
plannedand she will add them to the iist:
(1) PrivatePracticesupper- Monday.March3, 5:OO- 7:00 p.m., NSASWoffice.RSVPto Sus3nNasser.
susan.nasser
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(2) Valleyregion- Tuesday.March4, 1t00 - 4:00 p.m. A specialmeetingwill be heldin the Multipurpose
Roomat the AddictionsCenterin SoldiersMemorialHospital. Middleton.GuestspeakerJeanneRokoshfrom
to
CapltalDistrictHealthAuthorityspeakingaboutideasand work behindthe PrideHealthProgramprovicted
6LBTIclientsin the Halifaxarea.TeaCoffeeand Snackswill be provided.PleaseRSVPto EmmaTheriaultTigerheartby emailEmmaTheriaultor by phoneat 825-4825
(3) SocialWorkweek reception,organized
Jointlyby NSASWand the Schoolof soclalwork, Dalhousie
unlversity- Tuesday.March4, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. room # 303 of the Studentunion Building6316University
the Association
of BlackSoclalWorkers.and the Schoolof SocialWork
Avenue.Duringthe event,NSASW,
presented.
with
and
Gwen
MacDonald
Slippand JoanCummingswill be recognized
Alumnibursarieswill be
RSVPto MarllynMarcon- l'larilynMarconor 429:7799.
HonouraryLifeMemberships.
to ioin us
(4) QEtl HealthSciences
SocialWorkinvitesSociatWorkcolleagues
Centre- The Department'of
for a ContinentrlErcakfaston Tuesday,March4, 20088115a,m - 10:15a m in The Ballroom,19t Eloor
Bethuneauilding,VGHsite. PleaseRSVPby February28, 2008473-5180.
(5) SocjalWorkweek eventsat the IWK include:wednesdayl\4archsth 11:30_ 1r00 pm, RowanLeg.Room
If you havetraveledand worked
of InternationalSocialWorkExperiences.
PottuckLunchn' LearnDiscussion
your
please
experlences.
Already
confirmedare discussions
internationally.
loln us and feel welcometo share
work in Kenya,Nepal,Srl Lanka,and Perul!' Pleasebringa potluckfooditem.Thesocial
of international
work weekcommltteeplansto bringsweetsfrom the countrieswe'vetraveledto.
Room,a Panel
(6) Alsoat the IWK on ThursdayMarch5th from 12:15- 1:30 pm at the ParkerReception
from
"SocialWorkersAdvocatingforlluman Rightsin a DlverseCommunity".Representatives
Presentation:
and MISAwllladdressthe socialworkweektheme
DalhousieLegalAid,TheDisabledPersonsCommission,
avallablell
from a localperspective.
Llghtsnacksand refreshments
(7) Cumberland
March5 - 12i00 - 2:00 p.m. Bella'sCaf€,117VictorlaStreet,
Region- Wednesday,
of
the
draft
rcvlsedCodeof Ethicsand Standardsof Practlce.RSVPto Donna
AmheBt.Lunchand discussion
Fltzoatrlck- DonnaFitzoatrick-or 902-667-3879
(8) NorthShoreReglon- Thursday,March6, lunchtlme,Ivaritlmelnn, Antigonish- lunchand special9uest
speakerKlmPateof the ElizabethFry Soclety.Klm'stopicwill be: "Womenare the fastestgrowingprison
population:why shouldwe care?"- RSVPto NeldaArmour- NeldaArmour
(9) FundyRegion- In celebrationof SocialWorkWeek2008,let's havelunch.Friday,7th of ltlarch2008,12
to 1.30pm at BostonPlzza,134Star6 RdYarmouth,742-5697.Eachof us paysfor his or her own lunch
902'749-7553.
Reservations
in mv name,Johnlloore NSASWFundvRepresentatlve
(10) HalifaxRegion- Saturday,March8, 12:00- 2:00 p.m,, Saege,5883SpringGardenRoad,Annlal
SocialWorkWeekBrunch- RSVPto LouigeGhiz- LoulseGhlz
havetrouble
Lastty,somejnformationaboutthe Socialwork Weekposter.Becauseso many listservsubscribers
we will not attacha copyof the posterby e-mall.Youcanviewthe posteron the website_
with largeattachments,
ClickHere- or vou cansendSusanNasseran e-mailand shewili sendthe posterto you as 6n attachment.To
orderhardcoplesof the Socialwork Weekposter,pleasecontactExecutiveAssistantf4arilynMarcon_ i4arilyn
Itlarconor call- 429-7799.
PLEASE
NOTE|Theelectronicversionwe haveof the posteris in a strangeformat,and on the websiteyou wlll only
seethe middlepart of the poster.Thereis additionalwordingon boththe top and the bottomin the printed
of SocialWorkers"and on the bottomis says:"Sp€akingolt
version.On the top, it says"NovaScotiaAssociation
abouthumanrightsand dignityfor all" and"Joiningwith othersto championa povertyreductionstrategythat puts
peoplefi6t". Thlssecondmessagels a key messageofthe N,S.PovertyReductlonStrategyCoalition,of whichwe
are a memb€r.
2008CASWDistinguishedSeryiceAward
NSASWis delightedto present the 2008 CASWDistinguishedServiceAward to Mariorie l4acDonald,MSW, RSW,a
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trailblazerfor socialjustice for women. For over three decadesshe has recognized,exposed
and acted on gender-basedinequitiesin the structures of o!r lives and consistentlygone
the extra mile to change policies,practicesand to create opportunitiesto better women s
Therewill be a receptionto honourlYarjorieandto presenther with the awardon Monday,
Sydney
10, 2008.from 5:00 * 7:OOp.m. in the CabotRoom.at the DeltaSydney,300 Esplanade,
I\4arch
Bornin sydney,Marjoriehasbeena practlcingsocialworkerfor 37 years.Followinggraduationfrom Dalhousae
universiti'slliiitimi schoolof sociatwork in 1970with an MSw,she initiallyworkedat a community-based
and
agencya;d as a therapistat AddictionServicesin Sydney,wheresheis still employed,Here.shespearheaded
its
first
document
of
Addictions,
the
for
Women
with
TreatmentStrategy
c;-auihoredthe writingof the Provincial
kind in the province.It wasadoptedby the provincialBoardof Directorsin 1997,and becamethe templatefor the
as an issue.
treatmentof womenwith addictionsthroughoutthe province,Beforeit was everwidelyrecognized
that women'streatmentneedsweredifferentfrom
lobbiedfor the educatlonof administrators
Madoriecontinuously
gachelorof
tho;e of men and involvedthetrchildrenon manylevels.Marjoriealsotaught in the first decentalized
and hasbeena feministcounselorin privatepractice.
SocialWorkprogramfor Dalhousie
that surroundMariorieand her work. she hasa
It is difficuttin sucha shortspaceto captureall of the accolades
A5 a teacherand
growth
and empowerment.
of
self-awareness,
facilitate
learning,
abllity
to
exceptional
uniqueand
me;tor, her reputationin the ftetdis suchthat last spring,whenonestudentw6s meetingher for the first tjme, she
sald,'IfeellikeI'm meetlngOprahl'
as a feminlstand soclalworkerhaveresultedin maior
Marjorie'soutstandingactionsand achievements
as a wholeand to the worldat large Thisasan ordlnarywomanllvingan
to the profession
coniributions
life who workstirelesslvto enablethe samefor others.
extraordinarv
Susan
Pioneers in Social work
FRANCES
L, MONTGOI4ERY:
was bornMay 19, 1908in Sawerville,QuebecShewas bornwith
FrancesMontgomery
cataractsin botheyesand,despitesurgery,was monocularthroughouther life.Thispresentedher with a llfe long
challenge.Francesbeganher careerin socialwork in 1928,whenshe registeredas a part-timestudentat the
I\4cGill
schoolfor socialworkersIn Montreal.
at The Women'sDirectoryof l!'lontreallt wasthere
Whilestudyingat llccitt, sheworkedpart-timeas a caseworker
was
who
the Diredorof the Women'sDlrectory'lane
native
of
Nova
Scotia,
Wisdom,
a
that Francesmet Jsne
Wisdombecamea major influencein Frances'life and her careerin socialwork. Francesherselfhassaid."tf Jane
me, I wouldnot havebecomea soclalworker'''
had not employedand encouraged
Duringher courseof study,Francesalsoworkedat the old Brewerylqissioncommunitycentre and st. columbia
House-,
two settlementhousesin Montreal.As u/ellas workingin the houses,Franceslived in them.whichgaveher
reducedrent.
Francesobtainedher Diplolnain Socialwork ln 1932and her Bachelorof Arts Degreefrom Mccillin 1934'
in Montreal.she soongaineda
Followjng
this shewentto workfull-timefor the FamilyWelfareAssoclation
studentsfrom the
she
supervised
well
as
carrying
cases
promotidnto Assistantin the NorthDistrictand, as
,
Association
and retumed
Welfare
with
the
Family
left
her
emptoyment
In
1938
she
of
Sociat
Work.
i,tontrealSchool
to the Women'sDirectoryas the Senlorcaseworker'
wheresheearnedher Masterof
Schoolof SocialWorkin Philadelphia,
In 1942Francesattendedthe Pennsylvania
joined
new
Montrealschoolof social
the
faculty
of
the
lvontreal,
she
Returning
to
in
1944.
socialwork degree
UniversitySchoolof Socialwork, as an assistantprofessor'
work. whichwauldlater becometh€ I\4cGill
schoolof Socialwork (lvssw) in
In 1947,she left Montrealto becomethe AssistantDirectorof the l\4aritime
Hatifax.In orderto attractbothstudentsand staff,the MSsw neededto achieverecognition.Frances'experience
1
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with the Americanbodiesresponsible
for accreditation
of schoolswas immenselyimportantIn helpingthe MSSW
gaininternational
recognition.Duringher twelveyearsas AssistantDirectorof the I\4SSW,
Francestaughtsocial
caseworkto bothfirst and secondyearstudentsand was,as well,Supervisofof FieldWork.Sheconcentrated
on
ShealsoEvisedthe curriculumto meetthe 9tandards,for accrcditation
the diversification
of field workresources.
by the AmericanAssociation
of Schoolsof SocialWork.
FromJune,1949to July, 1950Franceswasthe ActingDirectorof the MSSW.Duringher tenureat the MSSW,
Franceswasalsogivena one year leaveof absencefrom August,1957to August,1958to workwith the United
Nationsas a socialwelfaretrainingexpertin the Departmentof Labourin lran, In 1959,Francesresignedfrom the
Maritim€Schoolof SocialWorkand returnedto the Pennsylvania
Schoolof Soclalwork whereshe receaved
an
AdvancedCurriculumCertlficatein Supervision
in 1960.Followingthls she returnedto Canadaand in September,
1961joinedthe FederalGovemmentas the PersonalServicesOfficerof the Emergency
welfareServicesDivisionof
the Departmentof NatlonalHealthand Welfare.Sheremainedin this positionuntil lvay. 1973whenshe retired.
Duringher careerFrancesmadesignlficantcontdbutlons
to the McGillAlumniof the Schooiof SocialWorkand the
Associatlon
Canadlan
of SocialWorkers,servingbothorganizations
in varlouscapaclties.
In her retirementFrancestraveledthe woild with journeysto Greece.Indiaand China.until 1988she livedin
UnitarianHouse,a retjrementhomeIn Ottawa,whereshetook an actlverole in the management
of the home.In
lateryearsFrancessufferedfrom poorphysicalhealthand in 2004her healthdeterioratedfurtheras she
approched
the last stagesof terminalleukemia.
womanwhosemlnd remainedsharpand continuedto takea keeninterestIn
Shewasa determined,courageous
life and In her chosenprofession
of socialwork. FrancesMontgomery
wasa true socialwork pioneerin Canadaand
in NovaScotia.Shecameto the l{arltihe Schoolof SoclalWorkin the late 1940'sat a tlme whena Drofussional
touchwasvery rnuchneededand helpedestabllsha flrm foundatlonfor the School.Shewasa wonderfulteacher,
dedicatedto her studentsand to enhancingthe profession
of gocialwork. Eventoday,thosestudents(oneof whom
is HaroldCrowellof Halifax,NS)who hadthe goodfortuneto havecomeunderher guidancerememberher
(Preparedby: BessleHarris,RSW)
affectlonately,
Professional DeveloDmena for Social Workers
TheContinuin9EducationProgram,sponsoredby the DalhousieSchoolof SocialWork,is a
rlch sourceof professional
development
for membeEof the NSASW.
Theworkshopsand
certificateprogramsfor the the winter,springand summerof 2008can be foundon thear
websiteClickHere
NSASW Annual Conference and AGM
NSASW
lEl!:
The 2008 Annual Conventionand AGMwill be held on May 8th and 9th , 2008. at the Best
WesternChocolatetake (formerly Keddy's)St. Margaret'sBay Road in Halifax.
TheConference
themeis: "It Keptme Upali Night- Exploring
Ethical
Struggles
in SocialWork"
DMFT AGENDAFORMAY8th
9:00- 9:15a.m.-Welcome
9i15 - 10;15a.m, -KeynotetDr. JeffKirby,Centr€for Bioethics,Facultyof MedicineDalhousle
Unlversity
Questions
10r15- 10:30a.m.- Nutrition
Break
in DiverseSocialWorkSettings4 ponellsts,
10:30a.m.- 12:00p.m. - It KeptMe Up All Night:EthicalChallenges
15 mlnuteseach,plustime for discussion
and questions
CameronMacDougallr
to WarnOthe6"
"LiberationEthicsand the Decisionto 8re6chConfidentiality
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JoanHockert:'Aqeismas an EthicalIssuein HealthCareSo€ialWork"
Agencies
MoniqueAuffrey:EthicalChallenges
for SocialworkeG in Community-based
in the Fieldof ChildWelfare
To be decidediEthicalChallenges
after lunch
12:00- 12:15p.m. - Morningwrap-upand explainationof detailsof the smallgroupdiscussions
1 2 : 1 5- l :1 5 D.m .- Lunch
1:15- 2:45p.m.- SmallGroupDiscussions
WhatWeAre StrugglingWith - Collaborative
blalnstormingon issueswe haveall stru99ledwith - buildingon
anonymoussubmission
of questlons,sltuatlons,dilemmasand triumphs
Break
2:45- 3:00p.m.- Nutritlon
Wilson,DiannaRobichaud
Smith,14ichele
Rigby:"Compassion
Fatigue"
3:00- 3:30p,m.- Chrlstina
3:30 - 4:30 p.m. - StayingAllve:Self-Care,Supervislon,
and Supportrwhat to Do To GetThrough
and Solutionsfor EthicalStrug9les"
MerllndaW€lnbergr"We?eAll in the SameBoat:Reasons
AllceDean,JulieArsenault:"Self-Carefor SocialWorkers"
4:30 - 4:45 p.m.- Closing
remarks
On Fridaymorning,therewlll be the final opportunltyto dlscussthe Codeof Ethlcsand Standardsof Practice,prior
to the AGM.
Onefinal wordaboutthe convention.TheWorldHockeyChamplonshlps
are takln9placeIn Hallfaxand Quebeccity
durlngthe first two weeksof May.Hotelroomsare at a premium.we havereserveda blockof guestroomsat the
BestWesternChocolateLake.Onceconventiondetailsare morefinalized,and you are in a positlonto reacha
right
we hlghlyrecommend
that you makeyour hotelarrangements
decislonaboutwhetheryou are participating,
away.We wlll let yor.rknowwhenthe hotelwill be releasingthe blockof roomsreseruedfor NSASWso that you can
reserveyour roombeforethen,
t-_-
Reviewof the NSASWStandardsof Practiceand the CASWCodeof
Ethics
NsAsWis requiredto revlewits standardsof Practiceon a regularbasis,and this time
around,the Standardsand EthicsCommitteehascombinedthe reviewof standardswith a
reviewof the 2005CASWcodeof Ethics.TheCodeof Ethicsand Standardsof Pradicehavebeenbroughttogether
as possible.
into one documentjn draft form in orderto havetheseimportantguidelinesas readilyaccessible
€hlkb ShttdldS
-J
Nou/that the draft documentis done.we are readyfor the next phaseof this project,consultingwith NSAsw
membersas requiredwhenchangesto the standardsare proposed.We ate organlzinga consultationprocesswhich
hasseveralfacetsand whlchshouldprovidean opportunityfor everysocialworkerto be involvedin someway.
Onestepwe havetakenis to preparea StudyGuidewhlchhighlightsthe sort of feedbackthat wouldbe really
helpfulin arrivingat a final document.(PleaseNote:Thedraft documentwas mailedout to eachNSASWmember
in December.If you did not receiveit , contactthe NsAsw offlce)
Weencourageyou to participatein the consultationin whicheverway worksbestfor you, or in morethan one way.
howthey applyto your pradicearc aspectsof professional
Readingthe Codeand Standardsand considering
develoDment
and can be reportedas one of your actlvitiesin 2008,
I
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Afterthe AGM.the documentwill be revised,edlted,and distributedto all membersfour weeksbeforea Special
Meetlngin the Failof 2008(dateyet to be decided),againas requiredwhenstandardsof practiceare being
revised.A vote to adoptthe newCodeof Ethicsand Standardsof Practicewill take placeat that time.
A heartfeltthanksto thosewho haveworkedso longand hardto put this documenttogether.We lookforwardto
hearingfrom a largenumberof socialworkers.Thanksl
SusanNasser.ExecutlveDirector.NSASW
The Roadto Licensure
The roadto licensureof the professionhasits beginningsmanyyearsbeforethe Association
wasformedin 1963,In factrthe profession
has beenpreoccupied
almostfrom the
beginningof its existencein Canada.The nationalassociatjon,
the Canadian
Association
of
Socaal
Worke6,followingthe examplesof regulationof the profession
in other countriesand other professions.
couldseethe benefitsof protectingthe public,the profession.
and of raisingthe profileand the credibilltyof the
Drofesslon
in Canada,
Thestoryof regulationIn socialwork hasits rootsin other professions
that haveobtainedregulationof practice,
Theflfteenthand sixteenthcenturiessawthe RoyalCollegeof Surgeonsin GreatBritaln.TheAmericanMedical
Associatlon
wasfoundedin 1847and the CanadianMedicalAssociation
an1867.ln the flfteenthcenturybarrister's
gulldswereformedIn GreatBritain.TheCanadianBarAssociation
wasfoundedIn 1896.
In contrastto lawand medlclne,socialwork as a professionhashad more recentbeginnings.
In the UnltedStates,
for example.the beginningof professional
socialworkwas promptedby the taunchof the Schoolof ApDlted
Phllanthropy
in 1898whichlaterbecamethe NewYorkSchoolof SoclalWork.In Canadathe CanadianAssociation
of SoclalWorke6wasfoundedan1926.The NatlonalAssoclatlon
of SocialWorke6 In the UnitedStateswasformed
in 1955from a groupof sevensimllarorganizations
oneof whichwasthe formerAmericanAssociation
of Soclal
WorkeIs.
Theroadto llcensurespanneda pedodof over40 yearsin NovaScotlawlth sedouseffortsextendedoverthe last
20 of those40 years.TheNSASWHistoryProtectis continuingto gatherinformatlonto recognize
the effortsthat
weremadeby a dedlcatedgroupof socialworke6 who freelyvolunteered
their ttme and energyto lobbyfor this
past.
very importantaccompllshment
in the Association's
Youcanfind moreon the historyof licensureon the NSASWHistoryProiectwebpage:ClickHere
National Social Work Conference
i. j,
t'
' - ' "F
This year's NationalSocialWork Conference,May 22 - 25,2008, will be held in Toronto,
Ontarloand will focuson humanrights.The Themeis: "HumanRightsin a Diverse
Community" and the following excerpt is taken from the Ontario Associationof Social
Worker'sconference
website,
"Humanrightsare an intrinsicpart of socialwork. SocialworkeEplaya largerole in the pursuitof equalityand
equityfor marginalized
and minorjtygroups.strugglesfor civil rightsand basicfreedoms,economicwell-being,and
accessto healthcareand the necessities
of life. Humanrightsand the needsof under-served
or at-riskpopulations
are prioritiesfor everyoneinvolvedin the broadfield of soclalwork.
HumanRightsin a DiverseCommunltyprovidesa forumfor the discusslon
ofthese issuesamonqsocialworkersin
day-to-daypractice,admlnistrators,
researchers,
educatorsand policy-makers,
from acrossCanada,Our goalis to
bringthesegroupstogetherto shareideas,network,enhanceknowledge,integrateresearchtheoryand practice,
and expandperspectives
on nationaland globalissuesof relevance.
CheckOut the KetnoteSpeakers
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Congratulations
to DarcyHarvey,JoyceHalpern,and SharonMurphy.all of whomhavehad abstractsacceptedfor
the NationalSocialWorkConference.
Joinus from Thur.lYay22 to Sun.May25, 2008,in the heartofToronto,at the MarriottTorontoDownto\,vn
Eaton
Centre".
WhatAbout Povertv?
As socialworkers we are professionallysituated in the heart of the problem of poverty, The
professionalassociationhas a responsibilityto be part of the discussionand to work with
othe6 to contriblte to the solution. As part of a community of helping professionals,have
we donean adequatejob of bringingthis socialproblemto the attentionof the largercommunityin a way that will
leadto progresstowardpovertyreduction,It's obviousthat no one profession
or groupcan claimto havethe
solutionsin a societywheretheaeare so manycompetingself-interests,
The broadsectorsin our society,the
public,the private,and voluntary/non-proflt
secto6 all needto worktogetherto haveany concreteresults.What
hasbeenthe progressto date?Canwe polntto any real progressin reducingor eliminatlngthis socialproblem?Do
we haveany ide€sthat wtll add to the debateto reduceor ellminatepoverty?Do we havesomeusefulideasthat
othe6 are not takingserlolslyor that are influencedby powedulself interests.
Howlargeis the problem?- Accordingto the Departmentof CommunityServiceswebsite,basedon datafrom
StatistlcsCanada:"In 2005,the mostrecentyearfor whichdata is avallable,81.000NovaScotians,or 8.9oloof the
populatlon,werellvingin low-income
sltuatlons(LICO;after-tax)."Againfrom the Departmentof Community
Servicesinformationwebsite:"Thedepthof povertyrefersto howfar belowthe povertyllnea famlly'slncomefalls
ln relatlonto the LowlncomeCutOff (LICO).It ls often referredto as the'low-income'or'povertygap'. Forall lowincomefamilyunits,the low-incomegap is $6,100(after-taxbase)."
Whatls the communltysaylngaboutthe problem?- Communltyspokespeople
are raisingthe issueand trying to
bringit to the attentionof the community.A cursorylookat localmediaheadllnesoverthe pastfew months
indicatesthat the communityis attemptingto ralsepublicconscientlousness
on the effeds of poverty.Some
headllneexamples:" Homelesshaveto exlt shelterfor hourseachday"; 'Tax changesboostfor rlch, palnfulfor
poor";"Usefecleralsurplusto helppoor,N.S.expertsays";"Grltswouldwagewar on poverty";"Plightof poor,
FirstNationsnationaldisgrace";"Criticsskeptlcaiof N.S.povertyplan";"ChlldCarepromlsenot realistic- Tories";
"Harshwordsfor anti-povertygroups".
Whatstudlesare relevantto the p.oblem?- In additionto the mediareports,severalstudlesandformal
presentations
havebeenmadeto suggestwhatthe govemmentshoulddo to alleviatepoverty.A formal
wasmadein the fall of 2006bv the Assoclatlon
to the Houseof CommonsCommitteeon Human
oresentatlon
Resourc€s
and SocialDev€lopment,
and the Statusof Personswith Dlsabilitles.
Recommeodations
were: mlnimum
wageincreases;broadenEmployment
Insuranceeliglbility;tax measuresto supportthe workingpoor;strengthen
programsfor all levels.The report
childcare; nationalIncomesupportfor the disabled;and supporteducatlonal
concllded:" Webellevethat there is a very importantrolefor governmentin influencing
conditionsthat will enable
Canadians
to participatein the labourmarketso that they bothcontributeto the goodof the countryand are
treatedfalrlyand compensated
adequatelyso that they are ableto meetthe needsof themselvesand their
famllies.Marketforcesalonecannotachievethesegoals.We believethe recommendations
we havemadeare
somesmallbut significantstepstowardsthat end."
Anotherformalslbmisslonwasmadein September2006 by the Association
to the Houseof CommonsStanding
Committeeon Financeand wastitled: "Re-ordering
Priorities:Howthe BudgetCanAddressPoverwIn a Meaningful
Way".(Bothpresentations
can be foundon the Association's
webpage.Clickon Publications
(summarized):
This lattersubmission
erpandedon the previousone and includedthe followingrecommendations
makepovertyreductiona priorityin the shortterm and povertyeliminationin the longterm, developa
povertyreductionstrategy,assumeleadership
comprehensive
in a strategyto reducepovertyand eventually
eliminatepoverty,strengthenthe NationalChildBenefitprogram,broadeneligibilityfor Employment
Insurance,tax
measuresto benefitthe workingpoor,createa nationaldisabiljtysupportprogram.investin socialhousing,honour
previouscommltmentsmadeby the previousgovernmentin earlychildhoodlearningand care,increasesupportfor
postsecondary
the social
education,and supportinitiativesto improvethe healthof Canadians
by addressing
determinants
of health.
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Thissuiteof comprehensive
recommendations
is summedup by concludlng'Until we acknowledge
that our
Canadiansocletycannottoleratethe inequltyand injusticeof povertyand we reacha collectivedecisionto deploy
our considerable
nationalrcsourcestOaddressthe issuein a meaningfulway, then our counvywlll not prosper...."
Bothpresentations
requireda significantexpenditureof the Association's
r€sources
and are a creditto th€ staffand
volunteerswho contributedto their input.As SusanNasser,ExecutiveDiredor of the Associ6tlon
statedin her
2007AnnualReport:'Thls wasthe first time that we usedthis paitlcularavenueto communlcate
our concernsand
recommendations'.
" We needto makeour voic€heardwheneverwe sce the opportunityto presentour social
justicemessageof povertyreduction".
The2007Annlal Reportof the SocialActionCommittee,Chaircdby MonlqueArffrey, statedpovertyeliminationas
a maiorfocusby the committeeand lt participatedln forums,mediawatch,lettersto the editor,meetingswith
pollticlansand others,etc. ThecurrentChairperson
of the SocialAction/Social
JusticeCommitte€,DarcyHaNey,
RSW,ls alsoco-chairof the PovertyReduction
StrategyCoalition,of whichNSASWis an activemember,Further
infoand the publlcatlon,'A Framework
for a PovertyReductionStrategyCoatltlon"can be locatedat: CllckHere
Anotherstrategyfor worklngtowardthe reductionof povertymentlonedby the ExecutlveDirectorIn her last
annualr€portwasthe nctworklngand partnershlps
that the Association
hasformedIn the communitythat promote
goalsincludingpovertyreduction.Throughtheseconnectlons,
like-mindedsoclalJustlce
the Assoclation
became
involvedin severalsoclalJustlce
actlvitlasthat dehonstratedthe Assoclatlon's
concemaboutpovertysuchas:
partlcipatlon
In an anti-povertymarchmarklngthe InternatlonalDayfor the Elimination
of Poverw,workwith the
CommunityActlonon Homelessn€ss
on a povertyreductionstratagyfor the provlnce,and p6rtlcipatlon
In eventsto
provldeinformationon the CanadaSoclalTransfer(CST)and the conceptof a Guaranteed
LlvableWage.
Strateglesfrcm other organlzatlons
- TheCanadaSoclalTransfer(CST)ls slgnlficantwhenanalyztngthe broad
soclalpollcywhicheffectspov€rtyin the countryand the provlnce.Thetransferof fundsthroughthe CSTmakeslt
posslblefur provincesto havethe necessary
financlalresources
to supportthelr soclalprograms.Thereforeany
changesto the CSTcan havea slgnlficantlmpacton resourcesavallableto flght poverty.A recommendation
made
by the CanadlanCouncllon SoclalDevelophent(CCSD)in thelr submlssion
to the Houseof CommonsStandlng
Committeeon FlnanceIn 2007 (CCSDBrlef)wasto increasefundlngthroughthe CSTto the 1994-95lev.ls as soon
65 possible.Theconcernof the CCSDw63that healthfundhg had beenInc.easing
at a fasterratethan soclal
fundlng,slncethe 1990's,creatlngtn everwldenlnggap betweenthe two fundhg programsand contribuflngto
the sufferlngof manyCanadlanfamllies.TheCCSDpointedout that "Theevidencespeaksvolumes,Investmentin
socialprogramsimproveshealthoutcomes,Theflagglnginvcstmentls fuellnga growlnggap.lt is a movein the
wrongdlredlon".
In December2007,the Canadlan
Assoclatlon
of SoclalWortkeG(CASW)presentedtheir briefto the Houseof
CommonsStandlngCommttteeon Ftnancewhlchcan be foundat: (CASWBrlef), TheCASWfocusedon the tax
systemas the drlvlngforcebehindsocialpollcyon povertyand can be summedup asi 'In general,we thlnk that
coresoclaland healthservlcesas wellas incomesecurityshouldbe fundedprimarilythroughtaxeson Incomeand
payroll;they are, or can be, progresslve
In nature,Wealsorecommend
that corpolationsbe taxedto supportsoclal
programs,s they helpto reducetheir costsof productlon."
In regardto personaltaxes
the CASWstated:'It seemgthat the federalgovernmentand the provlncesare tryinC
to competeagainsteachotherto cut taxes." As a result, the CASWrecommended: "In our ludgment,the
continuouscuttlngof tares wlll not only havethe effectof reducingpubllcservicesbut also,th the longrun,
jn whichskilledlabour,qualitypublicservices
undermineour abilityto competewlth hlghperformingeconomies
and environmental
sustainabillty
are priorities.We recommend,
therefore,that the federalgovernmentre-assess
its biasto cuttjngincometaxesand examinemorecloselythoseeconomies
that maintainhighstandardsof publlc
provisionalongwith highlevelsof economlcg.owthand productivity."
TheNEtionalCouncllof welfare(NCW)(ViewReport)in their r€portof 2007,'SolvingPoverty:Fourcornerstones
of a WorkableNationalStrategyfor Canada",mentions:"In Canada,we haveneverhad a natlonalantFpoverty
strategy.Quebecand Newfoundland
and [abrador,however;both haveprovincialsrategies,"'Quebec,soverall
goaljs to achieveone of the lowestlevelsof povertyamongindustrialized
societiesby 2013.Thisgoalis
measurable
and, as with EUcountrlesand NewZealand,allou,gcomparlson
wlth other societies,
The NCWthinks
this ls a goodway to encourageleamingand sharlngto improveeveryone'ssuccessrates."
In Newfoundland
and Labrador,the strategywasbornout of an electionpromisein 2005whichstated:', The
overallgoalof the province'sPovertyReduction
Strategyis to transformitselfinto the provincewith the least
povertyin the country.Thereare alsospecificgoals:lmprovedaccessand coordination
ofservicesfor thosewith
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low Incomes,a strongersoclalsafetynet, improvedearnedIncomes,improvedearlychildhooddevelopment,
and a
benereducatedooDulation."
ln NovaScotlathe provinclalgovernmenthaspublishedthelr frameworkfor soclalprosperityentltled,"Weavingthe
Threads- A LastingSocialFabric".Locatedat: Weavingthe ThreadsToutedas a strategyfor socialprosperity,lt
providesa fEmeworkfor helpingto understandthe linkagebetweensoclal,economicand environmental
prosperity.Theframeworkbeginswith soundsocialpolicyand st6tes:'Soclalpolicyis aboutthe values,strategies,
plans,and actionsthat mostdirectlyeffectpeople- individuallyand in their relationships
and networkswith their
friends,families,and commuhities.'
Thedocumentlistspoveftyreductlonas one of the prioritiesfor the comingyear.A pressreleaseby the
governmentin Odober2007states:'The provincialgovernmentwill holda serlesof consultations
this fall deslgned
to get the community'sInputon howto besttacklepovertyin NovaScotla.Theconsuhations
wlll be part of the
government's
development
of a povertystrategyfor NovaScotla,The Initiativewlll be co-ledby the departmentsof
CommunityServlcesand Environment
and Labour",
In December2007,the NovaScotlaleglslaturepassedlegislation(Chapter31 of the Actsof 2007)to establlsha
povertyrcductionworkinggroup,Its purpose..."is to appolnta workinggrolp to makerecommendatlons
concernlnq
a strategyfor the reductlonof povertyin the Province."
Althoughthe Assoclatlon
ls not a memberof the
\florkinggroup,it will striveto promotelts volceand erpertisewheneverpossible.
Concluslon
- It appeaFthat there ls conslderably
moreattentionbelnggivento povertyreductlonand elimlnatlon
than wasthe caseln the past by a brcaderconstltuency
of the community.Povertyis now seennot Justas a
povertybut al3oas a meansof promotinga strategyto makethe wholecommunlty
solutlonfor thoseexperlenclng
moreprosp€rous
and sustalnable.
The rh€torlchaschangedby Includlngthe word"social"u,henreferringto pollcy,
sustalnablllty
and prosperlty.Thlshas broadened
the dlscusslon
whlchpermltsgllsectorsto becomelnvolvedand
to be part of the Solution.It i9 vltal that a dlologuetake placebetweenthe prlvate,public,and voluntary/non-profit
sectorsso that the connectlons
betweensocial,economlcand envlronmental
Interestsc6n be comblned,
Althoughsoclalworkerswouldwel@mea dlscusslon
on soclalpollcywlth the broadercommunlty,it remainsto be
seenif all the powerfulgelf-interests
can be addressed
so that povertyls actuallyreducedor eliminated.We need
to be optlmlstlcand seethls changein strategyas an opportunityto ensurethat povertyr€ductlonls addrcssedln
a way th.t wlll be measurable
and undeGtoodto makellfe betterfor the Indlvldual6nd alsocontrlbuteto the
prosperityand sustalnabillty
of the communlty,
- HaroldBeals,EdltorlalBoard
{l
f,..NJ'f
'\t(;4"-hA
AVH Addiction Discussion Groups Sfarfed
FORIMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Annapolis
ValleyHealth's(AVH)AddicllonServlcesis pleasedto announcethat a networkof
AddictionDiscussion
Groupsis now in placethroughoutthe AnnapolisValley.
"Thegroupsprovldean easy-to-access
opportunityfor Indivlduals- includingfamilymembelsand frlends- to
discusssubstanceuseand gamblingproblems,saysJim Morton,MSW,RSW,AVHAddlctlonServicesDjstrict
Manager.*Thegro!ps ar€ led by experlenced
membeEof our prcfesslonal
team" he said,"vehohelpfacilitate
expertlnputand makeuseof the lncrediblepowerof the groupprocess."
Thesegroupsare alwaysopento ne$,partlcipants
and eachsesslonrunsfor aboutone hour.No Eppointment
is
necessary.
Grouplocatlonsandtimesare llstedbelow:
AnnapollsRoyalAnnapolis
CHC,821 St. GeorgeStreetEducationRoomFrldays1:00pm
MiddletonSoldlerslvemorlalHospital462 MalnStreetAddlctlonServlcesFamilyRoomWednesdays
2:00pm
BerwickwKM HealthCentre,121OrchardStreetTuesday
1:00pm
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Kenwille Group Room-AVH Chipman, 15 Chipman Drive f'londays2:30pm Wednesdays10:30am
EeyondProblemGambllng (for indlvidualswith gambling problems,family, friends) Group Room-AVH Chipman
Wednesdays6:300m
WolfullleEKMCommunityHealthCentre,23 Earnscliffe
Avenue,CornercrouDRoomTuesdavs10:ooam
Messagefrom the ExecutiveDirector
I
i-
This is an extremely busy time of year at NSASWwith the registration renewal process,
SusanNasser
of Practice.It seemsas if there is barelytime to catchour breath,I reallyappreciatehaving
suchdedlcatedsocialworkersas HaroldBealsand DominiqueKwanto take on the importanttask of editingand
publishingConnection.
A hugevote of thanksalsogoesto MarilynMarcon,ExecutiveAssistant,and Suzanne
oesJardins,
Administrative
Assistant,who manageto respondcheerfullyto any and atl requestsevenwhile
inundatedwith renewals,
Belngpressedfo. tlme, I can'tposslblycoverall of the ltemsI wouldllketo in thls edltionof Connedion.so I will
of Social
lust say brleflythat it has beenhearteningto seethe enthuslasmpeoplehavebroughtto the organlzation
WorkWeekactlvltlesand extrcmelyencouraging
and insplrlngto hearthe thoughtfulfeedbackon the Codeand
Standards.Moreon thls and othertopl6 In the next editlon...
Meanwhile.
havea wonderfulSoclalWorkWeek!
SusanL. Nasser,MSW,RSW,MPH
ExecutlveD{rector
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