let there be change · domestic violence training for University of Alberta medical students ......

ADVOCATEA L B E R T A C O L L E G E O F S O C I A L W O R K E R S

THE

Volume 39, Issue 1, Spring 2014

www.acsw.ab.ca

Feature story: Preventable deaths of children in care page 24 Social workers commit to truth and reconciliation page 18

Meet your keynote speaker: Kim Zapf page 20

Answers to questions you asked about fees page 10

Preventable deaths of

children in care

let there be

change

in t

his is

sue

FEATURE STORYPreventable deaths of children in care .................... Joan Marie Galat ............................... 24

FEATURESA feast of possibilities .......................................... George Jason .................................... 15

Social workers commit to truth and reconciliation .... Liza Lorenzetti,

Viviana Reinberg & Karen Wyllie .......... 18

Meet your keynote speaker: Kim Zapf ...................... Joan Marie Galat ............................... 20

NEWSFrom our desk to yours ......................................... Charity Lui .........................................3

REGULAR FEATURESReviews: Unruly Angels and Between the Silences ...... Peter Smyth........................................8

Answers to questions you asked about fees ............. Lynn Labrecque King.......................... 10

Ethics in Action: New Standards of Practice

approved October 2013 ..................................... Bruce Llewellyn & Sheryl Pearson ........ 12

Diploma Dialogue: MacEwan University ................... Kathaleen Quinn ............................... 14

U of C Updates: Focusing “upstream” to end

family violence ................................................. Natalie Dawes ................................... 16

New RSWs ........................................................... Membership as of January 27, 2014 ..... 17

For Your Information ............................................ Announcements ................................ 30

The opinions and interpretations expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), its editorial board, or contractors. The aforementioned make no guarantee or warranty, either expressed or implied, about the accuracy or links contained in the Advocate, and are not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages that could arise.

All material with bylines is ©2014 by author. ACSW retains copyright when no author is listed.

THE ADVOCATE EDITORIAL POLICY: The Advocate serves 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 member activities. Members and the public are welcome to submit articles, stories, anecdotes, poems, thoughts and ideas. Letters to the editor on topics that have been addressed in previous issues, announcements, cartoons, artwork, and pictures are also welcome (reports, letters, announcements 400-600 words; articles 1000 words maximum). The Editorial Board reserves the right to edit submitted material. Please call the ACSW office for a copy of “Share your knowledge” before submitting. Publication does not imply endorsement by the College.

The Advocate is published quarterly in March, June, September, and December. Advertising deadlines: JANUARY 15 for SPRING issue, APRIL 15 for SUMMER, JULY 15 for FALL, OCTOBER 15 for WINTER.

ALL SUBMISSIONS: The Advocate, ACSW, #550, 10707 - 100 Avenue, Edmonton AB T5J 3M1

ATTN: Charity Lui • E-MAIL: [email protected] • PHONE: 780-421-1167 • FAX: 780-421-1168.

The AdvocateVolume 39, Issue 1, Spring 2014

Published by:The Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW)

550 10707 100 AVE NW, Edmonton AB T5J 3M1Ph: 780-421-1167/Toll-free (in Alta): 1-800-661-3089

Fax: 780-421-1168/Toll-free [email protected] — www.acsw.ab.ca

Exec. Director & Registrar: Lynn Labrecque King, MSW, RSW

[email protected]

Managers, Regulatory Practice: Bruce Llewellyn, MSW, RSW

Sheryl Pearson, MSW, RSW, LLB [email protected]

Manager, Professional Affairs: Lori Sigurdson, MSW, RSW,

[email protected]

Competence Program Coordinator/Hearings Director: Kelly Brisebois, BSW, RSW

Membership Activities Coordinators: Heather Johnson, SW Dip, RSW

Charity Lui, BSW, RSW

Finance & Administration Officer: Gladys Smecko

Registration Coordinator: Brenda Gross

Executive Assistant / Administrative Team Lead: Noreen Majek

Promotions Coordinator: Ilona Cardinal, BA, BFA

Administrative Support Professionals: Monica Vasconez Nearint Neam Theresa Duban

Jennifer Vasquez Neetu Dodd Desiree Hurst

ACSW Council:President: Richard Gregory, MSc, RSW

Vice President: Linda Golding, MSW, RSW

Secretary: Barbara McPherson, MA, RSW

Treasurer: Terry Wilson, BSW, RSW

Members at Large: Cynthia Gallop, MSW, RSW Rick Guthrie, MSW, RSW

Anne-Marie McLaughlin, PhD, RSW Kanakii Mekaisto, BSW, RSW

Richard Shelson, MSc, RSW Alec Stratford, MSW, RSW

Timothy Wild, MSW, RSW

Indigenous Social Work Committee Representative: Kanakii Mekaisto, BSW, RSW

Public Members: Lyle Berge Marija Bicanic, LLM Austin Mardon, CM

The Advocate is published quarterly for members of ACSW and other interested parties.

Editorial Board: Leslie MacKinnon, BSW, RSW (Chair)

Jo-Anne Beggs, BSW, RSW Cindy Haugen, BSW, RSW

Jill Hoselton, BSW Student Eugene Ip, DPhil, RSW

Tasha Novick, BSW, RSW Peter Smyth, MSW, RSW

Contributing Editor: Joan Marie GalatProduction Editor: Jena SnyderDesign: Kyle Loranger Design

Advertising space is available; please call Ilona Cardinal at the ACSW office or email [email protected] for

details or to place an ad. The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject any advertising.

SUMMER 2014 ISSUE AD DEADLINE: APRIL 15, 2014

Canadian subscriptions are $26/year (outside Canada: $26 US/year) Please notify ACSW

office immediately of any address changes.

ISSN 0847 - 2890 PM NO. 40050109

RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO 550 10707 100 AVE NW, EDMONTON AB T5J 3M1

The Advocate • Spring 20142

3Volume 39 • Issue 1

in the news

From our desk to yoursby Charity Lui, BSW, RSW

Continued on page 4

Awards & Recognition

City of Edmonton social worker Heather Morrison, BSW, RSW, received the

Government of Alberta Inspiration Awards 2013 – Government Sector for

her important work in family violence prevention. She provided leadership in

developing family violence intervention standards in Edmonton and created

domestic violence training for University of Alberta medical students.

Congratulations Heather!

Edmonton Southside Primary Care NetworkThe Southside Primary Care Network is a group of 160 family

physicians and 75 staff that includes social workers, nurses,

dieticians, respiratory therapists, exercise specialists, and

administrative staff. Aon Hewitt and Queen’s School of

Business included Edmonton Southside Primary Care

Network in its Best 50 Small and Medium Employers in

Canada list.

Events in Calgary

Calgary Long Term Care: Impact of Privatization on the Care of Older AdultsThe Gerontological Social Work Action Group (GSWAG) –

Calgary held a workshop on the privatization of long term care

The Edmonton Southside Primary Care Network social workers. Front, L to R: Anu

Dhanju, Brittany Faux and Manju Antony. Back, L to R, Sharon Pelletier, Sue Perry,

Troy Wilson, Brendan Klug and Crystal Degenhardt. Missing: Chelsie Eleniak.

in November 2013. Social workers and other professionals

heard speakers from Public Interest Alberta, Friends of

Medicare, Parkland Institute, Health Sciences Association of

Alberta, and long-term care worker Sarah Mullin, BSW, RSW.

Presenters shared research, real life experiences, and strategies

for action.

Social Workers for Social Justice – Calgary co-hosted a

discussion, film, and fundraising event in support of those

impacted by the typhoon in the Philippines. The event

included sharing stories on the devastation experienced

by those in attendance. The End of Immigration, a film that

highlights Canada’s oppressive Temporary Foreign Worker

Program, was viewed and discussed.

More than 75 people attended and $3,200 was raised!

Left to Right: Bill Moore-Kilgannon (PIA), Elisabeth Ballermann (Health Sciences

Association of Alberta), and Sandra Azocar (Friends of Medicare)

Heather Morrison

Charity Lui

in t

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4 The Advocate • Spring 2014

Holiday Celebrations throughout the Province

Edmonton Holiday Social – Nov 28, 2013ACSW Council, staff, and members celebrated the season at

the annual holiday social, with Edmonton Area Coordinators

organizing a toy and cash donation for Santa’s Anonymous.

Rosa Romero, SW Dip, RSW, and Armando Munguia provided

amazing musical entertainment.

From our desk to yoursContinued from page 3

Rose-Marie LeBlanc, prize winner at Calgary

Holiday Social

June Yee and Judy Todd at the Calgary

Holiday Social

L to R: Jacquie Keller, Calgary Area Coordinator; Mare Donly, Calgary Area

Coordinator; Heather Johnson, Membership Activities Coordinator (south); Peg

Lewis and Meadow Dann, Calgary Area Coordinators

Elizabeth Chong and Linda McFarlane next to their

ACSW Social Workers for Social Justice banner

Calgary Holiday Social – December 4, 2013ACSW Council, staff, and members at the Calgary holiday

social enjoyed the opportunity to connect with colleagues and

make new acquaintances.

Back, L to R: Ilona Cardinal, Promotions Coordinator; and Edmonton Area

Coordinators: Marian Saunderson, Lina Filomeno-Melchionna, Jennifer Manzulenko,

Carmen Deehan, and Lisa Reineke. Front, L to R: Angela Lindsay, Edmonton Area

Coordinator; Charity Lui, Membership Activities Coordinator (north).

Rosa Romero, local social

worker and Latino singer,

entertaining at the

Edmonton Holiday Social

ACSW members at the Old Timers Pioneer Cabin during the Edmonton Holiday Social

in the news


Slave Lake Jingle Bell Fun RunSocial workers in Slave Lake participated

in a three-kilometre run to raise money

for the local food bank. The more than

twenty participants raised $250 and the

United Way donated $2500.

Fort McMurray Christmas Gathering – December 12 At their Christmas gathering, ACSW

members in Fort McMurray collected

donations for World Vision. Money raised

helped stock a medical clinic, provide

agricultural packages to families, and

support relief for those impacted by

Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.Social Workers in Slave Lake. L to R: Gail Ungstad, Mary Nyachieo, and Sylvia Pratt

Advocate Editorial Board Holiday LunchThe Advocate editorial board meets quarterly to plan and

review ACSW’s magazine. They celebrated the season by

sharing a lunch together.

Clockwise from bottom left: Joan Marie Galat, Jena Snyder, Jill Hoselton, Ilona

Cardinal, Leslie MacKinnon, Charity Lui, Peter Smyth, Lynn Labrecque King, Eugene

Ip, Elaine Paras

Calgary Social Workers for Social Justice Interest Group celebrated the season with a potluck on December 13, 2013.

Continued on page 6

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From our desk to yoursContinued from page 5

Edmonton Retired Social Workers Interest Group Holiday LuncheonIn November, the Edmonton Retired Social Workers Interest

group came together over lunch at the University of Alberta

Faculty Club. John Bachynsky, Professor Emeritus, University

of Alberta Faculty of Medicine, provided a very informative

presentation on pharmaceutical policies in Alberta.

AnnouncementsCarmen Deehan, BSW, RSW, has been appointed an Edmonton

Area Coordinator. Lesley Huygen, BSW, RSW, and Kristy Walters,

BSW, RSW, have been appointed co-chairs of the Northern

Alberta Gerontology Social Work Interest Group.

Social Work Week March 2-8, 2014: Fairness and Justice for AllLet’s celebrate! Remember to send us event information, as

well as your pictures to [email protected]. Twitter hashtag:

#ACSWSWW.

• In Memoriam •Sherry McKibben

On the day of Sherry McKibben’s memorial on February 8, 2014, the flags at Edmonton City Hall flew at half-mast — a fitting tribute to a social worker who was held in high esteem by Edmontonians. Sherry was granted her Master of Philosophy in Social Administration in 1994 at the London School of Economics and Political Science and her Master of Social Work in 1973 from the School of Social Work at UBC. At the time of her passing, Sherry was a social worker with Alberta Health Services Home Care, Northeast Edmonton. She was chief of staff for the NDP from 2006–2007, and executive director of HIV Network of Edmonton Society from 1998–2006. She was also executive director of Norwood Community Services Centre from 1996–1998, and elected city councillor for the

City of Edmonton 1994–1995. Sherry was a Health Coordinator from 1987–1994 for Boyle McCauley Health Centre. From 1978–1984 she worked in various positions for the Ministry of Human Resources, Vancouver. Between 1966–1974, Sherry held a variety of social work positions in Edmonton and Vancouver.

Sherry was a volunteer at Pride Centre, and at the time of her death was developing a proposal to work with the senior LGBT community members. She also wrote a column on aging called “Catch 66: the delights, dilemmas and difficulties of aging” for the Boyle McCauley News. Sherry was an outstanding social worker. We are grateful to her for her exemplary service to our profession. She brought a critical lens to her practice and worked diligently for people in our community who did not have justice in their lives. Sherry had excellent counselling skills, superb advocacy skills, and the ability to translate issues and needs into social policy. In addition, she was able to make a political impact. Our task is to continue Sherry’s legacy.

In 1994, Sherry was awarded the ACSW John Hutton Memorial Award for Social Action. Our condolences to her family, friends and colleagues.

•Dr. Marlene Rose Lidkea

ACSW also acknowledges Dr. Marlene Rose Lidkea’s important work with child victims of sexual assault. Born May 24, 1955, Lidkea passed away suddenly December 23, 2013. Our condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues.

Sherry McKibben

Indigenous Social Work CommitteeFollowing extensive discussions, the former Aboriginal Social Work Committee changed its name to the Indigenous Social Work Committee. The new name reflects respect, pride, and integrity to Indigenous people, and identifies the roots of its existence.

The Government of Canada chose Aboriginal as an umbrella term for First Nation, Metis, and Inuit people of Turtle Island (North America). Although Indigenous and Aboriginal are similar in meaning, Indigenous is preferred and has been traditionally accepted for certain protocols. Indigenous is considered respectful, while the term Aboriginal is considered invasive because of its association with colonization.

If you are an Indigenous social worker and would like to join this group, please contact Kanakii Mekaisto at [email protected] or call her at 403-324-1643.

in the news


2014 Annual Conference Social Work: Person in Environment – NOW!

There’s still time to register for

the ACSW annual conference.

You can register online at

www.acsw.ab.ca as well as find

online workshop descriptions,

presenter biographies, and hotel

information. See the interview

with our keynote speaker Kim

Zapf, page 20. Twitter hashtag

#ACSWCONF.

Annual General MeetingACSW will hold its annual general meeting at the Edmonton

Shaw Centre Friday, March 21, 2014, at 5:00 pm.

The AGM provides an opportunity to report on the events of

the past year, meet newly elected members of ACSW Council,

and understand the business of the college. Please join us!

2013 Bursary Award Winners

Jade Stangeland – University of Calgary, MSW StudentJade Stangeland’s thesis research focuses on

permanency and Aboriginal youth. She

has been employed with Four Directions

Foster Parents Association for four years as a

mentor for Aboriginal youth in foster care,

in-home support worker, and home study

writer. Stangeland is active in the community,

volunteering regularly as a youth mentor and raising awareness

about adoption and foster care in Calgary.

Naomi Hanna – University of Calgary, BSW StudentBeginning her social work journey later in

life, Naomi Hanna entered the Red Deer

College diploma program and became a

grandma in the same year. The University of

Calgary’s Site Based Learning Circle allowed

Naomi to obtain her bachelor’s degree

without leaving Red Deer. This enabled her

to be near for the birth of her second and

third grandchildren—twins! Illness in 2013 drew out the

process of obtaining her degree, which she is now optimistic

about completing. She hopes to pursue a master of social work.

Jade Stangeland

Naomi Hanna

Eveline Ngwa – University of Calgary, BSW StudentBorn and raised in Cameroon, Eveline

Ngwa studied agriculture, rural sociology,

and international and rural development

in Europe. She worked with several

organizations in various capacities before

immigrating to Canada with her husband

and three children in November 2010.

Faced with the challenge of finding employment in Canada,

she decided to pursue additional education that would

enhance her integration into Canadian society, as well as

prove fulfilling. Her choice to enter social work stemmed

from a passion for community development work that arose

when she saw how lives changed, one day at a time, through

little acts of compassion. Ngwa will graduate in April 2014.

Candice Irwin – University of Calgary, BSW StudentIn 2007, Candace Irwin began volunteering

with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

She worked as a victim services advocate

to assist victims of violent crimes. She then

attended Red Deer College and received

her diploma in social work.

After graduation, her passion for empowering women led to

a job with the Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter.

She is now employed as a domestic violence case worker at

the Women’s Outreach Society, and hopes to be admitted

into the U of C master’s program in clinical social work in

the fall of 2014.

Erin Bronskill – University of Calgary, BSW StudentBefore coming to the University of Calgary,

Erin Bronskill completed her social work

diploma at Grant MacEwan University. She

is now completing the final semester of a

bachelor of social work on an exchange

from the University of Calgary to the

University of the West Indies, Barbados.

Bronskill has enjoyed being active in both faculties,

especially as a member of the U of C Social Work Students’

Association.

Erin grew up in Jasper, where she first became interested in

working in the area of human services and social work. She

has served as a youth worker for the Boys and Girls Clubs of

Calgary group homes and shelters for almost two years and

hopes to continue to work with youth upon graduation. ■

Eveline Ngwa

Candice Irwin

Erin Bronskill


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e Book review:

Unruly Angels and Between the SilencesReviewed by Peter Smyth, MSW, RSW

Unruly Angels by Diane Buchanan (2011), Frontenac House

Between the Silences by Diane Buchanan (2005), Frontenac House

You are likely to hear broken people telling heartbreaking stories about their shattered lives if you spend any time sitting

in Family and Youth Court or Drug Treatment Court. Tales abound of childhood abuse, lost relationships, and attempts

to escape the real world with denial, anger, and blame rising forth. There are regrets, guilt, shame, and tears that tell

observers not just how much addicts wish their lives could be different, but also how far the gap is between dreaming of

a new life and actually getting there.

Alberta poet Diane Buchanan brings a sense of humanity to

courtroom drama, an achievement made by spending endless

hours sitting in Family and Youth Court and Drug Court

in five Canadian cities. Buchanan captured such lives and

glimpsed how they played out in court, at a time when many

were at their lowest.

Sadly, Buchanan lost her battle with cancer on November 22,

2013, at the age of 74. However, she left behind insightful and

thoughtful reflections of many of society’s lost souls in two

of her four books of published poetry collections—Between

the Silences and Unruly Angels. The short but powerful books

bring a sense of humanness and compassion to a court system

whose dockets are often filled by those who already feel

marginalized and excluded from society. These books offer

triumphs and displays of courage that may appear small on

the surface but become inspiring and worthy of celebration

through Buchanan’s words.

The poems also reach into the thoughts and actions of those

not putting their personal lives on display but still characters

in the real-life dramas including case managers, lawyers, family

members, judges, advocates, friends, and police officers. One

poem covers the transformation of a security guard, especially

after seeing a judge leave the bench to give a recovering

addict a hug. Another shows the agony of a father losing his

“sweet little girl” to heroin.

Buchanan becomes a believer of Drug Treatment Court

programs which aim to “reduce criminal recidivism in drug-

addicted populations.” In both volumes, Buchanan is drawn

into the struggles and victories of the Drug Treatment Court

graduates and the parents able to get their children back into

Family Court. She agonizes with those who find the fight

too overwhelming and is bewildered by those who think

they can beat the system. While some poems are in-your-face

disturbing, one gets a sense Buchanan truly wanted these

stories to be told, especially to those who see fit to judge or

those unaware of the gritty existence in which many feel

trapped. In one poem Buchanan writes that she wants “these

human beings to have some dignity where there is none.”

For social workers who have witnessed the chaos of the

courthouse, Buchanan’s poems give a profound perspective

and chance to step back and see how the complex lives of

people on the margins of society interact with our legal

system, and how emotions and compassion can have their

place. ■

Peter Smyth is the supervisor of the High Risk Youth

Unit, Edmonton and Area Child and Family Services,

and is a member of the Advocate Editorial Board.

Peter Smyth


regular feature

Between the SilencesIt happens between the silences, amid

whispers, flipping papers, coughs and

bows.

It happens, they say, after previous

consultation, and with due

consideration.

It happens on paper in assessments,

reports and addendums.

It happens between lawyers, social

workers, judges.

Between the silences it happens; families

are split, children discarded,

fathers and mothers appear and

disappear, the director becomes the

parent.

It happens with grown-up words like:

custody, guardianship, father unknown,

or absent,

mother served or signed release,

supervision order, child in care, status

extended.

It happens while children play in the

courthouse hallways.

A child’s future determined in the time

it takes to say:

So ordered.

ShoesFit us with boots to fit our own feet and make us

tolerant of the footgear of the rest.

— Emily Carr

boots, sandals, wedges, pumps

with pointed toes and sling back heels,

moccasins, running shoes, even slippers,

this treatment case-manager carries

all kinds of footwear in her briefcase

Be prepared, her motto, always be ready

to walk with your clients no matter

how rocky

the path, how steep the climb—

just as long as you both can agree

on the destination.

Book review

“[Buchanan] agonizes with those who

find the fight too overwhelming and is

bewildered by those who think they can

beat the system.

”

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Lynn Labrecque King

Executive director & registrarLynn Labrecque King, MSW, RSW

Answers to questions you asked about fees Over the course of the member consultation project, participants frequently raised questions relating to member fees.

Here are answers to the questions you asked.

implementation of competence, clinical, discipline, and

registration committees. ACSW also facilitates the work of the

Professional Social Work Education Board and liaises with social

work educational institutions.

What happened to funds previously allocated to the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW)?

In 2010, ACSW paid $222,355 in dues to CASW. That year,

ACSW Council moved to withdraw its CASW membership.

On March 31, 2011, ACSW paid $55,381 to CASW to

complete their fiscal year and meet our member obligations.

Since withdrawing from CASW membership, ACSW

has added resources to provide direct support services to

members including hiring a competence coordinator and two

membership activity coordinators (north/south) positions.

ACSW applied funding to support membership activities

including area coordinators undertakings and membership

interest groups. Resources were also allocated to advocacy,

including social policy framework development.

Over the past three years while costs have continued to rise,

no member fee increases have been made. The last fee increase

was a $50 increase, July 1, 2010. Current challenges ACSW

membership and Council face include ensuring continued

direct support services and activities, meeting our legislated

responsibilities, and giving consideration to our role in national

membership. The audited financial statement of operations can

be found in our 2013 Annual Report, inserted in this issue. ■

Where do my membership fees go?

• Membership and advocacy activities (42%)

• Core activities (29%)

• Regulatory activities (29%)

Membership activities include resources for groups formed by

and through the membership including committees for the

annual conference, children’s issues, social action and social

justice, gerontology, area coordinators, international social

work, private practice, social workers in health, the Advocate,

e-newsletter, and retired social workers. Advocacy activities

includes participation on government or external committees

and partnerships that promote social justice. Our partners

include the Parkland Institute, Public Interest Alberta, Canadian

Council on Social Development, Canada Without Poverty,

Friends of Medicare, Alberta Alliance on Mental Illness and

Mental Health, Greater Edmonton Alliance, Edmonton Social

Planning Council, and Arusha.

Core activities include Council and office administration.

ACSW Council meets six to eight times per year to meet

responsibilities mandated through legislation. In addition,

Council members participate on committees to support the

work of the college at local, national and international levels.

Office administration includes logistics required for operations

including office equipment, staff, and resources to support a

professional registry.

Regulatory activities include those activities mandated for

professions covered under the Health Professions Act including

Lynn Labrecque King is the executive director and registrar for ACSW. Contact

her at [email protected] to share your thoughts on this or any other topic.

regular feature


How do our fees compare with other jurisdictions?

Other professions under the Alberta Health Professions Act

For more detailed information, please visit each jurisdiction’s public website.

Alberta Psychologist $650

Registered Nurses: Registered Nurse Nurse Practitioner Certified Graduate Nurse

$555.90$603.15$503.40

Licensed Practical Nurse $400

Medical Lab Technologist $610

Occupational Therapist $550

Social work fees

• Combined — indicates the professional association and regulatory body fees are included together.

Total

Alberta Combined $350 $350

British ColumbiaRegulatory Body FeeProfessional Association Fee

$255$288

$543

Saskatchewan Combined $350 $350

Manitoba Combined (formerly separate) $340 $340

OntarioRegulatory Body FeeProfessional Association Fee

$345$299

$644

Nova Scotia Combined $416 $416

New Brunswick Combined $355 $355

PEIRegulatory Body FeeProfessional Association Fee

$145$90

$235

Newfoundland Combined $400 $400

“Current challenges ACSW membership and Council face include ensuring

continued direct support services and activities, meeting our legislated

responsibilities, and giving consideration to our role in national membership.

”


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New Standards of Practice approved October 2013Time invokes change, affecting social norms, cultural values, and professional practices. We sometimes

call these types of changes paradigm shifts and when they occur our social and legal fabric must adjust.

The reverse is also true. Legislative or policy changes sometimes alter social norms, cultural values, and

professional practice.

Regardless of how it comes about, change is inevitable

and critical. For instance, if laws were not updated, there

would still be a legal requirement for stores to install rails

outside their businesses for tying horses! Without changing

laws, it would still be legal for employers and governments

to discriminate against people on the basis of sexual

orientation. Clearly change is necessary.

The social work profession is steeped in progressive values

and committed to social change that promotes social justice

and equality. As with the law, our professional standards

and ethics must keep pace with social norms, technological

developments, and legal requirements. To be sure, the

existence of social work as a regulated profession with

mandatory registration arose as a function of changes in

legislation, namely the Health Professions Act. Accordingly,

changes arose as a function of the increasing value placed

on public protection. Changes within social work practice

reflect empirical findings in social science research, changes

in technology, and case law.

Many of these changes give rise to questions from social

workers about what constitutes ethical and professional

practice. Have you ever had a question about who may

access client information? Perhaps you’ve wondered what

kinds of relationships are acceptable with current or past

clients. Do you know what to do when experiencing a

disagreement with a supervisor or when there is a conflict

of interest? Are you informed on the requirements around

maintaining electronic records on a database? Do you know

the requirements for informed consent and whether they

differ with the client’s capacity or age? The Standards of

Practice address all of these issues, and many more, in detail.

In October 2013, the ACSW Council approved the new

fifth edition Standards of Practice, now in effect for all

social workers in Alberta. These standards reflect some of the

changes in practice and legislation that have occurred since

approval of the previous edition in 2007. In the winter 2011

edition of the Advocate, Alison MacDonald, former ACSW

associate registrar, outlined the process involved in having

new standards approved. ACSW is required to consult with

the membership before significant changes will be approved

by the government.

Ethics in ActionBy Bruce Llewellyn, MSW, RSW, and

Sheryl Pearson, MSW, RSW, LLB

Bruce Llewellyn Sheryl Pearson

Bruce Llewellyn and Sheryl Pearson share the

position of manager of regulatory practice.

regular feature


Overall the process is as follows:

1. Every five years the Competence Committee is

tasked with reviewing the Standards of Practice

to ensure they are current and complete. The

committee drafts required changes.

2. The committee forwards the final draft to ACSW

Council. If questions or suggestions are raised, the

draft may be returned to the committee for further

work. If Council is satisfied with the changes,

they are put to the membership for review and

comment.

3. The Competence Committee reviews all

comments/concerns expressed by the membership.

Further changes may be made and forwarded again

to Council.

4. Once approved by Council, the final document is

forwarded to Alberta Health. It is distributed to the

professions listed in the Health Professions Act, major

employers of social workers, and other stakeholders

who have an opportunity to comment and ask

questions which ACSW must again consider.

5. Once all consultations are complete and if satisfied,

the Minister of Health signs a document approving

the Standards of Practice.

The Standards of Practice reflect the baseline requirements

for professional and ethical social work practice and apply

to all social workers regardless of the level of education or

field of practice. While all social workers have a professional

and legal obligation to practice within the standards, they

actually exist for the benefit of both social workers and the

public.

On one hand, the standards are intended to provide some

certainty to the public around the professionalism they can

expect from social workers. At the same time they provide

guidance to social workers around professional practice,

thereby removing some of the uncertainty or mystique

around ethical dilemmas. Thus, by establishing a framework

for professional practice, the standards have the effect of

freeing up social workers to practice social work and make a

difference, rather than worrying about guessing about what

guidelines to follow.

Consider the standards your best friend! When a question

arises or you are uncertain what your practice should

look like, referring to the standards should always be your

starting point. If you still have questions after consulting

the standards, consider contacting the ACSW and discussing

your question with a social worker on staff. Members can

access the standards on the ACSW website. Follow the

Social Workers tab to: Practice Resources and look for the

Standards of Practice link. ■

“The Standards of Practice reflect the baseline requirements for professional and

ethical social work practice and apply to all social workers regardless of the level of

education or field of practice.

”

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Diploma DialogueKathaleen Quinn, MSW, RSW

Chair, Social Work Program, MacEwan University

MacEwan University Social Work ProgramMore than 260 full- and part-time students are engaged in the MacEwan University social work program. This school year,

students attended curriculum-enhancing workshops designed to help prepare for culturally appropriate practice.

First-years attended an Indigenous workshop organized by

Alan Knowles, PhD (Ed), MSW, RSW, and Sandra Alton, MSW, RSW.

Our elder, Gerry Wood, oversaw the cultural dimension of

the workshop. Blue Quill Cultural College Chair, Sharon Steinhauer, MSW, RSW, spent a day with students and showed

the new film Gently Whispering the Circle Back. Second-year

students attended an intra-cultural workshop and led our

supervisor/student fall field placement workshop with a focus

on “difference” using a World Café format—a system where

participants aim to engage in meaningful conversations by

respecting different opinions, gain a deeper understanding of

other people and their experiences, and promote a sense of

community.

ResearchOur research is reaching international audiences, with faculty

continuing various research projects and attending and

presenting at conferences worldwide. Duane Massing, PhD (Ed),

MSW, RSW, and Sandra Alton educated ACSW members on the

concept of Third Space—an invitation to support or enhance

their philosophy and ethical model of practice. They will be

sharing its importance in our work with various agencies.

Peter Vogels, PhD (Ed), MSW, RSW, presented at the World

Environmental Educational Congress in Marrakesh, Morocco;

Elizabeth McNulty, PhD (SS), RSW, presented at the International

Meeting for Autism Research in San Sebastian, Spain; and

Alan Knowles served as co-investigator on a joint project

evaluating online learning that involved students at MacEwan

and the University of Binghamton, England.

InternationalFor the past two years, Kathaleen Quinn, MSW, RSW, led a student

study tour to Ireland designed to recognize how particular

beliefs, perceptions, values, culture, and history influence

individual worldviews. Students attended classes at the Athlone

Institute of Technology, Athlone; Trinity College, Dublin; and

Queen’s University, Belfast, and partook in numerous cultural

activities. Sandra Alton will lead this year’s tour.

The futureAlan Knowles, Peter Vogels, and Kathaleen Quinn developed

a bachelor of social work proposal well received by internal

and external reviewers. The winter term will be significant as

the Alberta government responds to the proposal.

The MacEwan university faculty continues to grow,

welcoming four new sessional instructors this year. We are

excited to be returning to the city centre campus in the

summer of 2014. ■

Kathaleen Quinn

Seasonal faculty staff party hosted by Danielle Larocque in December

Back, L to R: Kathaleen Quinn, Sandra Alton, Alec Stratford, Duane Massing, Joby

Scaria, Peter Vogels, Wendy Jebb

Middle: Maria Smyth, Elizabeth McNulty, Alan Knowles, Bev Verger

Front: Kari Girard, Lynne Baker, Danielle Larocque, Gisele Mak

Missing: Arlene Eaton-Erickson, Derek Chewka, Faye Hamilton, Julia Peirce, Krista

Osborne, Lori Sigurdson, Marianne Wright

Kathaleen Quinn, MSW, RSW, is chair and assistant professor

in the MacEwan University Social Work Program.

regular feature


A feast of possibilities: social work storiesBy George Jason, MSW, RSW

For millennia, stories have been the way in which wisdom and support have been

shared. Originating in oral culture, they progressed to presentation in a physical

written medium. Today, stories are additionally shared in cyberspace.

Stories have the power to make readers, listeners, writers, and tellers feel

supported. Narratives presented in interesting, relevant, and meaningful

ways allow us to recognize ourselves mirrored in shared experience.

Knowing the impact stories can have, I can’t help but wonder what

would happen if Alberta social workers shared stories more frequently.

What if we made a deliberate effort to tap the benefits of written story?

Imagine how you might respond upon reading a reflective article where

the challenges revealed are almost identical to your own experience.

What might you learn and how might such compellingly presented

knowledge impact your work?

Although great competition from information outlets exists, it is still

too easy to remain anonymous and disconnected. In the twenty-first

century, fewer tribal fires exist where people can gather informally to

hear each other’s tales. It can take creative efforts to discover shared

experience.

Fortunately, all ACSW members have the opportunity to contribute to

our collective knowledge by submitting their stories to the Advocate.

This publication’s editorial board will organize them for publication,

dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s. As social workers, I hope you will

take up the challenge to tell and share stories from your personal and

professional experience. You have the power to help humanize our work

and connect us with each other. There is a feast of possibilities. ■

George Jason

Stock photo from stock.xchng

George Jason, MSW, RSW, is a retired social worker who worked in

Alberta Mental Health Services for 30 years. He is currently co-chair

of the ACSW Social Action and Justice Committee in Edmonton.

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U of C updatesBy Natalie Dawes, BPR

Natalie Dawes is the Director of Communications and Marketing for the University

of Calgary’s Faculty of Social Work. You can reach her at [email protected] or

visit the Faculty’s website at fsw.ucalgary.ca

Focusing ‘upstream’ to end family violenceU of Calgary research helps shape new government frameworkThe Alberta government’s new framework, Family Violence Hurts Everyone: A Framework to End Family Violence, was

launched in Calgary in November. The framework focuses on ways to prevent and strengthen existing protection services.

The project was heavily influenced by Lana Wells, Brenda

Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence,

University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work. Wells and her

team provided research and recommendations based on best

and promising practices in the area of primary prevention.

Associate Minister of Family and Community Safety

Sandra Jansen, Rick Hanson, chief of the Calgary Police

Service, and several representatives from social service

agencies, government, and academia, joined Wells at the

launch. University of Calgary vice-president (research), Ed

McCauley, and dean, Jackie Sieppert, outlined the university’s

commitment to research important issues in our communities

and find new ways to address complex social issues.

“Social work is about creating changes for a better society for

everyone,” said Sieppert. “We are proud of Lana’s outstanding

research and thrilled that it will be used to help some of the

most vulnerable people in our province.”

The framework was developed based on research conducted

by Wells and team members from Shift: The Project to End

Domestic Violence. They found that to effectively address

complex issues, such as family violence, all members of the

community must be involved and the focus must be on

changing community attitudes and behaviors. One of the

action priority areas is to support children, youth, and young

adults in developing healthy relationship skills to prevent

violence in dating and intimate partner relationships.

“Our research built a case for the Government of Alberta

to be investing in primary prevention,” explained Wells. “It

grounded the priorities for the new framework which will

now influence the direction of the government’s focus in

terms of policy, legislation and investments over the next

decade.” ■

L to R: Jackie Sieppert, dean, Faculty of Social Work; Ed McCauley, vice-president

(research); Lana Wells, Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic

Violence; and Calgary Police Chief Rick Hanson listen as Minister Jansen announces

the Family Violence Hurts Everyone policy framework. Photo by Jae Im.

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New RSWsMembership as of January 27, 2014: 7,039

Leah Heather Andrews

Johanna Lyn Atienza

Biya Babu

Joelle Andree Badman

Pamela Dawn Birch

Maja Ewa Borowski

Cindy Lynn Boucher

Gabrielle Anne Boulet Frattini

Nadia M Bourque

Joanne Brown

Kassie Lane Brown

Samantha Leah Buote

Hailey Marie Carr

Serena Marie Cataldo

Taryn Janine Chisholm

Megan Amber Chmarney

Abby Jean Clarkin

Tenday Danha

Amanda Jo Davidson

Sheri Lynn De Vries

Sara Elizabeth Doruch

Jean Evelyn Dube

Stephanie Kathleen Duce

Patricia Ellison-Traverse

Megan Alexis Engblom

Rafah Jalal Fares

Tracy Lynn Farrell

Patricia Eileen Ferris

Amanda Foka

Sonia Alicia Frias

Amanda Christine Fuller

Amy Elizabeth Fulton

Nicole Mae Gavelin

Michelle Anne Gibb

Jeanette Elizabeth Giffen

Bernie Ene Giwa

Helen Gwen Gleason-Graham

Jami-Leigh Isabel Green

Alicia Marie Hardy

Jennifer Ann Hartley

Heidi Anne HeavyShield

Candice Renee Henderson

Emily Sarah Anne Horeck

Michael Stephen Hunt

Meghan Noelle Hunter

Seren Catherine Janke

Jessica Anne Johnson

Sarah M. Johnson

Sharaline Joseph

Dina Kadaoui

Tarik Kadri

Meghan Ann Kennedy

William Richard King

Jessica Dawn Kirchner

Deanna Ramona Lafleur

Cassie Marie Lahucik

Danhue Clyde Lawrence

Elizabeth Ann Ley

Mary Bagazi Lori

Carly Frances MacArthur

Nicole LeeAnn MacEachern

Jennifer Marshall

Amber Anise Martin

Carolyn Elizabeth McIntyre

Mathew Milen

Stephanie Elizabeth Montalvo-

Paz

Kristin Gay Morissette

Marianne Elizabeth Murphy

Marina Katherine Nanemahoo

Alicia Crystal Nordal

Danielle Tamara Parent

Janie Caroline Pichette

Nicole Emily Errin Pike

Tanya Marie Power

Susan Nadia Ramsundarsingh

Haleigh Anne Ramunno

Andrea Marie Roche

Divya Sarath

Kristyn Marjorie Schulz

Brianna Alyse Seel

Kimberly Dawn Shupenia

Heather Victoria Spence

Jallaina Stefan

Kasia Heather Taekema

Megan Lois Taylor

Seeba Thomas

Robert Philip Thompson

Kelli Shayne Vars

Melissa Ernestina Velasquez

Stephen Baird Walker

Andrea Margret Weinmeyer

Alaina Jo Wheelan

Tammy Lynn Wright

ACSW is on Facebook, Twitter, & YouTube!

Like the Alberta College of Social Workers: facebook.com/AlbertaCollegeofSocialWorkers

Like The Calgary Social Workers for Social Justice: facebook.com/CalgarySocialWorkersForSocialJustice

Follow Alberta College of Social Workers: twitter.com/ACSWSocialWork

Watch Alberta College of Social Workers videos: youtube.com/channel/UCnVUlUIoP5T3VJ9tXeIQbkA/videos


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Social workers in Canada have a role to play in truth telling, reconciliation, and addressing the multiple

negative impacts of colonization. Part of the collective strategy of the ACSW group Calgary Social Workers

for Social Justice (SWSJ) has involved developing educational materials for social workers, writing and

signing a letter of commitment, and organizing a presence at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Calgary (TRC) Hearing held in November 2013.

By Liza Lorenzetti, MSW, RSW, Viviana Reinberg, MSW, RSW, and

Karen Wyllie, MSW, RSW

Social workers commit to truth and

reconciliation

The TRC was initiated in 2008 following the Canadian

government’s historic apology to Indigenous peoples

for the horrendous human rights violations created and

perpetuated by Canada’s Indian Residential Schools (IRS)

system. The IRS were instituted as part of the “Assimilate,

Protect, Civilize” policy of the Canadian government during

the mid 1880s (TRC, 2013). More than 150,000 children

attended these institutions until the last one was closed in

1996. Children were stripped of their culture, prevented from

using their language, and practicing their beliefs. Many were

subjected to horrific physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, and

spiritual abuse.

Today, Indigenous people continue to feel the

intergenerational impacts of colonization, including residential

schools. Former students and their families try to recover

while still being victimized by Canadian social and political

systems.

Social Workers for Social Justice drafted a letter

acknowledging our understanding of the damages

caused by the IRS and other aspects of colonization of

Indigenous peoples within Canada. This letter included our

acknowledgment of the harmful roles social workers played

in this collective oppression, including the child welfare

system—highly overrepresented with Indigenous children.

We committed to restorative actions and the promotion of

changes in policies and practices that perpetuate injustice Liza Lorenzetti, Viviana Reinberg, and Karen Wyllie are members

of Calgary Social Workers for Social Justice.


towards Indigenous peoples. After collecting 212 signatures from social workers across

Alberta, we presented the letter at the TRC Calgary Hearing.

At the hearing, survivors told of many devastating experiences. They spoke of

themselves or loved ones being taken away from their families, some as young as

five years old. Children of former students revealed how they have been and still are

affected by their parent’s experiences. We heard about survivors’ long and painful

journeys toward identity recovery. A woman spoke on behalf of her mother, who, for

the first time, was able to verbalize her experiences and share them with her family.

In spite of the deep trauma and pain expressed, what stood out was the courage

and resiliency of survivors. Many spoke about healing through the reconnection

to cultural knowledge and practices. One man spoke about his journey towards

reconciliation with non-Indigenous people despite the continued oppression he has

experienced as an adult.

Several members of Social Workers for Social Justice presented the letter of

commitment to the commission, which is now included as an acknowledgement and

promise of solidarity in the archives of Canada’s history. Dr. Marie Wilson, a TRC

commissioner, indicated that she would use our letter as an example for other groups.

Many of us are forever changed as a result of our participation in the Truth and

Reconciliation Process and the experience serves to inspire us to further social justice

action. “Social workers need to step up and live the social justice mandate of our

profession,” says SWSJ member, Liza Lorenzetti. “As an ally, one way of doing this is

to support Indigenous social work colleagues who are working tirelessly in the area

of intergenerational trauma and healing.”

“Social workers should not minimize the impact that our profession has had and

continues to have on Indigenous people in Canada,” says Megan Asselin. “It’s not

enough to admit that mistakes were made and harm was done. We also have an

obligation to commit ourselves to the healing process.”

Asselin, whose grandmother attended residential school, says, “It’s been an ongoing

challenge to reconcile my family history with my choice to become a social worker.

In hearing the experiences that were shared, I felt in some ways that I was finally

hearing the truth that my family had denied for many years.”

The TRC’s national and final event will take place in Edmonton March 27-30, 2014.

We encourage social workers to attend this historical event and adopt significant

roles in truth and reconciliation in Canada. It is our hope that by adding action

to commitment, our profession can contribute towards changing oppressive and

stereotypical attitudes to ones of inclusion, equity, and justice. ■

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Participant feedback

Members of SWSJ who attended

the Calgary hearing discussed how

they were personally impacted.

A social worker originally from

Chile, Viviana Reinberg noted,

“Being affected by oppressive

state violence, I know first hand

about the need to be collectively

heard in order to begin healing.”

Professor emerita Mary Valentich,

PhD, RSW, brought her two-year-

old grand-daughter, Mariella

Gripton: “I wanted to teach her to

be involved in significant events.”

BSW student Desiree Barr noted,

“Attending the hearing meant

joining in solidarity as one people

and accepting responsibility for

our shared history. I attended

for my grandmother, who as an

Indigenous survivor, taught me

how to rage against oppression by

leaning into the love of healing

people, relationships and trust.”

BSW student Jamie Zarn

commented, “As social workers…it

is important to expose ourselves

to the impact of colonialism to

learn about our relationship with

this.”

Jennifer Leonard, MSW, who

volunteered as a support at the

hearing, says, “I was witness to

the collective soul wound created

by our treatment of Indigenous

people. I also felt a sense of

hopefulness in realizing that, for

many, the healing has begun.”

“In spite of the deep trauma and pain expressed, what

stood out was the courage and resiliency of survivors.

”

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By Joan Marie Galat, Advocate editor

Meet your keynote speaker

Kim Zapf“Place” is a concept often developed in creative writing. Along with physical location, it reveals social context because it encompasses culture, behavior, and beliefs within a specific time period. Just as place contributes to larger meaning, so does Person-in-Environment (P-I-E)—this year’s theme at the ACSW annual conference. Keynote speaker Kim Zapf, PhD, RSW, brings a fascinating history to his upcoming talk on how the physical environment has been neglected in mainstream social work’s application of P-I-E.

When Zapf achieved his masters of

social work at the University of British

Columbia in the early seventies, the

profession strongly embraced the

new ecological systems theory and

terminology. “I came out of there

believing I had a powerful generalist

problem-solving practice model,

supposedly applicable anywhere

regardless of culture and context.”Kim Zapf with his son, Kevin, and his wife, Dr. Penny Ford


feature article

Continued on page 22

Zapf accepted a job as probation officer in Watson Lake,

Yukon, a small town more than 400 kilometers east of

Whitehorse. Home to about 800 people, it was a three-day

drive south on unpaved roads to the nearest McDonald’s and

300 kilometres in either direction along the Alaska Highway

to the nearest stoplight.

Zapf found people in Watson Lake had a strong connection

to the land. “Their history, future, spirituality, and sense

of identity were all connected to the local physical

environment. I started to realize my work called for a

different approach than the problem solving model I had

learned. My training had taught me about action and target

groups but not about living in a community where my

clients were my neighbors and friends and our behaviors

were heavily influenced by local climate and physical

features.”

Having been raised in an air force family that moved every

three years, Zapf found himself unprepared for people’s deep

connection to the land, its rhythms and patterns. “Because

I arrived with little sense of place, living in the Yukon was

a profound experience for me. I was working with people

who had an intense attachment to place and my training

hadn’t prepared me for that.”

He found that surviving in a small community without

succumbing to burnout meant engaging with its rhythms.

“You buy into the local issues and history and identity,

becoming a part of the community.”

This was contrary to Zapf ’s professional education, which

called for “serving as an objective outside assessor and change

agent—the dominant model of a professional in the larger

society.”

“Signpost Forest” at Watson Lake. Stock photo from morguefile.com.

“My training had taught me about action and target groups but not about living in

a community where my clients were my neighbors and friends and our behaviors were

heavily influenced by local climate and physical features. ”

“Because I arrived with little

sense of place, living in the Yukon

was a profound experience for

me. I was working with people

who had an intense attachment

to place and my training hadn’t

prepared me for that.

”


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disorientation, describes culture shock as a stress reaction that

occurs when you can’t predict cues in a new environment.

“You do things according to your worldview but they don’t

make sense in your current environment. This can be fun

when you travel but when you want to live and work as a

problem solver the constant inability to be able to read cues

can lead to depression, frustration, anger, and even physical

symptoms.”

Moving to Whitehorse as director of community corrections,

Zapf faced an ongoing dilemma. “Do we hire locals who

understand the culture and context but would be dead-

ended by the public service system because of their lack

of credentials? Or, do we bring people in who have the

credentials but not the contextual understanding?”

After six years in the Yukon, Zapf decided to pursue a PhD

in social work so that he could teach and develop the kind

of northern practice models that would have been useful at

the start of his career.

“Unfortunately, the only English language PhD program in

Canada in 1982 was in Toronto where nobody knew what I

was talking about,” says Zapf. “There would be nights where

I was in tears over what I had done.”

Although he had lived and worked in Toronto earlier,

returning to a large city after six years in the Yukon still

brought disorientation and culture shock. Traffic and the vast

stream of advertising were now remarkably intimidating. So

was the feeling of not having “my seat” available when he

returned to a restaurant or theatre. After living for years in

a place where clothing was merely functional, the excess of

urban style options stood out.

“It took time for the strange to become programmed to the

normal,” says Zapf. Worried about whether he would be able

to hold onto his northern perspective, Zapf returned to the

Yukon for his summers. “In the end, I managed to put it

together.”

When undertaking his dissertation work, Zapf found

a serious gap in the literature. While a few studies had

explored the realities of rural practice, no one had examined

the experiences of trained social workers moving to remote

regions to practice. Returning to the Yukon for his research,

he developed a culture shock scale and compared those

hired from the south with those hired in the north. He

found social workers arriving in the north experienced the

same culture shock as people going overseas, but arrived

unprepared to cope.

Through conferences, Zapf eventually connected with others

who had the same questions about social work in isolated

locations. He found that people from the Australian outback,

Alaska, Newfoundland, and Scandinavia were all saying

similar things from different contexts.

Meet Kim ZapfContinued from page 21

“It took time for the strange to become

programmed to the normal.

”

“The Yukon was the first location

where I felt connected to the history and

reality of the place because I bought into

the meanings and felt something was

missing when I was away.

”


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Michael Kim Zapf has published more

than 50 refereed journal articles and

book chapters on issues of remote

practice and education.

His books include:

Social Work and the Environment:

Understanding People and Place

(2009) (author)

Canadian Child Welfare Law: Children,

Families and the State (2004, 2nd

edition) (co-editor)

Issues in Northern Social Work

Practice (1996) (co-editor)

“We began to see there’s a type of practice beyond urban or

traditional rural. This remote practice does not just deliver

mainstream programs to isolated locations. It begins with the

realities of the local context and identity.”

“Place equals location plus meaning,” says Zapf. “The Yukon

was the first location where I felt connected to the history

and reality of the place because I bought into the meanings

and felt something was missing when I was away.”

Now retired for four years, Zapf is a professor emeritus

of social work at the University of Calgary, where he

introduced courses on rural and northern practice. “In the

late 1990s, our faculty secured funding for an accessible BSW

curriculum for rural, remote, and Aboriginal communities

across the province. Working with a team to develop and

deliver that BSW Access program was the high point of my

academic career.”

Like “place” in literature, which helps build the larger

meaning of a written work, understanding how the physical

environment impacts people’s lives and behaviors could

be central to the profession of social work in a sustainable

society. ■

“We began to see there’s a type of practice beyond urban or traditional rural. This

remote practice does not just deliver mainstream programs to isolated locations. It begins

with the realities of the local context and identity.

”

Joan Marie Galat is

contributing editor

of the Advocate. She

provides writing

and editing services

through MoonDot Media

(www.joangalat.com).


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omThe preventable death of a child is tragic and heartbreaking. We repeat these phrases and talk

about how this must not happen again. But when avertible events occur and are not examined,

made public, and used to improve the system, how can there be hope for children in care?

Seven people typically silenced by privacy laws and safety issues were invited to speak out on

this problem by responding in confidence to four questions. Their replies explore issues that have

come to the forefront since the Edmonton Journal–Calgary Herald revealed the Alberta government

underreported how many children have died in care in the last 10 years.

Preventable deaths of children in care let there be change

By Joan Marie Galat, Advocate editor


feature article


Responders include frontline social workers and professors,

a foster parent/social worker, and former foster children.

Participants represent rural areas and Indigenous communities.

Lori Sigurdson, MSW, RSW, Manager, Professional Affairs,

shares the perspective of the Alberta College of Social

Workers.

1. What needs to change in Alberta in order to ensure the safety and well being of children in care?

“ Children in care should have such a high level of

care and support that they have the tools necessary

to reach their full potential and feel empowered

to be their best. Considering Alberta and Canada

will face a shortage of human resources in the years

ahead, it is economically and morally sound that we

help our own to succeed.

“ In spite of the many reviews that have occurred

over the years, Alberta has often failed to implement

many of the recommendations made. The shift

toward the wellbeing of the family has at times

resulted in children not coming into care when their

safety might be at risk. While there is much to be

said for keeping families together, the safety of the

child must always come first.

More system resources are needed. The social work

profession must reclaim child welfare. Decisions

reflect that many very senior government officials

have a business outlook and are not trained social

workers. We need fewer MBAs (masters of business

administration) and more MSWs (masters of social

work).

“ More emphasis on early intervention and

permanency planning are needed.

“ Higher qualification standards should be demanded

of adults applying to be youth caregivers. Although

placing children with family members sounds

ideal, it should not take precedence over a person’s

inability to properly care for a youth. In one of my

cases, impatience to resolve the issue led to serious

consequences.

“ Services should include more prevention activities.

We need to reduce caseloads, review caseload

standards, improve cultural awareness training,

and better explore all family options. Inequity

between kinship and foster care programs needs

to be reduced. Better recruitment and support for

foster and adopting parents needs to occur. We must

provide more consistency for children and families,

especially with regard to the primary worker, and

improve efforts to ensure family involvement.

“ Ever-changing legislation and tense political climate

create an unstable work environment focused

on avoiding risk. The culture is often adversarial

even among workers and management. Front line

workers need better support from supervisors and

management.

“ We must really hear parents and consider alternatives

that keep children safely in their homes, to the point

of, when necessary, providing them with alternate

in-home caregivers while parents address their issues.

“The social work profession must reclaim child welfare. Decisions reflect that many

very senior government officials have a business outlook and are not trained social

workers. We need fewer MBAs (masters of business administration) and more MSWs

(masters of social work).

”


“I asked to see my foster child’s file

before she was placed in our home but

was denied because of ‘confidentiality.’

We later discovered this young child had

the worst case of reactive attachment

disorder and conduct disorder her

psychiatrist had ever seen.

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It is important to move from “jumping through the

hoops” to building relationships and joint problem

solving.

“ More information needs to be given to foster parents

so they are prepared to provide the best possible

support to the foster child. In our case we were not

completely informed about the challenges our foster

child faced or the difficulty of the biological family.

I asked to see my foster child’s file before she was

placed in our home, but was denied because of

“confidentiality.” We later discovered this young child

had the worst case of reactive attachment disorder

and conduct disorder her psychiatrist had ever seen.

We attended regular psychologist appointments as

a family to support this little girl. When our foster

daughter started home visits with the bio mom, her

challenging behaviors became even more difficult,

so the psychologist (a specialist with reactive

attachment and conduct disorder) taught us how

to safely restrain her to prevent physical abuse and

property damage. However, we were told by the

worker we were not permitted to do this because

we didn’t have approved training. We felt completely

unprepared and unsupported. I am a social worker in

another sector. What about those foster families who

are laypersons and lack my training? How would

they have managed her difficult behaviors without

becoming extremely frustrated?

I also think sometimes the biological family is given

too many rights. All of this girl’s siblings were placed

in care, and yet, despite the mother’s track record,

the department allowed visits with her family. This

resulted in increased negative behaviors and the

eventual breakdown of the placement.

Child welfare workers need to make unannounced

visits to the foster home and periodic checks should

be standard practice. We never had a visit from

someone in the department that wasn’t prearranged

and that we couldn’t prepare for. How do you get a

true picture of what is going on in the home?

2. What needs to occur in order to ensure children both on and off reserve have access to the same services and support in Alberta?

“ Culturally, all support and services should be in

close proximity to where children and families

reside. Community supports should be provided

with incentives to establish a local community

presence so that families wishing to access supports

do not face difficult situations in accessing services.

This should not merely be a recommendation

but a legislative act that establishes procedures

and policies that pertain to community accessible

services.

“ More work must be done with all levels of

government cooperating. However, it is important

to note that it is a provincial responsibility to

provide child welfare services and they should

not provide less supports and services to First

Nations children. Everyone should read the

report written by the Representative for Children

and Youth in BC, a document that intelligently

addresses this issue. It is controversial but could

be applicable to other provinces including ours.

(See: When Talk Trumped Service: A Decade of Lost

Opportunity For Aboriginal Children and Youth in BC.

(tinyurl.com/mc3uat2)

Children in careContinued from page 25


feature article

“ There needs to be continuity of care—someone

who is with a child long term. They require

coaching and mentoring on an ongoing basis.

“ Greater priority must be placed on reaching out to

children on the reserve and analyzing placement

decision details to ensure less error. The current

system is disorganized, inefficient, and in need of

an overhaul. More or better-qualified workers are

necessary. However, directly involving more workers

in a child’s life is not recommended as that leads

to a furthering sense that one’s childhood is not

“normal.”

“ We need to review funding models and equalize

funding on and off reserves. Jurisdictional issues need

to be resolved with federal and provincial authorities

in agreement on funding, support, and access to

services. We need to provide support for training

and improve access and availability of on-reserve

programs.

Indigenous people require more resources but should

not have to replicate off-reserve models. It’s better to

help Indigenous people work within their traditions

and spiritual beliefs. Why impose an inflexible system

upon people when we can free them to create a

system that will work for them?

3. What is the best way to balance the privacy rights of individuals with public accountability of the child welfare system?

“ When gross negligence on the part of the child

welfare system exists, public accountability and

transparency trumps—with permission from

the individual. Privacy laws should not form a

system where one has the ability to hide from

public scrutiny but rather hold those entrusted

with a sacred duty to be accountable. Rather

than be punitive, accountability should necessitate

enhancements to the system.

“ It could be much more transparent and deliver a

lot more information without including the names

of children or caseworkers involved. It’s important

that an independent body provide death reviews

of children in care or children who have received

services. The Child and Youth Advocate is a logical

choice if given significantly more resources,

providing it not take away from the important

functions they already perform for children.

“ During my time in the system, I did not feel as

though I had many privacy rights. Foster parents

recorded my development, information was routinely

gathered about me, and I had to present myself in

a (usually) monthly visit to various government-

affiliated workers. My concern was the serious lack

of communication between all these care workers.

“ Cases should be reviewed individually to determine

if privacy issues outweigh the need for public

accountability, but we should aim for transparency.

The public should have access to outcomes of

reviews.

“ When a child dies in care, the onus should be on

government to prove that sharing information with

the public will have a detrimental impact on the

child or the family. That child is no longer a child of


“Child welfare workers need to make unannounced visits to the foster home

and periodic checks should be standard practice. We never had a visit from

someone in the department that wasn’t prearranged and that we couldn’t

prepare for. How do you get a true picture of what is going on in the home?

”


feat

ure

arti

cle

the government; he/she is a child of the family. This

should ultimately be the family’s decision.

“ I feel confidentiality and privacy is what really

caused our foster placement to break down. We were

not well-informed or prepared.

The role of the Child and Youth Advocate needs to

be more publicized so foster parents, children, and

families are aware of how their office can advocate

for the best interests of foster children. This should

be part of foster parent training.

The Alberta government needs to be more

accountable to the public and child welfare workers

need to feel safe coming forward with their

concerns without fear of reprisal. How can children

be protected when everyone is worried about

protecting themselves?

4. What credentials should be mandatory for front-line case workers? Why?

“ Front-line workers should at least have a bachelor

of social work (BSW). First contact with the family

is crucial to engagement and collaboration. The

ability to make a life-altering decision in a child’s

life should be held with high moral standards

and integrity; and this ability must be constantly

examined and enhanced. Front line social workers

need frequent professional training to be abreast with

the evolving profession and fast changing atmosphere

reflected in people, our local environment, and the

world stage.

“ Back in the eighties, a BSW was mandatory for

all workers providing child welfare casework. As a

result of a serious scandal in the ministry, workers

at that time who did not have a BSW were sent to

school at full wages in order to improve the system.

This showed that government’s real commitment

to children in care. A BSW is the standard in many

other jurisdictions. Senior officials should have

MSWs and not MBAs. We need a child well-being

focus, not a financial focus.

“ They should be able to see warning signs, and be

familiar with cases like Richard Cardinal, who died

in foster care many years ago. It is not the front line

workers who are failing. They are hard working,

loving, and caring individuals. It is the system that is

failing. It pulls families apart and doesn’t help them

to get back together.

Refer to resilience studies. They show abused children

and youth can overcome obstacles when they have

one key relationship that supports them, such as a

teacher, friend, friend’s parents, uncle, or aunt.

“ Had better care been taken to examine the lack

of credentials of my caregivers, I believe the

results of my teenage upbringing would not have

been so negative. Case workers should possess

strong organizational skills and a drive to ensure

all requirements for caring for youth have been

completed by the parents. A genuine sense of caring

must be present to make sure mistakes are not made

in the rush of placing children with family members.

Although I was moved into a family with the hope

of adoption, the results were devastating. My new

parents were ill-trained to take on the role of my

caregivers. I was not adopted after years in the same

home because the home study and other courses

were incomplete.

“ At a minimum, a social worker credential should

be mandatory. This would ensure educational

consistency including person-in–environment

perspectives, as well as accountability and oversight

from a professional body.

Children in careContinued from page 27 “It’s better to help Indigenous people

work within their traditions and spiritual

beliefs. Why impose an inflexible system

upon people when we can free them to

create a system that will work for them?

”


feature article

“They have all these requirements to maintain their

professional status, yet the government hires people without

professional credentials,” says Sigurdson. “Every other profession

sees the importance of credentials—teachers, lawyers, doctors,

nurses. There would be no question about employing someone

without proper credentials in those professions.”

The Alberta government has commissioned reports to

review the system. Closing the Gap Between Vision and Reality:

Strengthening Accountability, Adaptability and Continuous

Improvement in Alberta’s Child Intervention System constitutes

the Final Report of the Alberta Child Intervention Review

Panel – June 30, 2010. Recommendation 10: Develop and

implement a human resource strategy that addresses capacity,

qualification, and competencies at all levels of the system,

addresses accreditation. One of its points states, “Work to

establish a Bachelor of Social Work degree as a minimum

educational requirement for child intervention investigators,

caseworkers, and supervisors working directly with children

and families.”

“The government needs to recognize that social work is a

complex field of practice,” says Sigurdson, who would like to

see the reinstatement of support for those who want to go

back to school. “It also needs to be said that tremendous work

is done in child welfare. Many workers do exemplary service

in the face of very difficult circumstances. Unfortunately we

never hear about that in mainstream media.” ■

“ Child welfare workers should have a BSW with

related experience, while casework supervisors

should have an MSW with a clinical focus.

“ I think front line child welfare workers should have

a registered social work designation, preferably a

BSW, because the education base includes training

specific to the work—not just theory. It affords

workers the ethical basis for sound practice, giving

them the compass required to balance the demands

of the job and focus on the needs of the child.

ACSW response to the child in care crisis

The Alberta College of Social Workers recognizes front line

workers face deep issues with a lack of resources. They work

with high caseloads and experience difficulty getting families

the services they need because of budget constraints.

“There’s an illusion that social work is easy and anyone can

do it,” says Sigurdson, “but the issues they address—poverty,

addictions, family violence—take social work education and

training. If they don’t have proper training, how can they do it?”

People who are not social workers make up 60 percent

of staff in casework positions. “We feel that professional

standards—BSW, RSW—would go a long way to ensure the

best outcomes for children,” says Sigurdson.

Recourse of accredited workers offers an additional safeguard

for children in care. If ethical issues arise, an individual can

register a complaint and the social worker may be sanctioned.

Social workers are governed by a code of ethics, standards of

practice, continuing competence, and rigorous education.

Joan Marie Galat

(www.joangalat.com) is the

author of Give Yourself a Pep

Talk, Day Trips From Edmonton,

and the Dot to Dot in Sky

astronomy series.

We would like to hear about your experiences with children in care. If you would like to submit an article, please review the submission guidelines on the ACSW website (www.acsw.ab.ca/media/the_advocate). To discuss your idea, please contact ACSW Membership Activities Coordinator (North), Charity Lui, at [email protected] or 780-421-1167 Extension 231 or 1-800-661-3089. We also welcome letters to the editor on all social work–related topics.

“There’s an illusion that social work is easy and anyone can do it, but the issues

they address—poverty, addictions, family violence—take social work education

and training. If they don’t have proper training, how can they do it?

”

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SAVE the DATES Join us in Red Deer AB June 16 & 17, 2014 for the Central Alberta Social Work Conference Social Work: Advocacy, Empowerment, and Transformation

Keynote Speaker: Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director, First Nations Child and Family Caring

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Online workshop Knowing and Leading Self: The Leading Edge April 24– June 7, 2014 online

The most effective leaders are those who truly know and understand themselves,

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The Child and Youth Care Association of Alberta and the Lethbridge College Child and Youth Care Program are proud to be co-hosting the 2014 Annual Alberta Provincial Child and Youth Care Conference, May 5 – 7, 2014, at Lethbridge College

• Opening reception, CYCAA AGM and registration on the evening of May 5th

• Keynote address and all day session by Dr. Kiaras Gharabaghi on May 6th

• Conference party on May 6th at the campus

• Conference sessions all day on May 7th

• Single- and 4-bed condos accommodations are also available right on campus

Visit cycaa.com for more details, ongoing updates, or to register

For more info email us at [email protected].

AD DEADLINE for the

SUMMER 2014 issue of the Advocate

is APRIL 15, 2014

All ad inquiries to Ilona Cardinal

[email protected]

All editorial inquiries to Charity Lui

[email protected]

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FACULTY OF SOCIAL WORK

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