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The 2008 National Social Work Conference is being held in Toronto, May 22-25
The 1st Joint Conference of the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) and the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work (CASSW), hosted by the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW), is taking place from Thursday, May 22nd to Sunday, May 25th at the Marriott Toronto Downtown Eaton Centre. Join us in the very heart of the world’s most diverse city! Toronto is home to virtually all of the world’s culture groups – more than 100 languages are spoken here every day. Each year, over 16 million tourists enjoy our vibrant culture scene: museums, galleries, theatre, dining, shopping, festivals, sporting events, night life…there is something for everyone!
The 2008 Conference theme is “Human Rights in a Diverse Community”. Human rights are an intrinsic part of social work. They play a large role in the pursuit of equality and equity for marginalized and minority groups, struggles for civil rights and basic freedoms, economic well-being, and access to health care and the necessities of life. Human rights and the needs of under-served or at-risk populations are priorities for everyone involved in the broad field of social work.
This dynamic conference aims to stimulate dialogue and inspire new insights into issues of human rights and access to services. It will provide a forum for social work practitioners, educators, and researchers from across Canada to share ideas, network, enhance knowledge, meet continuing competency requirements, integrate research theory and practice, and expand perspectives on national and global issues of relevance.
Confirmed keynote speakers to date are:
- Marc Kielburger, social advocate and Chief Executive Director of Free the Children, the world’s largest network of children helping children through education, and has shared the podium with many high-calibre speakers including Nelson Mandela, Queen Noor, Bill Clinton and the Dalai Lama.
- Dr. Martha Kuwee Kumsa, former dissident Ethiopian journalist released through the works of PEN and Amnesty International, and currently, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University.
- Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada which has filed with the Assembly of First Nations a human rights complaint to seek redress for inequitable funding levels for First Nations child welfare agencies.
- Ariane Brunet, Women’s Rights Coordinator at Rights & Democracy, where she has been responsible for the Canada Programme and the Middle East and North African Programme, in addition to representing the Centre at the UN Human Rights Commission.
The deadline for Call for Abstracts is Friday, November 16, 2007. Information will be posted on the Conference website: www.SocialWorkNationalConference2008.org before the end of August. Abstract submissions are sought which explicitly highlight or explore the barriers that individuals, families and communities face as they attempt to access critical services, and initiatives that have been developed to address these barriers. Any social worker, educator or student in a school of social work, regardless of their affiliation with CASW membership organizations or CASSW, can make a presentation at this Conference.
See you there!
March 2008 Issue
CASW Reporter
Information - Communication - Action |
Strengthening the Profession |
Canada Celebrates National Social Work Week
In March, social workers throughout the country celebrated National Social Work Week during a week chosen by each provincial and territorial social work organization. Social workers from across Canada used the electronic lobbying letter and electronic greeting card made available by CASW as part of its successful NSWW activities. Don’t forget to enter this year’s competition by submitting a story of your National Social Work Week activities to CASW. To learn more, click here.
2008 National Social Work Conference
Registration is now open for the 2008 National Social Work Conference hosted by the Ontario Association of Social Workers and co-sponsored by CASW and the Canadian Association for Social Work Education. The conference will take place in Toronto on May 22–25, 2008. For more information, visit www.casw-acts.ca.
AON Scholarship Winners
The award recipients of the AON scholarships, which assist members of CASW provincial/territorial member organizations to attend the CASW conference, have been chosen. Congratulations are extended to Janine Granchelli (New Brunswick Association of Social Workers), Wanda Miller (Saskatchewan Association of Social Workers), Rosemary Lahey (Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Social Workers) and Brigitte Wagner –Yates (British Columbia Association of Social Workers). Articles from award recipients will be featured in the fall edition of the CASW Bulletin.
International News
IFSW Updates
Each month the International Federation of Social Workers provides an update of IFSW activities as well as global and regional developments relevant to the practice and delivery of social work. To review the list of updates on a monthly basis, visit: www.ifsw.org.
Social Work Celebrations around the World
World Social Work Day 2008 will be celebrated on April 15, 2008 with the theme “Social Work: Making a World of Difference”. For more information, visit: www.ifsw.org
Social Work Day at the United Nations was celebrated March 31, 2008. For more information on this year’s activities, please visit: http://bluehawk.monmouth.edu/swork/UN/
Second IFSW Photo Competition
IFSW announces its second Photo Competition and encourages you to enter a photo that captures the theme of “Social Work: Making a World of Difference”. Deadline to enter photos is June 30, 2008. For more information, visit: www.ifsw.org.
2008 IFSW Conference
IFSW and the Brazilian Federal Board of Social Work invite social workers to the 19th World Conference of Social Work, to be held in Brazil, in the city of Salvador – Bahia, from August 16 to 19, 2008. For more information, visit the CASW website. |
Pursuit of Social Justice |
CASW Acknowledges International Women’s Day
CASW issued a press release in acknowledgement of International Women’s Day highlighting the gender inequality that continues to exist around the world. To read more, click here.
Budget Analysis Coming Soon
The CASW analysis of the 2008 federal budget, assessing the budget in terms of the CASW Social Policy Principles, will be published in the coming weeks. The document will be available on the CASW website.
CASW Participates in Advocacy Study
CASW, along with Executive Directors from some member organizations, participated in a national study through York University School of Social Work on advocacy in Canada’s voluntary sector and in particular the ability of the social work profession to undertake advocacy.
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Relevant Resources |
For Your Information
The Government of Canada recently announced a change to the contributory eligibility requirements for Canada Pension Plan Disability benefits, easing the contributory requirements for applicants with a long work history. For more information on this change, call 1-800-277-9914 or visit www.servicecanada.gc.ca. |
"“Continued learning promotes continued success”
Social work works.
www.casw-acts.ca
casw@casw-acts.ca |
 January 2008 Issue
CASW Reporter
Information -- Communication -- Action
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Pursuit of Social Justice |
Coalition’s Efforts Successful
Senator Hervieux-Payette moved second reading of her Bill S-209, An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (protection of children) on November 14, 2007, one day after all senators received the open letter sent jointly by many organizations, including CASW, asking senators to protect Canada’s children by voting for Bill S-209 to repeal Section 43 of the Criminal Code.
CASW Provides Consultation to IFSW
CASW provided information and feedback on social work concerns in relation to children in Canada to IFSW President David Jones in advance of his meeting with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on February 1, 2008.
Federal Budget 2008 – Have Your Say
CASW encourages social workers to participate in the federal budget on-line consultations to which any organization or individual may respond. The deadline is 12:00 midnight (EST) on February 11, 2008. Please visit http://www.fin.gc.ca/scripts/prebudgetsurvey/selectMainPriorities_e.asp. To read the CASW submission to House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance Pre-Budget Consultations, presented to the committee in December 2007, please visit: http://www.casw-acts.ca/advocacy/documents/prebudget_e.pdf
Roundtable on Solving Poverty
CASW joined a group of key organizations invited to participate in the National Council of Welfare Roundtable on Solving Poverty. A report of the roundtable is now available in English and will be available in French shortly. Please visit www.ncwcnbes.net.
Make Poverty History – Call for Action
Bill C293, the “Better Aid Bill”, a key piece of legislation that would direct spending on international aid to reducing poverty, was moved to the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee. After the Foreign Affairs Committee considers this bill, it will go back to the whole Senate for a third and final vote. The bill will die, however, if an election is held before the final vote in the Senate. You can make sure your Member of Parliament does his or her best to get the “Better Aid Bill” through the Senate – ask your MP to act right away to encourage Senate colleagues to give final approval to this important new law. For more information on the “Better Aid Bill”, visit http://makepovertyhistory.ca/e/betteraid |
Strengthening the Profession |
2008 National Social Work Conference
Planning continues for the 2008 National Social Work Conference hosted by the Ontario Association of Social Workers and co-sponsored by CASW and the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (formerly the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work). The conference will take place in Toronto on May 22–25, 2008. For more information, visit www.casw-acts.ca. Names of the CASW/AON Scholarship recipients to attend the conference will be announced next month. |
Strengthening the Profession |
National Social Work Week 2008
CASW will celebrate National Social Work Week 2008 on March 3–7 with the theme “Human Rights in a Diverse Community”. Provincial and territorial social work organizations each select a suitable week in March to celebrate. CASW has developed a tool kit and resources that can be used to plan activities. The following items will be available throughout the month of March:
• A draft letter that social workers can use to lobby government or send to editors of local newspapers.
• A fact-sheet on women and poverty to be used as a tool for your lobbying efforts.
• An on-line electronic greeting card to send to other social workers highlighting their success and encouraging their work in the future.
• A National Social Work Week Proclamation issued jointly by CASW and the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE).
Visit the CASW website to obtain ideas for National Social Work Week activities, to view promotional materials, or to learn more about the National Social Work Week competition.
CASW Continues Involvement in Coalitions
CASW was represented at the annual general meeting of the Quality End-of-Life Care Coalition of Canada in January 2008.
Appointment to Institute for International Social Work Education
CASW extends congratulations to Benoît van Caloen, President of the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE), who has been appointed to the Advisory Board of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) for the Katherine A. Kendall Institute for International Social Work Education (KAKI).
CASW Book Lottery
Visit the Members’ Site of the CASW website before April 30, 2008, the deadline to review the list of books and enter your name into the CASW book lottery. A new list of books has just been posted. |
Relevant Resources |
CHSRF Health Services Research Advancement Award - Call for Nominations
The CHSRF Health Services Research Advancement Award recognizes individuals and organizations that have made a major contribution to the advancement of health services research in Canada. Winners of this award receive $10,000, as well as a certificate commemorating their efforts. For more information, please visit http://www.chsrf.ca/funding_opportunities/hsraa/index_e.php. To request a copy of the nomination form, please click on the following link or copy and paste it in your browser:
http://www.chsrf.ca/funding_opportunities/hsraa/nomination_e.php. Please submit your nomination by 5:00 p.m., March 13, 2008 to the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation.
HRSDC Report on Labour Market
Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) released the report “Looking Ahead: A 10-Year Outlook for the Canadian Labour Market (2006-2015)”. The report can be found at the following address:
http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/publications_resources/research/categories/labour_market_e/sp_615_10_06/page00.shtml |
“Social Work: In Pursuit of Social Justice.”
Social work works.
www.casw-acts.ca
casw@casw-acts.ca |
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