995-01-2003 Advocate Spring

volume 28, issue 1,
spring 2003
THE
ADVOCATE
ALBERTA COLLEGE OF SOCIAL WORKERS
2002 Annual Report
www.acsw.ab.ca
special pull-out section inside
Stand up
and be counted:
what do we really want
for our world?
page 20
Continuing the commitment: Youth In Care
page 24
On the front line: Piecing together a SAIF haven with Ireen Slater page 26
Many faces, many voices set for annual conference page 4 Books: The real
Ludwig tragedy page 18 Celebrate National Social Work Week page 36
The Advocate
Volume 28, Issue 1
SPRING 2003
COVER STORY
Stand up and be counted ............................. Cheryl Moskaluk................................. 20
in this
issue
FEATURES
Continuing the commmitment....................... Donna Hamar .................................... 20
Piecing together a SAIF haven ...................... Cheryl Moskaluk................................. 24
NEWS
Annual Conference set to kick off.................. Scott Stewart & Rasilea Wylie................4
Call for participants .................................... ACSW Mental Health Interest Group........5
National Child Welfare Project....................... Margot Herbert....................................5
Published by:
The Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW)
#550, 10707 - 100 Avenue
Edmonton AB T5J 3M1
Phone: (780) 421-1167
Toll-free in Alberta:
1-800-661-3089
Fax: (780) 421-1168
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.acsw.ab.ca
Executive Director & Registrar: Rod Adachi, MSW, RSW
[email protected]
Associate Registrar: Alison MacDonald, MSW, RSW
[email protected]
Students start southern chapter ................... Alberta Coalition Against Poverty...........6
Professional Affairs: Elaine Paras, MSW, RSW
[email protected]
Social worker heads CARF Canada office ......... Advocate & Daniel Stavert.....................8
Finance and Administration: Gladys Smecko
Membership Services: Brenda Gross, Monica Vasconez
REGULAR FEATURES
Administrative Secretary: Florence Reinhardt
Letter: Dignity can’t be taken away ............... Jim Thomson ......................................7
“Awards of Distinction”................................ Lynne Dulaney-MacNicol .......................9
Buying water for bees—Part II ..................... Jake Kuiken ...................................... 10
Beginnings: social work in Alberta ................ Baldwin Reichwein ............................ 12
Ethics in Action.......................................... Alison MacDonald .............................. 13
Findings in Case 00.6 .................................. ACSW Discipline Action....................... 14
Private Practice Page................................... Diane Allan....................................... 16
Review: The Ludwig story ............................. Bill Kirwin ........................................ 18
Maintaining competence .............................. ACSW Practice Review Board................ 19
ACSW Council:
President: Jake Kuiken, MSW, RSW
Vice President: Emily Drzymala, MSW, PhD, RSW
Secretary: Karen McCullagh, MSW, RSW
Treasurer: Bob Rechner, MSW, RSW
Members: Allan Hagan, MSW, RSW
Pamela Miller, PhD, RSW
Veronica (Ronnie) Wassill, MSW, RSW
Richard Gregory, BSW, MSc, RSW
Sandi Sherman, BSW, RSW
Public Member: Vince Steinhauer, BA
Past President & CASW Representative:
Margot Herbert, MSW, RSW
The Advocate is published quarterly for
members of the Alberta College of Social Workers
and other interested parties.
Editorial Board: Papiya Das, MSW, RSW (Chair)
Duane Burton, BSW, MEd, RSW
Erin Gray, MSW, RSW
Bill Kirwin, PhD, RSW
Trudy Wilson, SW Diploma, RSW
Leslie MacKinnon, BSW, RSW
Bob Rechner, MSW, RSW
The Advocate Editorial Policy
Editor: Cheryl Moskaluk
The Advocate seeks to serve as a “meeting place” for Alberta social workers by publishing information
about social work research, theory, practice, and education; professional affairs; social issues; the
work of the College; books, journals, and other media of interest to social workers; continuing education and job opportunities; and the comings and goings of Alberta social workers. Submissions from
members and the public are welcome: articles, stories, anecdotes, poems, thoughts and ideas. Letters
to the editor, announcements, cartoons, artwork, and pictures are welcome. The Editorial Board
reserves the right to edit submitted material. Please call the ACSW office for a copy of “Writing for
The Advocate” before submitting any material. Publication does not imply endorsement by the College.
The Advocate is published quarterly: deadline is JANUARY 15 for the SPRING issue (March publication),
APRIL 15 for SUMMER (June publication), JULY 15 for FALL (September publication), and OCTOBER 15
for WINTER (December publication).
Production & Typesetting: Jena Snyder
Design: Kyle Loranger Design
Advertising space is available. Advocate rates are $400
per full page. Please call the ACSW office for details, or
to place an ad. The Editorial Board reserves the right to
reject any advertising.
SUMMER 2003 ISSUE DEADLINE: APRIL 15, 2003
Canadian subscriptions are $24 per year (Outside
Canada: $24 US per year)
Canadian Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 40050109
ALL SUBMISSIONS:
The Advocate, ACSW, #550, 10707 - 100 Avenue, Edmonton AB T5J 3M1
ATTN: Elaine Paras.
E-MAIL: [email protected]
PHONE: (780) 421-1167 • FAX: 421-1168.
2
ISSN 0847 - 2890
Please notify the ACSW office immediately
of any address changes.
The Advocate • spring 2003
challenges, locating old friends and finding out who’s who in our
membership? We welcome members’ submissions to fill out this
column. This is your space to directly help our membership stay
connected.
Please contribute your items to ACSW: [email protected], fax
(780) 421-1168 or phone (780) 421-1167. Thank you.
The ACSW annual report has a proud new look. At the
request of Council, ACSW’s 2002 Annual Report is presented
as a stand-alone document. You will find it easy to pull
out in the center of this issue of the Advocate. Overrun
copies will be used to promote our association and
showcase initiatives of the past year. 
Long-time friends reunited
Two long-time friends were reunited at Association of Social
Work Boards (ASWB) 2002 Annual Meeting.
For delegates Diane DiSanto from Alaska and Emily Drzymala,
ACSW’s Vice-President, the meeting was an unexpected pleasure.
We hear Emily was almost breathless as she stood to give Alberta’s
report. Diane, a dear and lost friend, had just preceded her at the
podium.
The scoop: 30 years ago the two of them had been “old hippies”
in the Yukon and had, over time, lost contact with each other. It
was a wonderful reunion.
Diane diSanto and Emily Drzymala
Christmas Social Events
Christmas Social Events are always a great way to connect with
friends and colleagues and meet up with Council and ACSW
staff.
At the Calgary event, sponsored by the local area coordinators,
over 100 members and students came to enjoy. 
Left to right: June Churchill, Tamara Remillard, Joanne Morcom, connecting with
friends and colleagues at ACSW’s Christmas Social Event in Calgary
Our apologies
In the Winter 2002 issue, a quote in the humor piece, “The Lighter Side of Life,” page 35,
caused consternation for several members. As pointed out by a member who works with male
offenders, some of these quotes, if gender reversed, would rightly create an uproar within our
profession. Absolutely, we should have been more sensitive to the work of all our members and
edited more carefully; please accept our apologies. —Elaine Paras
Volume 28 • Issue 1
3
news
What is better than sharing personal news, your triumphs and
2002 ACSW Annual Report:
special pull-out section inside
in the
What’s new?
ACSW Annual Conference set to kick off March 13-15
in the news
Scott Stewart, BRE, DipSW, RSW, and Rasilea Wylie, BEd, RSW
The efforts of our committee members are culminating in just two weeks, when our conference, Social Work
Today: Many Faces, Many Voices, kicks off at Edmonton’s Fantasyland Hotel. We look forward to meeting you at
the conference; Edmonton area coordinators will be your greeters and will assist you in any way they can.
The 2003 conference marks our first offering of a smorgasbord
of sessions designed for Continued Education and Competence
credits. Our aim for this conference is to have well-balanced
intellectual stimulation; opportunities to meet kindred spirits;
forums to discuss ideas and strategies; opportunities to honor
our colleagues and ourselves; as well as offer some relaxation,
fun, laughter, and great food. There will be a selection of books
for purchase and hopefully, some massage therapists to help ease
away tense muscles for a reasonable fee. We are very excited
about the quality of diverse and unique items available in our
Silent Auction. As well, on Thursday evening, our entertainment committee members have designed an evening of delight,
providing a great opportunity for us to enjoy the varied talents
offered by our colleagues.
On Saturday, our members’ presentations will explore such varied topics as elder abuse, ethics, transactional analysis, hope and
spirituality, homelessness, chi, grief and mourning, and so much
more. You will be challenged to “check your choice.”
To further encourage your registration, we introduce you to
some of our Continuing Competence educators:
Randy Harris specializes in the area of substance abuse and
mental health issues within the senior population. He has
developed comprehensive insight and will share this during his
workshop.
Nick Zwaagstra is a Registered Art Therapist and also has
trained in play modalities. He has many years of experience
Cheryl Regehr will share her expertise as a clinical therapist as
assessing and treating individuals affected by trauma, loss and
well as a researcher, addressing the topic of treatment and recov- grief and gender issues
ery from traumas such as sexual assault within diverse populaJoanne Pompana and Linda Bull will enlighten us in areas
tions. She will also focus on the issue of the toxic effect this
specific to the aboriginal (First Nations) community. They will
work may have on both individual practitioners and organizabe addressing how past generational trauma and knowing contions and provide some effective strategies to mitigate negative
nects with present and future healing. Clifford Pompana will
consequences.
speak to First Nations sacred boundary issues.
Michael MacLean draws from over 30 years of experience in
Mary Jane McLaughlin will provide us with “everything that is
the area of social work practice, research, education and policy
important to know” when faced with the challenge of securing
with seniors. He specializes in the topic of positive aging. He
will be focusing on end-of-life issues for seniors and the critical financial support for our agencies and projects. This is especially
timely and useful in the current social-economic climate in
role played by social workers.
Alberta.
4
The Advocate • spring 2003
ACSW Annual conference
continued from page 4
Kelly Ernst is the executive director of the Canadian Outcomes
Institute (COI). He is past director of a number of programs
for children and youth and is a well-known expert on outcome
evaluation. His workshop will focus on the creation of an international outcome model for services for children and youth. 
Between them, Greg Campbell and Rod Rode have over 50 years
experience working as administrators in the Social Service sector.
They have gained invaluable experiences in keeping their organizations viable in the face of constant economic and social change.
These men are experts at negotiating change and maintaining
organizational viability.
Sandra Mark and Frank Moreland are specialists in community
economic development. They create materials for social work
education and training in community development, and also offer
an abundance of services in the essential field of community
growth and development.
Ernie Lightman is an expert in economics with a particular
interest in the relationship between economics and social policy.
Need extra banquet tickets?
Please note an oversight on our registration form,
which did not mention: extra banquet tickets may
be purchased for $35.00.
Thursday opening, keynote &
cabaret
Those members and friends who wish to attend the
Thursday evening conference opening, keynote and
member cabaret may do so for $10.
Please call the ACSW office for more information.
Interest group calls for participants on mental health issues
ACSW Mental Health Interest Group
If you are interested in:

advocating on behalf of individuals dealing with mental health,

networking with other social workers working in mental health,

addressing policies that affect individuals dealing with mental health,
a group of social workers invites you to participate in the development of an ACSW Mental Health Interest Group.
For more information about the group, please contact either:
Barb Clark at (780) 415-0634, e-mail: [email protected] or
Terry Zibin at (403) 340-5466, e-mail: [email protected]
Volume 28 • Issue 1
5
news
Leah Cohen’s primary focus has been on discrimination against
women. Her workshop will be of interest to all of us who are
dealing with aging and the internal and external challenges that
confront us in this inevitable process.
His workshop will engender greater understanding of this dynamic that affects us all.
in the
Deborah Sinclair will share her expertise in regard to mitigating
violence against women and children. A well-known therapist,
trainer, educator and community organizer, she will provide indepth knowledge and strategies for working with survivors and
the children who witness domestic abuse.
National child welfare project
in the
news
helps create conditions for good practice
Margot Herbert, MSW, RSW
CASW Child Welfare Steering Committee Chair
As many of you may know, the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) has undertaken a national
project designed to give front line social workers in child welfare practice across the country an opportunity
to express their views about their practice.
A questionnaire was distributed by provincial and territorial associations and placed on the CASW website. Follow-up focus
groups were held in most provinces and a child welfare consultation day was held prior to the National Conference in Moncton
last June. CASW would like to thank the many social workers across Canada who took time from busy schedules to respond to
the questionnaire, to participate in focus groups and in the consultation day in Moncton, and to support the project in so many
other ways. We want you all to know that the work is continuing and that a variety of activities have taken place over the past few
months.
The project data clearly describes both encouragements
and impediments to good practice in child welfare settings.
Major themes from across the country have been identified.
An interim report was sent to each provincial and territorial
association in September, and will soon be followed by additional reports including specific data from each jurisdiction.
A comprehensive report about the project will be completed
in the near future. All of this material will be posted on the
CASW website and hopefully on your provincial or territorial website as well.
Social work students start
southern chapter of Alberta
Coalition Against Povery
Two Medicine Hat social work students have taken giant
first steps in the fight against poverty.
Jeanette Woolstencroft and Gordon Cummings have found
office space and laid the foundation for a new Southern
chapter of the Alberta Coalition Against Poverty.
In the meantime, meetings have been held with groups
of prospective stakeholders, including Directors of Child
Welfare, the Child Welfare League of Canada, the Chair of
Child Welfare from Memorial University in Newfoundland,
the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work and
the Youth in Care Network. Through discussion with these
stakeholders, we have examined the major themes of the
project results and have prioritized those that are immediately
actionable. We are now working to firm up partnerships and
collaborations so that we can move these plans into action as
soon as possible.
The new group had an excellent response at an initial
meeting in November when it welcomed like-minded
people to work together to address problems associated
with poverty in Medicine Hat. Individuals from a good
cross-section of the community expressed interest in the
project.
The students want to work with other organizations in
the city and would also like to provide free advocacy
and resources for community residents who are in need.
To that end they are taking the next step of seeking
funding and equipment for office start-up. 
Please watch the CASW website (www.casw-acts.ca) for
further updates. 
6
The Advocate • spring 2003
regular
Letter to the editor:
Dignity can’t
be taken away
feature
Jim Thomson, BSW, RSW
The cover page of the Advocate (Fall 2002) highlighted the heading, “Give them back their dignity,” in reference to an appeal to
have income support rates raised. This heading was superimposed upon a black-and-white image of what appears to be a mother
and her two younger children. I have no issue with the cover story itself but I do wish for us to take caution with how we use the
word “dignity.”
In the Advocate (Fall 2000) I published an article entitled “Digging
beneath our dignity: Cultivating ethics’ fundamental value,” which
I will refer readers to for a more in-depth discussion on dignity.
For now, I want to remind ACSW members that our current
code of ethics states, “Social workers believe in the intrinsic worth
and dignity of every human being....”
Secondly, both the United Nations Universal Declaration of
Human Rights and Alberta’s Human Rights, Citizenship and
Multiculturalism Act state, “Whereas recognition of the inherent
dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the
human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in
the world....”
The word “intrinsic” and its synonym “inherent” identify the
type of dignity social workers are claiming to uphold. Intrinsic
or inherent dignity refers to the permanent moral worth of all
human beings, independent of their circumstances. This type of
dignity guides our code of ethics and is not dependent upon, or a
function of, any other criteria over and above the status of being
a human being.
This defining point of intrinsic or inherent dignity necessarily
means that this type of dignity cannot be given or taken from a
human being. We either choose to respect the permanent moral
worth of others or not. To choose not to is immoral. Unfortunately,
promoters of various commodities in the business world are keen
to redefine all types of dignity as dependent upon statuses other
than being a human being. Therefore, should you not have this or
that commodity or this or that status, or enough of it, you have lost,
or are at risk of losing some or all of your dignity.
Volume 28 • Issue 1
7
Editor”s note: The photograph and slogan appearing on the Fall 2002 Advocate
cover, was a direct reproduction of billboard art used by the ACSW as part of their
multi-media advocacy campaign in 2001-2002. (Pictured above).
The “Give them back their dignity” front cover heading reinforces (unintentionally, I am sure) the momentum for undermining intrinsic/inherent dignity. It implies the people on the front
cover have had their dignity removed. The heading should, more
accurately, be phrased, “Give them back respect for their intrinsic
dignity.” This implies, rightly, that the current income support
rates in Alberta do not reflect sufficient respect for the intrinsic
dignity of those in need.
When social workers honor their code of ethics they are respecting the intrinsic dignity (moral worth) of those they serve. They
are not giving them back any dignity because dignity is not
removable. Should the Alberta government soon increase the
income support rates to those who qualify, they will be respecting
the intrinsic dignity (moral worth) of these people. The government cannot give these people back their dignity, as they have not
lost it in the first place. 
title
in
thesection
news
Social worker heads new
CARF Canada office
By Advocate staff with Daniel Stavert, MSW, RSW
As a result of its expansion into Canada and into the human services field,
the Commission on Acceditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), a major
international accreditation company, has located its new Canadian office in
Edmonton and hired an ACSW member to head up its operations.
Daniel Stavert, MSW, RSW
The Tucson, Arizona-based CARF opened the newly incorporated CARF Canada office on Oct. 1, 2002 and appointed
Daniel Stavert, MSW, RSW, as Chief Advisor for Accreditation
Standards.
work experience is just what is needed to build accreditation
standards in these areas.
In Alberta and British Columbia, CARF contracts with the
Worker’s Compensation Board (WCB) to accredit organizations
that provide physical therapy-occupational rehabilitation, chiropractic occupational rehabilitation, brain injury services, and
chronic pains service.
Both Alberta and British Columbia have been Canadian leaders
in promoting accreditation as one method to advance the quality of services provided to consumers, says Stavert.
CARF has a long history of listening to consumers and
developing standards that address their needs. The structure
of CARF International includes a Board of Trustees, which
requires that 20 per cent of the board members be persons
with disabilities. An additional policy requires that at least 20
per cent of the participants in CARF’s International Advisory
Committees and International Leadership Panels must be
consumers. The development of the CARF Canada board will
reflect similar requirements.
In addition to contracting with the WCB, CARF’s current
accreditation initiatives include the British Columbia Ministry
of Children and Family Development, in several program areas.
Now that CARF has consulted with Children’s Services and
with Employment Assistance Programs in Alberta, Stavert’s social
CARF remains committed to developing and maintaining practical standards that promote quality, value, and optimal outcomes
in the lives of people, and that’s why, Stavert believes, the company’s services are increasingly sought out in Canada. He looks
forward to working toward that vision. 
Over the years, as CARF International built its profile for
respected accreditation practices, the company received an
Daniel’s more than 22 years of experience in the social work
increasing number of inquiries from Canadian organizations
profession will serve CARF clients well. He has worked in child seeking accreditation. Stavert’s first order of business in the new
welfare, foster care, adoptions, persons with developmental disEdmonton office is to provide and maintain service to CARF’s
abilities, public guardianship, correctional services, legislation,
300 existing client organizations across Canada, in the fields of
protocol and policy making, and accreditation standards. Over
adult day services, assisted living, behavioral health, employment
those years, Daniel has been a member of several boards includ- and community services, and medical rehabilitation. As more
ing the City of Edmonton Advisory Board to Persons with
Canadian organizations seek accreditation, the new Edmonton
Disabilities.
office will help new clients customize or create new standards.
8
The Advocate • spring 2003
News from the Faculty
Lynne Dulaney-MacNicol
ever social work awards of distinction. Coming as the grand finale to Social Work Week,
these new awards are expected to enhance the profile of social work as a career choice,
while acknowledging the outstanding work being done by professionals in the field.
The University of Calgary’s Faculty of Social Work, Calgary
Rockyview Child and Family Services, Calgary Health Region,
City of Calgary, Alberta College of Social Workers, and the
Governors’ Council are co-sponsors of this event, along with
numerous participating institutions and agencies.
The social work awards of distinction will be presented during
a noon-hour celebration in the Atrium of Calgary’s Municipal
Building. Entertainment, speakers and a complimentary lunch for
registrants will highlight the ceremony. All social workers in the
Calgary/Rockyview area are warmly invited to attend.
“We want to celebrate the many, many examples of excellence in
social work taking place at all levels and across fields of practice,”
says Gayla Rogers, dean of the Faculty of Social Work. “As social
workers, we recognize that our field positively impacts the communities in which we live. Now it’s time to tell our story to a
broader audience.”
Rogers says the awards of distinction will be divided into various
categories, with recipients receiving cash prizes. She anticipates
that once established, the awards will gain momentum and may
include student scholarships and professional development awards.
“We are very enthusiastic about the celebratory possibilities that
these awards might take,” she says. “We hope that every year, more
employers and colleagues will nominate social workers of excellence so that we can share their stories with our communities.
Volume 28 • Issue 1
9
“If I can get one message to all my colleagues, it is this: let’s do
our part to promote these awards, and let’s reinvest in pride and
self-esteem for all social workers.”
More information and nomination criteria for the awards will
be available to participating Calgary and Rockyview social services agencies and institutions. For more information, contact the
Faculty of Social Work at (403) 220-2232. 
Client-Directed, OutcomeInformed Therapy:
What Works in Every-Day Therapy
with
Scott D. Miller, PhD.
May 8 & 9, 2003
The Capri Centre, Red Deer, Alberta
This workshop will translate over 40 years of outcome
research into empirically supported therapeutic skills.
Scott Miller will help you improve your clinical
effectiveness and prove it to those you are accountable to.
Sponsored by Heartland Professional Training
Call Glen or Verna Dahlke for more information
Phone: (403) 314-0888 or E-mail: [email protected]
feature
Mark your calendars. On March 28, the Calgary social work community launches the first-
regular
Calgary social work community
launches “Awards of Distinction”
this spring
President’s Report
President’s
report
Jake Kuiken, MSW,
RSW
regular
feature
Jake Kuiken, MSW, RSW
Buying water for bees — Part II
I received a thoughtful response to my comments about “Buying Water For
Bees,” (the Advocate, Winter 2002) from Lloyd Andruchow, Head, Program Policy
Evaluation, Rural Services Division, Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. His
letter makes a number of very good points about the role of the provincial government in relationship to citizens and businesses in need.
Some parts of Alberta have indeed experienced a third and even
a fourth consecutive year of severe drought. In some cases this
is on top of other kinds of problems such as flooded homes,
washed-out roads, drowned-out crops and poor harvesting
conditions. The impact of drought is so serious that it may well
take four to six years to regain normal productivity. Moreover,
the reduced yield has had a very significant impact on prices.
In some cases, farmers experienced double or triple the normal
prices forcing some of them to make tough decisions about the
sustainability of their farm operations.
The letter makes it very clear that there’s really no doubt
about the fact that the agricultural business in Alberta urgently
needed government assistance to deal with the consequences
of drought. Without a reasonable living income to sustain them
and their business, some of Alberta’s farmers would certainly
have faced the prospect of bankruptcy. Given this province’s
wealth, that’s an entirely unreasonable prospect and one that
should not be tolerated. In these kinds of instances, a good
public welfare program, or “safety net” as Andruchow calls it,
is absolutely essential. In this case the “safety net” was a universal income support or welfare program, targeted at all farmers, greenhouse operators, mushroom growers and beekeepers
regardless of individual need or personal or corporate wealth.
So what is the problem? Well, in my view, it boils down to a
lack of basic fairness, equity and balance in dealing with citizens.
Let’s look at a number of other provincial “safety net” programs
designed to assist Albertans desperately in need.
As I noted previously, the provincial SFI program was cut by
an average of 20 per cent in 1993. Now, nearly 10 years later,
families are still waiting for their first real increase and that’s
after inflation has further eroded their income by a figure now
approaching 25 per cent. Even when the federal Liberal government began to do something about child poverty by introducing the National Child Benefit Supplement, the Alberta government eagerly clawed it back and redirected the savings away
from the poorest of the poor to other provincial programs supporting low-income working Albertans. Moreover, even when
the government introduces the long awaited “market basket
measure” (MBM) it’s likely that families on welfare will receive
something less than the full value of the MBM.
In the case of AISH, because the government found some individuals to have assets that offended their sense of propriety, it
introduced “means testing” some number of years ago. And, if
the “rumours” emanating from the AISH community are even
remotely correct, the means testing is about to become even
meaner. As in the case of SFI, benefit rates for AISH have not
One of the other interesting features about this drought relief
increased in recent years. Finally, after nearly three years of work
program is that there’s no provision for a “clawback” of benefits by the child day care community in Alberta to demonstrate the
through the income tax system, if personal, family or corporate need for a wage enhancement allowance, (the average hourly
income (or assets) exceed a reasonable threshold. In other words, wage of a day care worker in Alberta is less than a parking
means testing and income testing are out.
lot attendant) the government offered a mere $6 million for
10
The Advocate • spring 2003
President’s Report
A much more promising development in the government’s social
policy initiatives is the Alberta Disability Strategy released by
the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities.
The Council, chaired by MLA Rob Lougheed, has produced a
comprehensive set of recommendations designed to ensure that
Albertans with disabilities are actually able to realize the rights
they already have in law. One of the recommendations dealing
with income support programs suggests the separation of “basic
income support” from what might be termed “a disability allowance.” This approach may well have the potential to address the
legitimate concerns of many AISH recipients that they stand to
loose their AISH entitlement if they go to work, even for short
periods of time. Other recommendations deal with such things
as ensuring that appeal panels have full quasi-judicial status, a
direction 180 degrees from that proposed and approved during the 2002 Session of the Legislature, for the Resources for
Children with Disabilities (formerly HCS) program.
I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge my employer, the City
of Calgary, and my colleagues and staff over the years that I served
on Council. Together, they allowed me to stretch the limits for tolerance that is consistent with Calgary’s outstanding record of support for the social work profession dating back to Hiram Coulter
and the first meetings of what is now the ACSW. That support
continues unabated to the present day. Finally, thanks to my family, who consistently supported the time and energy I was able to
devote to the challenges and opportunities we faced as a profession.
To Keenie, Michael, Emi and Michelle, a deep and heartfelt thanks
for the love, space and time to do what needed doing.
“...the average hourly wage of a
day care worker in Alberta is less
than a parking lot attendant...”
Since this is my last quarterly President’s Report I would like
to thank the Editorial Committee and staff for their work on
making the Advocate the very good quarterly journal/newsletter
it has become. Likewise, there are many others I would like to
thank for the support and encouragement I received as president for the past eight years. To name them all would likely
exceed the tolerance the editors have consistently shown me.
Nevertheless, a few must be mentioned. These individuals have
added immensely to what ACSW has become: Margot Herbert,
Gayle James, John Mould, Richard Shelson, Brenda Gladue,
Vince Steinhauer, Anne-Marie McLaughlin, Judith Mason,
Rod Adachi, Alison MacDonald, Monsignor Bill Irwin, Elaine
Volume 28 • Issue 1
11
Thank you all. 
Wherever you go,
Whatever you do,
SAY YOU’RE
A
SOCIAL
WORKER!
You’d be surprised
how often social workers say “I work with alcoholics”
or “I do therapy” or “I counsel troubled children” or “I
direct an employee assistance program.”
There’s nothing wrong with these statements, but
preface each with
“I AM A SOCIAL WORKER,”
then add, “I work with troubled youth,” and you’ll be
performing an invaluable public education service that
benefits your profession and ultimately yourself.
The best way to bolster the image of the social work
profession is for social workers to identify themselves
as SOCIAL WORKERS!
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS
feature
Paras, Frank Hoebarth, Peter Vogels, Lorna Gaultois and Baldwin
Reichwein.
regular
a program that appears overly complex with too many strings
attached and still a long way from implementation.
regular
feature
Beginnings: social
work in Alberta
Baldwin Reichwein
MSW (equiv), RSW
Founders waste no time
1950: Edmonton and Calgary social work groups launch CASW branches
Within a year of 1949, meetings were called to ponder the possibilities of a formal
association, and Edmonton and Calgary organizers charged ahead to launch two
new branches of the Canadian Association of Social Workers.
The Edmonton organizing group met on Nov. 9, 1949, to elect
their first slate of officers, with John Farina elected as chairman,
Isabel Munroe as vice chairman and Betty Farrell as secretary.
John Farina was also a member of a program committee planning the Canadian Conference on Social Work scheduled for
1950 in Vancouver. Phyllis Burns, conference secretary, happened to be in Edmonton and attended the Nov. 9 meeting at
Isabel Munroe’s home. The following social workers also attended: Roy Hamilton, (Mrs.) J. Treleaven, Helen Johnson, Ruth
Wright, Margaret Dick, Madge De Voin, Kay Bernard, Walter
Blackburn and Hazeldine Bishop.
By the following November, minutes were recorded under
“Northern Branch of the Canadian Association of Social
Workers” and the process was set in motion for an application
in the CASW to be approved. The Nov. 27, 1950, meeting held
at Joyce Dunning’s home, where officers were elected from
among those eligible for membership in CASW. John Farina
was elected president, Walter Blackburn vice president, Betty
Farrell honourary secretary, and Ruth Wright treasurer. The following also attended: Ruth Hilland, Sheila Piggott, James Eakin,
George Trasov, Hazeldine Bishop, Con Ashby, Roy Hamilton,
Francis Chaplin, Stuart Bishop, Margaret Pincock, Margaret
Dick, John Farina and Helen Johnson.
Seven months later on a visit to Edmonton, CASW President
Marjorie Moore confirmed on June 6, 1951, that the Northern
Alberta Branch of CASW was one of four new branches
formed since June 1950. If there was an interval between the
decision to form a branch and receipt of approval from the
national office, it certainly did not stop local action.
In Calgary, minutes from the March 9, 1950, meeting reflect
discussion about services provided by social workers at Calgary’s
CNIB, Children’s Aid Department, Salvation Army, Holy Cross
Hospital, Colonel Belcher Hospital and YWCA. An invitation was extended to Stewart Bishop of Edmonton and Norah
Rowe of Medicine Hat to meet with the Calgary group.
Calgary social workers also quickly acted on the desire to form
an official association. On Nov. 24, 1950, the Southern Alberta
Branch of CASW was formed. Walter Lemmon was its first
president, with (Mr.) R.H.C. Hooper as vice president and
(Mr.) L.L. Graham as secretary-treasurer. Captain Mary Webb
became program chair and H.S. Stewart, membership chair. The
following also attended: Kay Jones, Sister LaRemi, Mary Livesey,
(Mrs.) H.W. Stewart, H.F. Coulter and Ruth McDonald. On
March 8, 1951, confirmation of the Southern Alberta Branch of
CASW branch status was received. In Calgary too, the time lag
between the local decision to form a branch and confirmation
by the national office, did not stop local action.
Social workers were contributing professionally in agencies on
an individual basis. And aside from the various private agencies,
Alberta Mental Health had been deploying social workers ever
since the mid-1930s. In spite of heightened political sensitivity about controversy over Alberta’s child welfare services in
the 1940s (and feared political intrusion by “Easterners”) local
social workers courageously organized under the umbrella of
their national association. Records confirm positive interaction
between the two founding groups, with a focus on common
provincial and national issues. Half a century later, some founding members (now our elders in the profession) occasionally still
attend ACSW functions.
Information courtesy of ACSW’s Edmonton Retired Social Workers
Interest Group. Baldwin Reichwein is a “not really retired” member of
this grand group.
12
The Advocate • spring 2003
Ethics in action
Alison MacDonald, MSW, RSW
Welfare investigator if they are asking about one of my clients?” All social workers should
be fully aware of the legal reporting requirements under the Child Welfare Act:
Section 4:
(1) Any person who has reasonable and probable grounds to believe and
believes that a child is in need of protective services shall forthwith
report the matter to a director.
(2) Subsection (1) applies notwithstanding that the information of which
the belief is founded is confidential and its disclosure is prohibited
under any other Act.
consent. This includes not telling the investigator that the person is your client. It is the investigator’s responsibility to obtain
that consent and to provide to you evidence of having consent.
It is not your obligation to ask your client if it is okay to speak
with the investigator.
The relevant factor involved is whether you have “reasonable and
(3) This section does not apply to information that is privileged as a result probable grounds to believe and believe” that the child involved is in
need of protective services. If your work is with the parent, do
of a solicitor-client relationship. (Emphasis added.)
you have information that would suggest that the parent is inca(4) No action lies against a person reporting pursuant to this section
unless the reporting is done maliciously or without reasonable and prob- pable of providing care to the child? Has the parent told you
anything about his or her relationship with the child? Have you
able grounds for the belief.
observed the parent and child together?
(5) Notwithstanding and in addition to any other penalty provided by this
As a social worker you are required to protect your client’s
Act, if a director has reasonable and probable grounds to believe that a
interests. This includes a respect for confidentiality. You must not
person has not complied with subsection (1) and that person is registered
under an Act regulating a profession or occupation prescribed in the regu- divulge confidential client information without consent except
within the specified legal parameters. It is not up to you to
lations, the director shall advise the appropriate governing body of that
make the judgment that giving such information would be in
profession or occupation of the failure to comply.
your client’s best interests.
(6) Any person who fails to comply with subsection (1) is guilty of an
Child Welfare investigators have a difficult task and it is not our
offence and liable to a fine of not more than $2000 and in default of
intent to make this any more difficult. Their job is necessarily
payment to imprisonment for a term of not more than 6 months.
intrusive. In the best interests of the child, if you are aware that
Clearly, as a Registered Social Worker, you are obligated to put the a child is in need of protection, you have an obligation to assist,
needs of a child at risk ahead of confidentiality requirements of the
not to hinder the investigation.
workplace and the profession. But what if you do not have reason
The Alberta government web site has a fact sheet called “Child
to believe that a child is in need of protective services?
Welfare and the Professional,” which can be found along with
related information at www.child.gov.ab.ca/. There is a link to
If you are contacted by an investigator about your client and
Child Welfare and to other Children’s Services programs and inforyou do not have any information that suggests your client is
mation. This article has been approved by the Communications
causing his or her child to be in need of protective services (i.e.
Office of Alberta Children’s Services. Thank you to Sandi Sherman,
abusing or neglecting the child or failing to protect from abuse
BSW, RSW, for input and assistance with the details. 
or neglect), you should not disclose any information without
Volume 28 • Issue 1
13
feature
One of the frequently-asked questions posed to ACSW is “What do I have to tell a Child
regular
Child Welfare Investigation
title section
regular
feature
Findings in Case 00.6
Alberta College of Social Workers
Discipline Action
The following information is published pursuant to Section 12 of the
Social Work Profession Regulation, which states:
If the certificate of registration or annual certificate, or both, of an
investigated person are cancelled or suspended and the appeal periods under the Act have expired, the Council must publish, subject
to section 10, the following information in the manner considered
appropriate by it: (a) the name of the investigated person; (b) a
description of the conduct of the investigated person that led to
the investigation being held; (c) the findings and the order of the
Discipline Committee, the Council or the Court of Appeal relating
to the investigated person.
6. Ms. Gibot made no active attempt to refer Mr. X to another professional after terminating the professional relationship between them.
7. Ms. Gibot did not maintain proper records relating to her
counseling of Mr. X.
AGREED FINDINGS OF THE DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE
Count #1: The violation of professional boundaries and trust
In or about the period from April 21 to July 16, 2000, in
IN THE MATTER OF Part 6 of the Social Work Profession Act, Edmonton, Alberta, Ms. Gibot entered into and carried on an
S.A. 1991, c. S-16.5, as amended;
improper personal and sexual relationship with a former client
with whom she had only just terminated the client-therapist
AND IN THE MATTER OF Case No. 00.6 and that person
relationship.
therein investigated, a registered member of the Alberta College
CONSENT ORDER
AGREED STATEMENT OF FACTS
1. RUBY HELEN GIBOT (Ms. Gibot) is a registered social
worker with the Alberta College of Social Workers pursuant to
the Social Work Profession Act, S.A. 1991, c. S-16.5 as amended.
Particulars of this offence are as follows:
a)
In or about the period from May 28, 1999 to April 19,
2000, Ms. Gibot had a counseling relationship with Mr.
X. The treatment plan was to address Mr. X’s high level of
stress concerning sexual abuse issues and to assist him with
trust, safety and boundary issues.
2. Ms. Gibot provides private practice social work counseling
to the public and operated a social work agency entitled
Blue River Traditional Aboriginal Counseling Services.
b) In or about the period of April 21 to July 16, 2000, Ms.
Gibot shared a residence with Mr. X, lived together as a
couple and engaged in social activities.
3. Commencing in or about May 28, 1999, to April 20, 2000,
Mr. X was a client of Ms. Gibot’s. Mr. X is a male aboriginal and an Indian as defined by the Indian Act, R.S.C. 1985,
c.1-5, who had recently separated from his wife. Mr. X
sought counseling with Ms. Gibot for sexual abuse, anger,
depression and growth issues.
c) In or about the period of April 21 to July 16, 2000, Ms.
Gibot was sexually intimate with Mr. X.
4. Mr. X attended fourteen individual counseling sessions.
5. Immediately following the therapist-client relationship, Ms.
Gibot began a personal relationship with Mr. X, ultimately
resulting is a sexually intimate relationship.
Such conduct contravenes sections 2.6 and 5.6 of the Code of
Ethics, displays a lack of knowledge of or lack of skill or judgment in the practice of social work, harms or tends to harm the
standing of the profession of social work generally and is detrimental to the best interests of the public. Consequently, such
conduct constitutes both unskilled practice of social work and
professional misconduct.
14
The Advocate • spring 2003
Count #2: Inadequate file recording
In or about the period from May 28, 1999 to April 19,
2000, Mr. X was a client of Ms. Gibot’s agency and she was
his therapist.
b) Ms. Gibot’s casework file for Mr. X does not indicate the
issues addressed during the therapeutic sessions, the methods used to address these issues or the outcomes produced
or expected to be produced during or after these sessions.
c) The documentation in Ms. Gibot’s casework file for Mr. X
does not contain any or any adequate reasons for treatment.
Such conduct contravenes section 6.5.3 of the Code of Ethics,
displays a lack of knowledge of or lack of skill or judgment
in the practice of social work and is detrimental to the best
interests of the public. Consequently, such conduct constitutes
unskilled practice of social work.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY
It is acknowledged by the Alberta College of Social Workers
and Ms. Gibot that Ms. Gibot’s conduct as described above in
the Agreed Findings constitutes unskilled practice and/or professional misconduct pursuant to section 43(1) of the Social Work
Profession Act. The sanction set out below is jointly agreed to,
based upon, in part, the responsibility accepted by Ms. Gibot.
AGREED SANCTION
The Discipline Committee of the Alberta College of Social
Workers and Ms. Gibot make the following submissions with
respect to the Agreed Findings:
3) In the event that the initial assessment is not satisfactory
to the Alberta College of Social Workers, Ms. Gibot will
be required to undertake counseling in relation to the
concerns raised by the independent assessor and the suspension will remain in place until such time as the report
is received that Ms. Gibot has sufficiently comprehended,
understood and recovered from the consequences of her
conduct.
4) Ms. Gibot shall be reprimanded, a copy of the formal reprimand to remain in her discipline file for a period of 10
years.
5) Should Ms. Gibot return to the Province of Alberta to
work as a registered social worker, she will be under supervision for a period of sixteen months from the date of the
commencement of her work. Ms. Gibot’s work shall be
supervised by an individual mutually agreed upon by Ms.
Gibot and the Alberta College of Social Workers. This
direct supervision is not limited to any minimum amount,
but is in the discretion of the supervisor. Ms. Gibot shall
bear the cost of this supervision.
6) Ms. Gibot shall pay the costs of this matter in the sum of
$500.00. Such costs are to be paid on or before January 1,
2003.
7) The contents of this Consent Order shall be published
in its entirety in the next publication of the Advocate,
the quarterly publication of the Alberta College of Social
Workers, with the exception that there shall be no publication of Mr. X’s name.
1) Ms. Gibot shall be suspended from the practice of social
work for a period of eight (8) months commencing from
the date of this Order.
Dated in the City of Edmonton, in the Province of Alberta this
15th day of January, 2003.
2) Ms. Gibot shall undergo an assessment to determine
whether she sufficiently comprehends, understands and has
recovered from the consequences of her conduct specifi-
Signed by Ms. Gibot and the following members of the
Discipline Committee:
Janet Neilson (Chair), Rose Hamel, Marianne Wright,
Karen Nielsen.
Volume 28 • Issue 1
15
feature
a)
regular
In or about the period from May 1999 to April 2000, in
Edmonton, Alberta, Ms. Gibot failed to keep an adequate casework file on one of her clients that properly documented the
reasons for treatment in accordance with acceptable standards of
practice for social work intervention. Particulars of this offence
are as follows:
cally as it relates to the issue of boundaries as between
herself and Mr. X. This assessment will be performed by an
individual chosen by the Alberta College of Social Workers.
Instructions to that individual as to the objectives and
nature of the assessment will be provided jointly by counsel
for the College and counsel for Ms. Gibot. Ms. Gibot shall
bear the costs of this counseling.
Private Practice
Page
President’s
Report
regular
feature
DianeKuiken,
Allan, MSW, RSW
Jake
The fine art of attracting clients
find help and coaching on the web
What is the best approach to marketing your practice? If your professional training was
like mine, there was nothing in the curriculum that even hinted at private practice,
and heaven forbid, “business skills.” The emphasis was on developing skills to work
effectively for poorly funded private agencies or in government positions.
Private practice can by nature be quite isolating. Developing
the business skills necessary to running a successful private
practice is often best learned by trial and error. And unless
your business is very successful, sharing your best business-building practices with your competition may be risky.
Thankfully, there are a number of therapists and therapists/
coaches who have set up web sites that offer free business tips,
e-magazines, sell their books and sometimes provide chat lines.
Useful sites to visit
Two of the most useful I have found are:
www.irislipnercsw.com
Iris Lipner is a clinical social worker practicing in New York,
NY, and is author of the book: Saying Good-bye to Managed Care,
Building Your Therapy Practice
www.kolt.com
Annual Private Practice
Roster Meeting
Friday, March 14, 2003
The Annual Private Practice Roster meeting
will be held Friday March 14, 2003, at
12 noon in the Fantasyland Hotel at West
Edmonton Mall.
Private Practice Committee presents
Ethics in Private Practice
during the ACSW annual conference
Saturday March 15 at 2 p.m.
Fantasyland Hotel,
West Edmonton Mall
Laurie Kolt’s site has a newsletter and a list of some of her available publications and on-line services. She has a combination
coaching and therapy practice and her latest book is called How
to Build a Thriving Fee for Service Practice. Of special interest are
some of her practice tips, as listed on her web site, in the article
“Six tips to turn a caller into a committed client.” Here you can
discover great ways to connect with new clients.
Free coaching services online
There are also some free coaching services available online. I
have found these helpful in establishing my business, and some
very useful material is provided each month in the e-magazine. The ones I use most often are www.tlcsuccess.com and
www.coachville.com.
The necessity of attracting clients is where the dilemma of marketing rears its ugly head. Successful private practitioners tell me
that there is no point in wasting hard-earned money in expensive
advertising and that practices are built primarily upon good work
16
The Advocate • spring 2003
Ask the right questions
An article by Laurie Kolt in Psychotherapy Finances
(September 2000) identified more than 100 niche markets
for therapists. Her list began at “A,” with adolescents, adoption,
and anger, and identified another specialty for each letter of
the alphabet through to “W,” with weight management, wellness and workers compensation. It is common practice to use
terms like those to describe our services in the Yellow Pages
and in brochures we produce.
Is there one most effective approach to marketing? Likely
not. This is a choice depending upon many factors. Says
Kolt, “Market research by the APA (1996) shows that the
most positive perception the public has about us is that
we: 1) educate and support people on how to deal with
life-changing events and 2) that we are understanding and
caring to people. If you can show them a sense of your
approach,” then you are reaching out to them in a way that
they can understand.
Dean Jackson, coach, as quoted in Leonard’s e-zine, states
that it is vital to focus your marketing “100 per cent on the
person you wish to reach.” He suggests that you describe
to your prospective clients who they are and what they are
facing. Therefore, be specific, focus on the situation and
mention yourself and your abilities only in the context of
the clients you have helped. Allow the person to see himself
or herself in your marketing, not just someone or something
vaguely similar. 
Volume 28 • Issue 1
17
International Conference for the Advancement
of Private Practice in Clinical Social Work
ICAPP’s 42nd Annual Conference will be held
June 22-26th, 2003 in San Diego, California
Private
Practice
Conference Theme:
1/4
“Pitfalls and
Pleasures in The Clinical Encounter”
at the
Coronado Island Mariott Resort
Workshops are held in the morning with
excursions planned for the afternoons.
All clinical social workers in private practice are
invited to join ICAPP in San Diego for a unique
professional experience.
Contact:
Audrey Ferber (403) 225-4008 or
[email protected]
THE CANADIAN SOCIETY OF CLINICAL HYPNOSIS
(Alberta Division)
SPRING CONFERENCE
May 8 to11, 2003
Banff Park Lodge, Banff, Alberta
Introductory, Intermediate & Advanced
Workshops
Featured Speaker
Michael Yapko
As well as ASCH President
Marc Oster
For more information call the Society at
(403) 341-6913 or 1-800-386-7230
feature
Are confused about which niche to go into? Are you
wondering how to brand yourself? Are you trying to
decide how to package yourself? Thomas Leonard from
www.coachville.com states that these questions are the
wrong ones to be asking because they are all about you, not
about your prospective clients. Secondly, answering those
questions will never really allow the client to “see themselves” in your marketing. “Coach Leonard” states that people don’t really care about you, they only care about what
you are offering to them, or what they can get from you.
42nd Annual ICAPP Conference
June 22 - 26, 2003
regular
and client referral. Others say that it is best to increase your
profile with referral sources and/or connections in your
community, as defined by a group of other professionals and
clients with a specific focus, or within your geographical
area.
Book review
regular
feature
Bill Kirwin, PhD, RSW
The Wiebo Ludwig story:
the tragedy in failing to find the balance
Saboteurs: Wiebo Ludwig’s War Against Big Oil by Andrew Nikiforuk
Macfarlane Walter & Ross; dist. by Random House of Canada. ISBN 1-55199-053-9
Andrew Nikiforuk’s award-winning book Saboteurs is dedicated to those “downwinders”
who have the misfortune of living downwind from oil wells, which of course is all of us
who have the fortune and misfortune of living and working in Alberta.
In Saboteurs: Wiebo Ludwig’s War Against Big Oil, Nikiforuk retells
with considerable success the drama between the religious zealot/
eco-terrorist Wiebo Ludwig and the benign/malevolent oil
and gas industry who, in concert with the foot-dragging of the
RCMP and the indifference of provincial bureaucracies, acted out
the recent passion play. Most Albertans are familiar with the story,
a Faustian drama of duplicity on all fronts. Ludwig, self-styled
leader of a fundamentalist cult, challenges the oil and gas industry and the Alberta government in the oil rich farmlands of the
Peace River country, attempting to stop oil and gas exploration
taking place adjacent to his property, Trickle Creek Commune.
Nikiforuk thoroughly covers the familiar events: the eco-terrorism, the killing of a teenager and the ensuing media circus.
Almost no one comes out looking good. So if you are looking
to read a story about the little David taking on the corporate
Goliath or a fairy tale about the RCMP sifting the evidence in
pursuit of justice or a corporate citizenry interested in the greater
good, you will be disappointed. What you will find is an odious
story of deception, betrayal and ineptitude. The tragedy of this
story is the lack of accommodation on all sides. Nikiforuk, to his
credit, approaches the events with an even hand and manages to
convey the duplicity of all the parties involved.
About the only person in this drama who acts honorably is the 20year veteran RCMP Sergeant Robert Bilodeau (his wife is a social
worker) of the Beaverlodge detachment. Bilodeau had recently
returned from the killing grounds of murderous Srebrenica in
the former Yugoslavia, where he was compelled to negotiate with
warlords and watch impotently as genocide was committed with
impunity when the United Nations refused to defend an enclave
they had set up in the city. If you want to know what Srebrenica
was like, said Bilodeau, imagine a Serb and a Croat raping a Muslim
woman while the UN stand by, holding a flashlight.
In Beaverlodge, Bilodeau’s initial assignment was to investigate
a string of small acts of vandalism against a petroleum company.
Compared to his former duties, this must have seemed minor. His
investigation quickly led him to his first meeting with Ludwig,
where he candidly exchanged views with the leader of Trickle
Creek: “I’m a peace officer and I’ll do whatever I can to keep the
peace.” What he saw in Bosnia when people took the law into their
own hands, he told Ludwig, was that innocent people suffered.
Ludwig liked Bilodeau but thought he was weak, a common perception that a zealot might have of someone trying to ameliorate a problem; perhaps Bilodeau expected this. What he did not expect was the
indifference of his RCMP superiors when he asked for help to defuse
the escalating situation. Instead of acting on his recommendations he
was transferred to Edmonton. The RCMP had chosen a path of indifference and Ludwig one of industrial sabotage. The Alberta Energy
Company chose obfuscation.
Canada is about balancing cultures, languages, and competing forces,
both economic and societal. Indeed it could be said that the search for
balance is also the primary objective of social work. Of all the players
in this drama only Sgt. Bilodeau seems to have the idea of societal balance in mind, but in the end his attempts to mediate between Ludwig
and the various authorities are disregarded or sabotaged. Nikiforuk’s
work raises many questions about many of the values held to be
important to Albertans. Saboteurs should be read by anybody who is
concerned about unchecked abuse of individual rights, police methods,
corporate power and government accountability. 
18
The Advocate • spring 2003
Practice Review
Board
Workers is required to implement a Continued Competence program for social workers.
The Practice Review Board (PRB), a group of volunteer RSWs representing different areas
of social work, has committed a great deal of time and energy to develop a model that
includes membership feedback.
Over the past four years a tremendous amount of research
was explored and many initiatives took place to gather feedback about continued competence and the type of program
that would work best for the membership. After many articles
and feedback requests in the Advocate, focus groups, discussion
groups, presentations at the annual conference, presentations
across Alberta and testing of program tools and more, the model
is now developed and ready for implementation.
The PRB has worked with the philosophy that competence is
the integration of knowledge, skills and attitudes within a field
of practice and that “competence” is a process, not a destination. The new Continued Competence program involves a
self-directed learning plan, self-assessment tools and a recording system for a social worker to track competency activities.
Competency activities fall into three categories:
• Category A: university/college courses, certificate programs,
credited seminars, ACSW Council and regulatory committee
work.
• Category B: job-based learning such as supervision, mentoring, staff development, direct service volunteer work, and
ACSW member committees.
Frequently asked questions:
Q. How are training and educational programs approved?
A. Category A activities are those that have some type of
formal recognition as educational programs. These include
courses and workshops offered by approved social work
college and university programs, continuing education
departments at the universities, programs approved through
the Association of Social Work Boards or other professional
organizations and certificate programs available through
accredited organizations (suicide intervention training,
computer courses, etc.). Category B and C activities do
not require approval.
Q. How can social workers access training and encourage the
participation of their employer?
A. Social workers can encourage training partnerships between
employers, agencies, and educational institutions and they
are encouraged to notify ACSW and the area coordinators
about any training opportunities or needs. Educational
opportunities will continue to be promoted through the
Advocate and the ACSW web page.
Q. Is the Continued Competence program written in stone?
• Category C: self-directed learning activities, i.e. reading books/
journals and contributing to organized discussion groups.
A. The program is being implemented as a pilot program and
will be monitored and evaluated over the next five years.
There will be opportunity for membership feedback.
RSWs are required to complete 40 continued competency
credits. In this program, one hour is equal to one credit. The
credits are achieved through a range of activities in each of the
three categories.
The PRB is offering workshops across the province to assist the
membership in fully understanding the continued competence
program and to facilitate a smooth implementation. To schedule a workshop in your area please call the ACSW office. 
Volume 28 • Issue 1
19
feature
When the Health Professions Act (HPA) is proclaimed, the Alberta College of Social
regular
Maintaining competence in
the field of social work
feature
article
By Cheryl Moskaluk
Stand up
and be counted:
What do we really
want for our world?
The silence is deafening.
So say a handful of Alberta’s social workers, asked by the Advocate to stand up and be
counted for their views on world issues. We asked them to travel in time, to consider
what historians would say about the human family 100 years from now. And what have
we learned from the past 100 years?
Social workers stand in a peculiar place as they sense
the world at a crossroads, where deeply relevant
human wisdom lies untapped at the door of the
Earth’s most fundamental challenges.
They witness poverty, the threat of war, and the severe misallocation of core resources as basic as water. They observe people
disengaging on a massive level from public discourse, as their
experiences and potential solutions for humanity’s problems are
buried in the obscurity of daily struggles or branded rough and
irrelevant in the smooth veneer of a world obsessed with commoditization and competition for wealth. Evils take on the face
of neo-conservative or neo-liberal ideology, depending on the
point of view, but our four respondents dovetailed their views
on the dangers of entrenched ideologies, no matter what the
political stripe.
To break the silence so prevalent in our mainstream media and
in the hallways of governments, schools and public places, we
asked social workers to take time to look beyond the hills that
they die upon every day, to face the mountains beyond. It’s
perhaps initially a lurching or at least a novel experience, unaccustomed as many of us are to requests that we array our ideas
as gifts to be publicly valued for the greater good. These social
workers took up the challenge.
The 100-year crystal ball
“I think historians 100 years from now will say that we were
on the cusp of a major social change and we had the opportunity to opt for either the creation of a just, humane and inclusive society or give in to the siren call of neo-liberalism,” says
Timothy Wild, MSW, RSW, a community social worker with the
City of Calgary who is accustomed to working with economically marginalized people, including families in social housing,
and seniors. He describes his outlook as “a red hue with added
shades of green.”
“I think they will say that we had the opportunity to save at
least a semblance of the compassionate state and with that, the
assumption of collective provision for all citizens. They could also
record that we saw the institutionalization of a mean-spirited
20
The Advocate • spring 2003
“Never doubt that a small group of
thoughtful, committed citizens
can change the world—for
indeed, it’s the only thing that
ever does.” —Margaret Mead
If that call is more strident now, Wild insists it is because we
have been slow to learn from our 20th-century experience.
“The post-war consensus wasn’t that much of a consensus, as
it turns out. It relied more on a charitable model distributing surplus resources rather than reflecting a major structural
change in social and political thinking, and a commitment to
a fundamental reallocation of central resources. Certainly there
were advances in social rights, but frequently these were made
without the necessary concomitant economic rights of citizenship. In fact, I would argue that these social rights were often
extended because they did not fundamentally change prevailing
economic relations. Instead the emphasis has been on shortterm capitalist development as opposed to long-term investment
in sustainable economic growth. The market has become prime,
as opposed to the market being harnessed for social ends.”
Volume 28 • Issue 1
21
Valuing human wisdom and acting on visions founded on social
work values like respect and tolerance, is no longer a luxury at
either the local or global level, says LaForce.
“When I worked in Sierra Leone we worked with nationals,
who, though their work was with women and girls traumatized
by the brutality of war and severe poverty and so many children
trained to kill as soldiers, still their perspective on social work
was very similar to our own. They have ways in which they are
trying to address oppression and change belief systems. This is
a commonality we have with them, but there is also a wonderful diversity in their practice. We could pay attention to their
traditional ways of caring for and empowering women. How
do they do that and what can we do here? We have a western,
medical, individualistic lens sort of view of the world. Over
there, I saw how in their communities, Islam and Christianity
co-existed. We have such a division here.”
In coming face to face with the larger issues, these social workers are unwilling to let themselves off the hook, especially when
the potential for human advancement is so great.
Elaine Spencer, MSW, RSW, lives and works in the Bow Valley
area, works part-time for Alberta Mental Health, runs a small
private practice engaging in insight-oriented therapy, teaches an
ethics course through Grant MacEwan College and also acts as
an investigator for ACSW.
Continued on page 22
article
We have taken the human out of so much of what we value.”
feature
individualism and the rule of the financial markets over the auton- Val LaForce, BSW, RSW, agrees that the human element is
omy of the state.”
becoming dangerously severed from economic aims. As a social
worker at Medicine Hat Hospital, she works in supportive
Wild points to a glimmer of hope in the evidence of popular
rehabilitation, ambulatory care, pre-renal clinics and geriatric
protests in Genoa, Seattle, Quebec City and Calgary.
continuing care. The job demands the versatility of a generalist
in care. She has also recently traveled to work in Sierra Leone
“The growth of protest movements is admirable; however,
for six months. Her international exposure leaves her unable to
unfortunately, this involves a small number of engaged and
contemplate local issues without a greater global context.
informed citizens. People who speak up for change and social
justice are frequently marginalized and written off as irrelevant
“Our society in history will be seen as one where ideologies
relics. I think social work must do more to ensure that the peo- were entrenched. Rather than becoming a more tolerant world,
ple we work with have a voice. In fact, social justice seems to
we are becoming much more self-protective. In an age of gloimplore us to amplify the voices of marginalized groups within balization we are more border conscious. We seem to have this
the mainstream.”
easy free flow of goods across borders but definitely not people.
Stand up and be counted
feature
article
continued from page 21
She contemplates tragic global misfires, as a failure to convert
our knowledge and abilities into power and action that can create change.
“I think that historians would say that we, for such a technologically advanced people, had the capacity for making choices that
could have dug us out from underneath our biggest problems,
that we had the chance to make choices that were loving and
peace-making, rather than treating people as expendable. The
crossroads we are at now (with the United States preparing to
go to war in Iraq) is not any different than at Sept. 11, two years
ago. Our propensity to harm one another is oddly barbaric, if
I can use that word. It’s out of place with our capacity to build
great things, to speak with each other across the world. I wonder about our willingness to punish one another.”
“Finding solutions for people in need is going to be realized by
thinking more deeply and also simply,” she says.
Richard Gregory, BSW, MSc, RSW, a social worker and instructor in the social work program at Medicine Hat College, has
worked in child welfare and young offender systems. He also
chairs the Social Development Advisory Board and is one of the
human rights advisors at the college. He envisions that future
historians could well condemn our collective society for being
asleep at the wheel.
“I’m not certain we learned very much from the 20th century.
We continue to support oppressive practices, tolerate indifference, and passively go about our every day business. We do this
by being silent! We support large multinational corporations
... with no consideration for the people who are victimized in
the production of the goods or for the communities that are
destroyed when [that corporation] wipes out small independent
businesses under the guise of competition. Historians could
well say that social workers, while good intentioned and supposedly living lives in service of others, through their passive ways
and apathy contributed to oppression. We have not challenged
government policies that exclude segments of society, we’ve tolerated capitalist governments, we’ve failed to increase awareness
about social inequalities and injustices, and collectively we have
not initiated any coordinated approaches of resistance to neoconservative ideology. One hundred years from now we may be
noted as the society that accepted poverty and abuse as inevitable; allowed businesses to control governments; and had laws
that protected property better than people.”
Lines in the sand
Faced with so many crucial issues then, how could social workers choose priorities and what are the trade-offs? As quickly as
our respondents were willing to lay out society’s shortcomings,
they could also name the starting points they feel could change
the current course.
“We must choose sides,” says Wild.
“I think social work must remain an activist occupation and, as
a result, I think that our priorities must be with the economically marginalized or in the words of theology show “a preferential option for the poor.” I think the social issues and needs of
this group will largely determine our priorities. We must remain
committed to ensuring that the people with whom we work
have access to the best practices at both the clinical and community level and I think we should try to avoid the tender trap
of market-driven professionalization.
“We can develop priorities, but I also really dislike creating a
hierarchy of need, particularly when there are adequate social
resources to meet the needs of all classes of citizens. We have
Band-Aids—but we also need major social change, citizen
engagement and political action. The top priority should be for
social change at the broader societal level.
We can all ask ourselves, “On what hill am I willing to die?”
says Gregory. Where and when will we act on the things we’re
passionate about?
“We tend be a culture of ‘somebody ought to do something.’
In an ideal world the priority should be self-care. In that way
we have the endurance to continue to work toward change. I
am often challenged by not having enough time to get involved
with all the ‘causes’ that I would like. There are some which I
have a personal investment in, others that I believe are situations
where injustices must be challenged, and others where I feel
that my involvement may have an impact. I am a firm believer
in Margaret Mead’s quote ‘Never doubt that a small group
of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world—for
indeed it’s the only thing that ever does.’ My level of involvement is sometimes limited to supporting what others are doing.”
If change starts from within, then there’s a lot of value in looking first at personal practices, agrees Spencer.
22
The Advocate • spring 2003
hill am I willing to die?’ Where
and when will we act on the
things we’re passionate about?”
Fanning the spark of collective action
The exciting element in structural and radical social work and
anti-oppressive practice, is the idea that justice can actually be
achieved through empowerment, consciousness raising and collective action, says Wild.
“Jane Addams won a Nobel Prize and considerable unpopularity for her anti-war stand, and she is one of my social work role
models. I think we have to be more vocal in our opposition
to the use of war as a tool of foreign policy, particularly as it
is applied in so haphazard a manner. Canada also has to maintain its independence in terms of foreign policy. If we are to
call ourselves civilized people, we have to hope and work for
alternatives to war. I think social work has a lot to offer in this
regard through community development, conflict resolution,
anti-poverty work and coalition building.
By increasingly mobilizing people in this way, Wild suggests,
society might be able to correct the astounding lack of public debate that results in phenomena such as the winning of
Survivor being of much more note than the increase in child
poverty. Witness the appalling fact that the outcry over Premier
Klein’s visit to the shelter could not be sustained beyond the
Volume 28 • Issue 1
23
Peaceful strategies must be brought to the fore even in the face
of a mantra of war, believes Gregory.
“I am very frightened about the possibility of U.S. President
Bush declaring war in Iraq. I believe that this is only about
greed and control. I have no doubt that if Iraq did not have the
oil resources that it has, President Bush would not be bothered
by them. While at the same time, I do not support the political
regime of Iraq, I don’t see war as the answer to that problem.
Nor do I accept that we should impose more western colonization on their society…I have never experienced invasion or war
on my country’s soil, yet I don’t feel safe—I cannot imagine
what it must be like for people who have lived through that
experience.”
Answers within and from afar
The bottom line is that we must connect to the larger world,
to help us with new perspectives on our decisions at home,
LaForce believes. Among a host of problems worldwide, including the crush of poverty, both she and Spencer can pick out one
that will test the truth of human relationships in the fire: access
to water.
“We’re privatizing a basic human need,” says LaForce. “We in
the west don’t know what it is to discover that water simply
isn’t there for the drinking. We see it as a basic right; we think
it will always be there. People were so stunned by Walkerton
because it was so outside our world of experience that our
water supply could kill, could not be depended upon. Water is
essential to life but do we understand the effects of turning it
into a commodity? Not to have access to clean water is so outside our experience, yet all over the world, poor access to water
is so much more common. Sooner, rather than later, we’re going
to be forced to look at.”
Do we have the tools to turn the tide of war, heal the HIV/AIDS
epidemic or even reverse the privatization of health care at home?
If we keep training our sights on compassionate answers to basic
human needs, if we take steps such as advocating for higher
education in the developing world, as LaForce suggests, or if
we help people make conscious links between the root causes
of poverty in Alberta and poverty worldwide, as Wild suggests,
then we have a beginning. 
article
“We can all ask ourselves, ‘On what
next day’s headline.
feature
“I’m personally affected by seeing the direct and immediate
needs of my clients. And I think that having young children, I
have feelings of responsibility about the kinds of things I put my
energy into. Sometimes I can’t jump out of my track but I try
not to give an ounce of energy to things that are trivial and just
don’t matter. We do learn to do this as we grow and age. Not
giving any energy to things that just don’t serve a higher good
people—that adds up to more joy in my personal life. I’d like
to tell that to George W. Bush, Saddam Hussein. We all know
it intuitively. We all have to recreate that spark; honor our need
for giving and receiving kindness. It’s easy to get caught up and
move away from that.”
feature
article
By Donna Hamar, MSW, RSW
Continuing
the commitment
Social workers act on a vision to support young adults who have been in the care of
Child Welfare, by creating funds for post-secondary education.
Any person who has worked in the various roles of
child welfare will attest that you never forget those
children who came into care and for whom you shared
a responsibility to raise.
Years later, memories are triggered of a child with whom you
worked and the wondering begins, “How did that child fare
in life after your involvement? How did she cope with independence at age 18? What kind of employment was he able to
obtain? Was there someone to give emotional support after she
left care? Where did he live?”
lack sound life skills, many hold unrealistic expectations and
dreams, others strike out without hope or aspiration. It is well
documented that the majority of youth leaving care wander aimlessly and falter for several years, some eventually finding their
feet, growing through tough experiences, and going on to lead
productive lives. Unfortunately too many begin a cycle of disappointments and failures, often succumbing to depression and/or
destructive lifestyles.
This is not to say that youth who happen to end up in care do
not have abilities or desires to pursue education/training goals.
However, after the moves and trauma in their earlier years, the
prospect of combining work and study or amassing huge educaSocial workers, foster parents, child care workers and community tion debts is daunting. For years many professionals who have
worked in child welfare, and the youth themselves have been
support workers give much of themselves to these children and
their families and they are not forgotten even though contact has advocating and hoping for either ongoing post-care education
bursaries or a change in the legislation so youth could remain
been lost. Now, the wondering is translating into action as some
in a supportive relationship with Children’s Services in order to
players in the child welfare field set out to provide avenues of
support that will contribute to a brighter future for young adults complete post-secondary education. To this date it has not happened in spite of a Nov. 24, 2000, Government of Alberta News
who have been in care. Our focus is especially to assist them in
Release announcing its response to recommendations raised in
the pursuit of a higher education and a career.
the Children’s Forum and the Task Force on Children At Risk.
Over half of today’s young adults remain in the family home
It identified five initiatives totaling $48 million. Of that amount,
until their mid-20s for education, economic or even comfort rea- $5 million was earmarked for supports for youth leaving child
sons but most youth leaving government care have no such fam- welfare, including a bursary program for education and training.
ily back-up and support. The “community norm” does not apply Although this announcement held much promise, two years later
to them and they are most likely on their own or in households
the education/training funds have not been released.
with peers. Many leave care at age 16, some stay to 18, and a very
The Minister of Children’s Services, Iris Evans, has now
few remain until they are 20. Legislation now requires that they
announced a proposal to extend care to age 22 for those youth
must leave Child Welfare care by their twentieth birthday.
pursuing a technical, college or university program. This is most
laudable and both the social work and general community
Small minorities of these young adults are ready to successfully
wholeheartedly embrace such a worthy initiative. However, we
face the challenges of independence. To varying degrees, most
24
The Advocate • spring 2003
In Calgary the Legacy Fund was set up by an independent group
of current and former Calgary Rocky View Child and Family
Services child protection staff. They recognized the unique challenges faced by youth who were in the care of Child Welfare and
wished to assist those striving to attain further training and education. The fund targets youth who, at age 18, were under permanent guardianship in the Calgary region. For more information,
contact Judy Todd at (403) 297-3849, Derek McGregor at (403)
297-5830 or The Calgary Foundation at (403) 264-1662.
In Edmonton, the Youth Formerly in Care Bursary was established through initial seed money from the Marshall Hamar
Memorial Fund. The daughters of Marshall Hamar created this
fund in memory of their father who, by his example and personal
Volume 28 • Issue 1
25
The Edmonton Community Foundation also administers
the Rose Margaret King Bursaries and the Steve Ramsankar
Citizenship Award. Many youth who had been in care might
qualify for these large funds. Details and application forms can be
accessed on the above website.
The three youth in care awards are only a small beginning. Unless
they grow substantially, they are only able to provide limited assistance. The aim is to see these funds grow and thus grant larger
bursaries to more young people. They will fill a gap. Those young
adults who have already left care, and are now settled and wish
to return for an education are not captured under the Minister’s
proposal.
There are many ways that individuals can help. If you would
like to be a part of this ongoing commitment, give some consideration to the following options that are available through
the Edmonton Community Foundation and The Calgary
Foundation:
• direct donations to these specific funds through the
Foundations
• memorial contributions in lieu of flowers
• donate a paid-up life insurance policy that is no longer needed
• include the fund in your will
• transfer of stocks, bonds, or mutual funds
Donations to the Chimo Bursary can be made directly through
the agency. The contact person is the director, Frank Wingrove:
(780) 420-0324. All of the mentioned options will provide
the donor with a tax receipt. Or, if you would be interested in
becoming involved in fund-raising ventures, call the above contact persons.
Most importantly, if you know of any youth or young adult who
has been in care, or is leaving care and wishes to pursue a postsecondary education, advise them that there is both financial
assistance and mentoring (optional through Chimo and the Youth
Formerly in Care Bursary) available. We invite you to join us to
make a difference by spreading the word and by your support of
these bursaries. 
article
Meanwhile, the social workers and agencies that for years have
been involved in the struggles of youth in care have already taken
the initiative to fill some of this need. Weary and frustrated with
waiting and advocating for the Ministry of Children’s Services to
meet its responsibility to educate and support the youth in its care
and guardianship, we have proceeded to act. Two small bursary
awards were set up in 2000 through the Edmonton Community
Foundation and The Calgary Foundation and another by a nonprofit service agency, Chimo. These funds are: the Legacy Fund
for Youth From Care, the Youth Formerly in Care Bursary, and the
Chimo Bursary. The first two funds made their inaugural awards
for the 2002-2003 term and Chimo has been awarding graduates
of their residential program for three years.
values, inspired his family to commit to community service and
education. It targets young adults in Edmonton and Northern
Alberta who had spent a minimum of two years in care and who
qualified for post-secondary entrance to the Northern Alberta
Institute of Technology (N.A.I.T.), Grant MacEwan College or
the University of Alberta. For more information about this bursary call Donna Hamar at (780) 425-0728, Mai Anh Le Van or
Kathy Hawkesworth at the Edmonton Community Foundation,
(780) 426-0015 or see the website: www.dollarsforlearners.com.
feature
also need to be wary. This is just a proposal and the Ministry
has not yet followed through to spend the post-secondary
education/training funding committed in November of 2000.
From newspaper articles it appears that this new proposal arose
from recommendations made to the Child Welfare Act Review,
2002—to which many social workers, youth and service organizations presented. The Minister is listening but now must obtain
the support of her elected colleagues and then direct her staff to
develop the policies. This will all take more time. It will be the
challenge and responsibility of the members of Alberta College
of Social Workers, the Alberta Association of Services to Children
and Families, and the federation of foster parent associations to
consistently and relentlessly advocate their politicians to amend
the Child Welfare Act and its regulations as proposed. Educational
support is long overdue; however, it appears that it will include
only those currently in care, and only until they turn 22.
Considering that most youth in care do not finish high school at
18 or 19, some would not have graduated post-secondary training
by age 22. Still, this support would be a great boost and we must
collectively work to have it happen.
feature
article
By Cheryl Moskaluk
On the front line:
Piecing together
a SAIF haven not for
the faint-hearted
Ireen Slater is moving on with a smile and a wave and a huge dose of
contentment. She’s ready. Her reflections flow much more easily than
did many of the struggles she has faced on a 15-year path of founding
and nurturing the SAIF (Stop Abuse in Families) Society in St. Albert.
On the verge of trading in her keys for some gardening gloves, her office is stripped of
her plaques, most notably the ones that read, Go not where the path may lead, go instead
where there is no path and leave a trail and a shorter mantra, Thou shalt not commit politics.
“Yeah, I put that one up after I goofed up in the newspaper.”
The local reporters know her and SAIF well, she has made sure of that. Slater’s chosen
social work path has been strewn with a shockingly diverse assortment of necessary jobs,
from fundraising, media communications and advocacy to public relations, office management and board development. So treads a pioneer on the non-profit social work trail.
SAIF is firmly founded on a social work ethic—that everyone
has worth, everyone needs to be treated with respect and everyone needs to be safe. Yet right from the start Slater has felt the
tugs on her social work roots, as she manned bake sales—the
very first one raised $35—gave hundreds of presentations and
pounded the pavement for corporate and community support .
Every contact added up to another step in building and maintaining a credible profile for the agency, without which SAIF
could not have continued to be a saving presence for hundreds
of people in the community.
“I made my choices,” she said, even though many of them
eventually pulled her from her passion: working directly with
clients. Yet words of regret do not fit her vocabulary as she takes
time to glance back at the path, filled with gratitude, amaze-
Ireen Slater, SW Diploma, RSW
ment and pride at what has been accomplished by an unwavering vision, teamwork, luck and a liberal dose of naiveté.
“Non-profit agencies are started by people with a passion. They
have no idea what the demands will be,” she said.
“Because you can’t be an expert at everything you need to do,
it’s important to gather great people around you, for the skills
you lack.”
She distinctly remembers one of the first photographs at SAIF.
“There was one desk, one telephone and a filing cabinet and
me. I was scared to death thinking, what if, when I opened the
doors, no one came.”
The fear was replaced by a terror of a different kind, as in the
26
The Advocate • spring 2003
The lifeline that SAIF could throw to clients kept Slater going—
and learning—through a lot of late nights at the office. The
inspiration of seeing people empowered to make great changes
in their lives spurred the SAIF team on to keep tackling all the
challenges of a growing agency. Slater maintains that beneath the
heaps of funding proposals, “this is the kind of social work everybody likes to do because you can see the results.You so often see
it through to a happy resolution in the end.”
counseling mostly women in abusive relationships, the agency
has acted on its vision to help abusers through a collaborative program called New Directions. When the board decided
that non-violence needed to be taught to children at an early
age, they worked with local educators until they achieved yet
another goal: SAIF’s education coordinator makes contacts and
gives presentations, making the rounds to every school in the
city once a year. She brings back to the office stories of hope as
young people are reached by the message of non-violence and
run with it themselves.
SAIF, like many other community agencies, stands the test of
time through raw grit, determination and holding to its vision.
Slater, known for charging in and surviving the toughest tests,
has mixed feelings as she gazes at the future of non-profit social
work in Alberta. Her eternal optimism tells her that people
with heart will continue to knit communities together with this
brand of hit-the-ground-running social work. Still she’s appre“Our clients taught us where the need was and we have tried to
hensive for those who follow even a well-broken trail, in the
answer that need,” she said.
current political and social climate.
In the beginning, the greatest need was to garner community
recognition of a problem that, in a high-income comfortable
suburb, was being brushed under the Persian rugs. Family violence goes underground even more when women have the
means to make it appear invisible, said Slater. There are images
to be kept up; a perpetuated myth that family violence was
relegated and connected to low-income, under-educated sectors. Yet it was apparent that the abused women, and a few men,
who walked through the door needed to be offered resources
and support on the journey, before and after crises and through
life-changing decisions such as leaving their abusers. SAIF counselors have helped them through and helped draw on their own
personal strengths.
“We always say that we wanted to work ourselves out of a job
but first we had to convince people that there was a problem in
St. Albert.”
Today, in a suburban city of 60,000+, SAIF handles 60-70
counseling sessions a month and sees 130 new clients in a year,
working with a staff of seven: four full-time and three parttime employees plus a few people on contract. In addition to
Volume 28 • Issue 1
27
“It’s frightening. Non-profit social work agencies are not valued
as they should be. They are typically under-funded, overworked
and their contributions are not respected.”
Underfunding often creates a competitive atmosphere in fundraising, unless agency leaders can somehow rise above their
basic survival instincts and collaborate. Sent out to fend for
themselves, agencies in smaller centers have fewer corporate
partners to approach, who are inundated with hundreds of worthy requests. All of it translates into tough choices and lots of
decisions to “work for peanuts.”
None of it has defeated Slater however, as at 70, she walks out
of her SAIF office and into retirement with a spring in her step.
She can’t wait to claim a new life for herself, yet the trail she
has left behind leaves no sign of second thoughts. She can still
hear the echoes of people she has met along the way, “Thank
God for SAIF,” and “You really helped save my life.”
“It’s very good. We’ve made a difference in a lot of lives.”
“It’s worth it.” 
feature
feature
article
article
first six months, 45 clients walked through the door. That was
in 1988. Then the heaven-sent help started arriving, first with
clinical social worker Ann Maksymiw, “my anchor at the office,
my mentor and absolute rock.” They formed an important team
to build SAIF’s program. Lawyers helped with registration and
bylaws, volunteers offered valuable skills in the office, board
members helped to steer the ship and like-minded agencies
began to work together.
regular
feature
New
Registrants
President’s
Report
Jake Kuiken,
MSW, RSW
Total
Membership
as at
January 31, 2003 - 4,589
Jennifer Maureen Allan
Margarida Maria Felizardo
Marlene O’Neill
William James Smiley
Delia Elizabeth Allberg
Linda Frost
Kimary Vay O’Reilly
Domenica Jeanine Diana Smit
Donna M Amidon
Kathleen Marie Gadwa
Gregory James Oudman
Cara Terese Stewart
Emily Katherine Ayres
Karla Maria Gant
Erin Plamondon-Braun
Louisa MJ Vande Bunte
Joanne Ingrid Berze-Butts
Darlamaine Louise Gero-Hagel
Claudette G Rain
Janet Venema
Tami Lynn Biagi
Kevin Greco
Cathy Lynn Raivio
Linda Charlene Wall
Lindsay Jonelle Bond
Mary Kathryn “Kati” Hatch
Bonnie Joan Reid
Louise Dorothy Wall
Helen Boukos
Lee Ann Hoimyr
Carolin Elizabeth Ricciardi
Christine L Wesolowski
Mona L Boutin
Charmaine Hollings
Barbara Lynette Rix
Katharine Colleen Weston
Catherine Eve Brown
Fadumo Khalif-Robinson
Kathie Jane Rolufs
Heather White
Pamela Dawn Carrigan
Iris Delores Kripki
Silvia Carolina Ross
Michelle Lee Wickerson
Nicole Lesley Chodak
Joni Michelle Mann
Trudy Ann Schmid
Esther Anne Wildcat
Robert Michael Conlon
Robin L Matrai
Sandra Anne Schmidt
Judy Lynne Ziegeman
Debra Demkiw
Bernadene Natalie Milton
Angella Marie Sehn
Keri Lynn Eddy
Linda Grace Murray
Lindsay Siciliano
Colleen J Fawcett-Butler
J Lynne Nash
Stan Skoumal
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The Advocate • spring 2003
For your information
Conferences, Symposiums
The Alberta Alliance on Mental Health and Mental Illness
(AAMIMH), in partnership with Alberta’s Regional Health
Authorities and Alberta Health and Wellness, announces this
first intersectoral and interdisciplinary conference focusing on
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community life. Conference sessions will include community
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For information, contact: Interprofessional Continuing
Education, ph: (604) 822-4965; fax: (604) 822-4835; email:
[email protected]; website: www.interprofessional.ubc.ca
For more information contact the Alliance at:
[email protected].
Marcia Sheinberg is the Director of Training & Clinical Services at
the Ackerman Institute.
For more information about this conference, call (204) 477-5656
or see www.hqs.ca/conferences.
“For your information” continues on page 30
Sixth National Metropolis Conference
March 21 – 24, 2003
Sheraton Grande Hotel, Edmonton AB
For registration information, see www.pcerii.metropolis.net.
Direct inquiries to the Prairie Centre of Excellence. Ph: (780) 4926600 or email: [email protected]
Conference 2003: Prevention of Problem Gambling
March 27 – 28, 2003
University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge AB
Together with the School of Health Sciences, the Alberta
Gaming Research Institute is sponsoring the Prevention
of Problem Gambling Conference. It will be of interest to
researchers, clinicians, counselors, educators, representatives
from government and industry, and the general public. Leading
Albertan, Canadian and international gambling researchers will
be presenting their research findings. Additionally, there will
be presentations on the development of specific prevention
initiatives and programs. For more information, see:
www.abgaminginstitute.ualberta.ca/Events/2003_Conference/
index.htm
Volume 28 • Issue 1
Working With Incest Families: A Family-Based Approach
Presenter: Marcia Sheinberg, MSW
April 7 & 8, 2003
Winnipeg MB
29
information
Violence & Health 2003
April 3 – 5, 2003
Vancouver BC
for your
Conference 2003: Partnerships, Participation and
Innovation, March 6 – 7, 2003
Fantasyland Hotel, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton AB
information
for your
For your information
Third Annual International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services Conference:
From Institutions to the Community
April 9 – 12, 2003, Roney Palace Beach Resort, Miami Beach, Florida
Themes of the conference include: programs to divert individuals from the criminal justice system, forensics and juvenile justice,
community-based programs to provide services for forensic clients, treatment programs designed to reduce risk, risk assessment
and monitoring of risk, mental health programs in correctional settings, transitional programs between institution and community.
April 12 post-conference workshops, at an additional charge, include: violence risk management using the HCR 20 Risk management
companion guide, malingering, juvenile violence: risk assessment and intervention models, and forensic administration.
For more information, see: www.iafmhs.org or contact Tracey Moropito, conference coordinator at: [email protected], phone: (604)
669-7055, fax: (604) 669-7054
1st Annual Provincial Brain Injury Conference: Moving Ahead
April 11 – 12, 2003 in Calgary AB
The Brain Injury Coalition of Calgary (BICC) is proud to showcase the good work and expertise currently offered in Alberta and
across Canada at this inaugural conference.
For information: BICC Conference, c/o Event Connection Inc., Karen Massicotte, Conf. Manager, #322, 100 – 1039, 17 Ave., Calgary
AB T2T 0B2; ph: (403) 208-4944; email: [email protected]; website: www.brainresource.ca.
INTEGRATIVE BODY PSYCHOTHERAPY (IBP)
IBP is a complete system of psychotherapy which combines cognitive verbal work,
with breath and bodywork, for the integration of body, mind, emotions and spirit. It
is a gentle approach, which honours the interpersonal dynamics between client and
therapist. The theoretical base of IBP draws from a wide arrange of approaches:
Analytic, Reichian, Jungian, Object Relations, Gestalt and Transpersonal.
The IBP Institute of Alberta with divisions in Edmonton and Calgary offers:
•
•
•
•
Professional post-graduate certificate training for counselors.
Certificate programs for allied health professionals (social workers, nurses,
body-workers, teachers, etc.).
4-day trainings held 4 times a year.
Introductory sessions available (in Edmonton, April 26th and 27th, 2003)
For information call: Sally Devereux, MSW, RSW
Edmonton Division, 780-431-8470
Shannon Fleming, Ph.D.
Calgary Division, 403-931-0060
(opening in March 2003)
“Working with the body and psychological issues simultaneously allows a deep access
to an experience of self that is differentiated from one’s history, learned defensive
patterns and current events.”
30
DEADLINE
for the
SUMMER 2003
issue of
THE ADVOCATE
is
APRIL 15, 2003
The Advocate • spring 2003
Tough Choices: The Ethics of Allocating Health Resources
April 10 – 12, 2003
Rimrock Hotel, Banff AB
Building Positive and Resilient Communities
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Fred Matthews
May 8 – 9, 2003
Victoria Inn, Brandon MB
Presented by the Manitoba Association of Social Workers/
Manitoba Institute of Registered Social Workers and the Canadian
Association of School Social Workers & Attendance Counsellors,
this conference includes MASW/MIRSW Annual General Meeting
Psychologists’ Association of Alberta
2003 Annual Conference
Calgary, Alberta
May 8 - 10, 2003
Three days of full-day workshops of interest to social workers.
Contact the PAA office for further details at (888) 424-0297 or
(780) 424-0294 or website: www.psychologistsassociation.ab.ca
under Upcoming Events.
Canadian Public Health Association 94th Annual
Conference
A View To The Future
May 10 – 13, 2003
Telus Convention Centre, Calgary AB
On the
Tail of
the DragonLousage 1/2
4
Sponsored by
Call toll Free 1.888.LOUSAGE
Local
(780) 488-7679
Fax
(780) 488-7649
Mail
#302 Lousage Centre
10140 – 117 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T5K 1X3
After February 1, 2003
$322.40
Full time Students (ID required)
$192.60
Includes GST & lunch on both days
Volume 28 • Issue 1
This conference is the fourth in a series
of conferences on Trauma Lousage
Institute has sponsored. It is a follow
up to last years’ presentation by Dr.
Bessel Van Der Kolk on the Recent
Developments of Treating PTSD. Dr.
Yehuda will present on the advances in
the diagnosis and treatment of PTSD.
She will focus on issues that are
relevant to clinicians who seek to apply
treatments described in the literature
in real life clinical settings. She will
focus on some of the important issues
that are overlooked in the intervention
literature such as:
•
Matching survivors to the
appropriate modality
•
Treating PTSD that is combined
with another psychiatric disorder
•
Role of medication in treating
PTSD.
31
“For your information” continues on page 32
Treating Trauma
Treating
Trauma
Survivors
with
Survivors
PTSD with
PTSD
April 11th & 12th, 2003
Presenter:
Dr. Rachel Yehuda is a leader in the
field of trauma, she is well known for
her current research and her clinical
practice. The focus of her research
is on bridging the gap between
intervention research and clinical
practice.
information
For more information, you can call the Provincial Health Ethics
Network at (780) 492-8239 or visit: www.phen.ab.ca.
For more information, contact either Bill Bolley at (204) 729-3128
or: [email protected] or Lis McLeod at (204) 571-7264 or:
[email protected].
for your
The Provincial Health Ethics Network, in conjunction with
several partner organizations, is pleased to launch a unique
conference devoted to the subject of the allocation of resources
for health. The conference is designed specifically for regional
health authority boards, health policy decision-makers, senior
administrative and clinical personnel, and those charged with
the task of distributing limited resources targeted at improving
health. The focus will be on providing decision-makers with
additional support and practical tools.
and CASSWAC National Meeting. Keynote speaker is a Community
Psychologist and Director of Research and Program Development
at Central Toronto Youth Services. He has done hundreds of
workshops around the world and has authored over 50 studies.
information
feature
regular
for your
For your information
Conference highlights include innovative and inspirational
networking events, the industry’s most intensive trade show, and
motivational and educational plenary sessions. Choose from a
variety of oral presentations, workshops, roundtable discussions
and poster presentations designed to further your career and
personal goals.
17th Pacific Institute on Addiction Studies
May 26 – 29, 2003
University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC
The 17th Pacific Institute on Addiction Studies will take place May
26 to 29, 2003 at the University of British Columbia. The 17th
PIAS is Western Canada’s leading annual training conference for
those working in the field of addictions. The Institute is a 4-day
Always evenings to remember, the Presidents’ Welcome Reception
continuing education training event that addresses issues in the
on Saturday and Fun Night on Monday are fun-filled social events
prevention, intervention and treatment of alcohol, drug and other
designed to build enduring professional relationships as attendees
addiction problems.
gather to greet good friends and meet new ones. Conference
includes the CPHA Annual General Meeting.
The 17th Pacific Institute on Addiction Studies is proudly
sponsored by the Alcohol-Drug Education Service.
For updates, please check the CPHA website: www.cpha.ca.
For more information please visit our web site at www.ades.bc.ca,
or contact Nancy Hay at Alcohol-Drug Education Service, #333
World Congress on Child and Youth Health
- 1675 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver BC V6J 1V2. Tel: (604) 874May 11 – 14, 2003
3466, fax: (604) 874-0903, e-mail:[email protected].
Vancouver BC
For more information, see: www.venuewest.com.
Older Adults & Mental Health:
Developing New Paths
May 5-9, 2003
Eleventh Gerontology Institute
Framed around the concept of healthy aging, the
sessions will deal with the changing nature of
mental health, update on mental illness and
promoting mental well-being with older adults.
The program has been designed to appeal to
professionals from a broad range of disciplines.
Flexible registration options—choose 1 day or up
to 5 days or share 2-5 days with a coworker.
The Program:
�� Monday
�� Tuesday
�� Wednesday
�� Thursday
�� Friday
Where:
Points of Departure
Knowing the Travelers
Tools for the Journey
Walking with the Traveler
Strength for the Journey
Mount Royal College
Calgary, Alberta
Information call: 403-240-6867
www.mtroyal.ca/events/gero
Social Development in Canada: Moving Forward
The Biennial Canadian Social Welfare Policy Conference
June 15 – 17, 2003
University of Ottawa
Plenary sessions will examine: the existing state of social
development in Canada; the key actors in social development;
and the next steps to be taken. This year, subjects of particular
interest include: social inclusion, child poverty, the urban agenda,
First Nations’ policy, governance (who does what and at what
level), regional social development, neighborhoods, performance
measurement and social development.
For more information: [email protected] or contact Celine
Widmer at (613) 562-5800 (ext. 1854).
Francophone Conference
A creative rendez-vous in social intervention
June 18 – 20, 2003
La Cite collegiale, Ottawa ON
Organized by services aux enfants en adultes / services to children
and adults, the conference will gather the francophone social
intervention professionals, providing them with an exchange and
networking forum, and giving the professionals, who are putting
forth projects of interest, a significant platform.
For more information, call (613) 673-5148 or 1 (800) 675-6168,
fax (613) 673-4800, or see: www.seapr.ca.
32
The Advocate • spring 2003
Global Social Work 2004: Reclaiming
Civil Society
October 2 - 6, 2004
Adelaide, Australia
Visit us at: www.icms.com.au/ifsw.
Ph: (81) 3 5366 5964, fax: (81) 3 5366
5965, email: [email protected],
web: www.17apswc.jp/eng.html
2004 National Conference
Social Work: Meeting the Challenge &
Making a Difference
June 5 – 8, 2004
Saskatoon SK
Information: Conference Planning
Committee—SASW, ph: (306) 545-1992 or
email: [email protected].
Workshops
Introduction to Suicide Intervention
Thursday, March 27, and Wednesday,
April 16, 2003
Suicide Intervention Refresher Training
Friday, April 25, 2003
Introduction to Suicide Intervention, held
March 27 and April 16, is for anyone working
in the helping professions. The aim of this
workshop is to increase the understanding
and knowledge of suicide for individuals who
are in a helping relationship with people who
might be at risk for suicide. Content addresses
attitudes, warning signs, risk assessment,
intervention techniques, and resources.
All workshops will be held from
8:30 am to 4:30 pm at The Support
Network, #301, 11456 Jasper Avenue,
Edmonton AB. Cost is $20 per person.
Workshops fill up quickly, so register
early by calling (780) 482-0198 (Visa
or MasterCard only). Register in person
or by mail (payment must accompany
registration) at The Support Network.
For more information, call The Support
Network or visit their website:
www.thesupportnetwork.com
Crisis Management Competency
Workshop
June 6 – 7, 2003
Friday, 7:00 – 10:00 pm
Saturday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Red Deer College, Red Deer AB
Now that you know the theory, it’s time
to practice! This workshop is aimed at
personnel in corrections, mental health,
police, firefighting and counseling
fields who wish to refresh and update
Continued on page 34
To advertise your event
in the Summer issue of
the Advocate, call, fax, or
email the ACSW office by
April 15.
Volume 28 • Issue 1
33
information
For more information, write to: 17th APSWC
Preparatory Secretariat, c/o Japanese
Workshops
Society for the Study of Social Welfare,
The Support Network presents
Moriyama Bldg., West 501, Sanei-cho 8,
Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo 160-008, Japan.
One-Day Suicide Intervention
Suicide Intervention Refresher Training
is for people who already have a
certificate in suicide intervention
training of 8 hours duration or longer.
Registrants must bring in or fax a copy
of their certificate before the training
date. If unable to provide a certificate,
please register in one of the regular 8hour intervention workshops.
for your
17th Asia-Pacific Conference:
Peace, Justice and Social Work—A
Vision for the 21st Century
July 7 – 11, 2003
Nagasaki, Japan
titleyour
for
section
information
For your information
their knowledge and understanding of
issues relevant to critical incident stress
management. Topics covered will include
group crisis management briefing,
defusing an incident, demobilizing the
scene, and debriefing the group involved
in an incident. Purpose and goals of each
level of intervention will be reviewed and
discussed. There will be both a lecture
component and practical hands-on
application through simulations and video
excerpts. Cost is $175.
Prerequisite: Basic Level of Critical
Incident Stress Management training
taken through the International Critical
Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF).
Supply documentation of course
completion at time of registration.
To register or for more information on
Course #981 EMAN 1143, visit: http://
extension.rdc.ab.ca or phone (403) 3573663. You may also contact Scott Billan
at Red Deer College at (403) 314-2458 or
email: [email protected]
Loma Linda University Canadian
Campus presents Michelle WeinerDavis Workshop for Therapists
Interested in Solution-Focused
Approaches to Couples Therapy
October 2 & 3, 2003
For more information, contact the office
at (403) 782-3381, ext. 4095, or email:
Speakers’ Bureau of Alberta©
�� Keynoters who motivate, inspire and inform.
�� Workshop leaders in strategic planning, supervision,
team building, leadership, lateral thinking, time
management, marketing, productivity, wholesome
lifestyles, professionalism, and other topics.
Articulate proven presenters. Costs generally between $1,000-$3,500.
Contact: 1.866.420.3338 toll free.
Mr. Roger Richard Breault, MCS, CFRE, President
[email protected] Registration for
the conference will begin in August
2003.
Publications
Publications available from
The Support Network
2003 Directory of Community
Services ($45 + GST) and 2003
Directory mailing labels ($75 + GST)
are now available from The Support
Network. Shipping and handling
charges apply.
For details, and to be notified when
the 2003 Self Help and Support
Group Directory will be available,
contact The Support Network.
Phone: (780) 482-0198, fax: (780)
488-1495, email: publications
@thesupportnetwork.com, mail:
#301 – 11456 Jasper Avenue,
Edmonton AB T5K 0M1. Website:
www.thesupportnetwork.com.
Social Work and the Rights
of the Child:
A Professional Training
Manual on the UN
Convention
This 96-page manual is available
now from the International
Federation of Social Workers.
Bromwich & Smith Inc.
Proposal Administrators, Trustees in Bankruptcy
Are your clients’ financial debts overwhelming them?
Do you know your clients’ rights and legal options to solve their debt
problems?
We have answers. We have solutions.
Serving Calgary and area – call us 403-266-6665
David M. Bromwich and David L. Smith, CA
Chartered Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals
810, 840 6 Ave SW • Calgary, AB • T2P 3E5
34
Chapters include General Measures
of Implementation; Definition of the
Child; General Principles; Survival
and Development; Basic Heath and
Welfare; Civil Rights and Freedoms;
Family Environment and Alternative
Care; Education and Cultural
Activities; and Special Protection
Continued on page 35
The Advocate • spring 2003
Measures. The manual also includes a model curriculum on
children’s rights and the complete text of the UN Convention as
well as a list of useful websites.
Other
“Enhancing Services to Infants and
Toddlers with Special Needs
and Their Families”
June 4, 5 and 6, 2003
at Carriage House Inn
in Calgary, Alberta.
Alberta Bioethics Week
How Does Bioethics Affect Me and My Community?
March 3 – 9, 2003
Topics covered include: risk factors and epidemiology (day 1),
assessment and intervention (day 2), clinical demonstrations
and family issues (day 3). Lunches are provided.
The theme is meant to expand the scope of our discussions in
bioethics. While bioethics is often focused on issues in clinical
studies such as informed consent and end of life decisionmaking, broader issues—indeed everything that impacts
quality of life—have significant bioethics considerations that
deserve attention.
Registration fees are $395/3 days or $150/single day before
May 9, $445/3 day or $200/single day after May 9.
For more information and conference brochures, contact:
Susan Thumwood (403) 251-3669 or [email protected],
or Ruth Woodworth at [email protected].
Our hope is that this will enable us to expand our discussions
to include ethical implications of all aspects of life that impact
health, and at the same time make room for a wider variety of
individuals and groups to participate in Bioethics Week.
For more information: www.phen.ab.ca/bioweek/mail.html
Health Sciences
SciencesAssociation
AssociationofofAlberta
Alberta
The Health
Alberta Public Health Association
Call for Resolutions
Submission Deadline April 11, 2003
The Alberta Public Health Association invites the submission
of resolutions for consideration at the 2003 Annual General
Meeting to be held in Calgary on May 13, 2003. Resolutions
establish Association policy and direct the members and Board
to take specific actions on the issue addressed. Submissions
must be in accordance with the Resolution Procedures and
Criteria, available from Alberta Public Health.
Please send 7 copies of each proposed resolution and
background paper by March 10, 2003 to:
working
conditions
for our members.
We also
also raise
public awareness
about the
shortages
health professionals
such as of
raise
publicof
awareness
about the shortages
social professionals
workers.
health
such as social workers.
Toll free: 1-800-252-7904
Nancy Zuck, Program Chair, Alberta Public Health Association,
PO Box 5413,
Airdrie AB T4B 2T9. 
Volume 28 • Issue 1
representsabout
more 12,000
than 12,000
professional,
represents
professional,
technical, and support employees in the
technical, and support employees in the
public and private health care sectors of
public and private health care sectors of
Alberta. We fight for fair wages and decent
Alberta.
We fight forfor
fairour
wages
and decent
working conditions
members.
We
35
www.hsaa.ca
information
For price list, write International Federation of Social Workers,
Postfach 6875, Schwarztorstrasse 20, CH-3001, Berne,
Switzerland, or call :(41) 31 382 6015, or fax: (41) 31 381
1222, or email: [email protected], or see: www.ifsw.org
an internationally recognized author and authority on
services to infants and toddlers with special needs and
their families, will present
for your
Translations are being prepared in French, German, Japanese,
and Russian, with others to possibly follow. Reduced prices for
IFSW member organizations and IFSW Friends.
Dr. Louis Rossetti
IF UNDELIVERABLE PLEASE RETURN TO:
in the
news
Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW)
#550, 10707 - 100 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta
T5J 3M1, Canada
Canadian Mail Product Sales Agreement
No. 40050109
ISSN 0847 - 2890
Date of Issue: MARCH 2003
National Social Work Week
is March 23-29, 2003 in Alberta
“Social Work for Social Justice”
ACSW Council has chosen March 23-29, 2003 as
National Social Work Week and will follow the CASW
suggestion of a three-year theme: Social Work for
Social Justice.
In this second year, the theme is especially relevant as ACSW
Council and other committed members have pursued a range
of advocacy efforts on behalf of marginalized Albertans. Let’s
find loud, proud and fun ways to celebrate these achievements.
Local area coordinators will also have resources and may distribute letters of proclamation to local municipal governments.
A great way to celebrate the valuable work we do, is to
share our stories with our communities through local media.
Where possible we encourage you to use this focus period of
National Social Work Week to arrange local interviews and
articles with your print, radio and other forms of media.
The Goals of Social Work Week are:
• To promote the role of social workers and heighten the
profile of the profession with our colleagues and the public.
• To encourage organizations employing social workers, as
well as schools of social work across Alberta, to celebrate
the role and contribution of social workers through the
hosting of a wide variety of events.
• To enhance the visibility and profile of the Alberta College
of Social Workers within our membership, our places of
work, and within the community.
To assist in planning:
We request that one ACSW member per worksite be designated to collaborate with our office for ordering Social Work
Week resources and promotional items.. Order forms are
available via e-mail from: [email protected], by fax or on
the ACSW Website, under Publications/ Social Work Week.
Social Work Week Poster
ACSW commissioned a poster to visualize the theme of
Social Work For Social Justice that abstracts professionals and
volunteers working together to “balance” the scales of justice.
Strong colors help visualize the diversity of method required
to achieve this goal. The poster is included in Social Work
Week promotional packages.
36
The Advocate • spring 2003