T H O M P S O N E D U C A T I O N A L P U B L I S H I N G

Social Work in Canada

An Introduction
Steven Hick, School of Social Work, Carleton University

C O N T E N T S
1. Introduction. What Is the Welfare State? / The Provision of Social Welfare /
What Do Social Workers Do? / Approaches to Practice / Defining Social Work
2. Income Security and Social Welfare, by Steven Hick and Reva Gutnick. Income Security and
Social Services / Public Income Security Programs / The Costs of Income Security / Tax Cuts and
Social Welfare / Selective and Universal Programs / Unemployment and Employment Insurance (EI) /
Poverty and Inequality / Canadian Federalism and Social Welfare / Ideology: Or Why People Differ on
What to Do / Globalization and Social Welfare
3. The History of Social Work. PHASE 1: The Era of Moral Reform—to 1890 / PHASE 2: The Era of
Social Reform—1890 to 1940 / PHASE 3: The Era of Applied Social Science—1940 to Present
4. Social Work as a Profession. The Canadian Association of Social Workers / The Canadian
Association of Schools of Social Work / The International Federation of Social Workers /
The Ambiguity of Social Work / CASW’s Code of Ethics / The Roles of the Social Worker /
Employment Opportunities in Social Work / The Education of Social Workers / Unionization /
Salaries of Social Workers / The Future of the Profession
ocial Work in Canada provides an introduction to

S the key concepts and contemporary issues in social

work in Canada. It is intended for those who may be
thinking of entering the social services, for social work
5. Social Work with Individuals, Groups and Communities. Three Fields of Direct Practice /
Social Work with Individuals / Social Work with Groups / Social Work with Communities
6. Social Work with Children and Youth. The Organization of Child Welfare / Provincial Legislation /
History of Child Welfare / The Dilemma of Protection and the "Best Interests" of the Child / Children
students and for allied professionals seeking a basic in Care / The Incidence of Child Abuse / Steps in Providing Child Welfare Services / Social Services
understanding of the field. for Children and Youth / Income Security for Children / Early Childhood Development Services /
Social workers are an essential part of life in Child Protection Worker "Burnout"
7. Social Work and Health. Health and Inequality / Health Status of Aboriginal Peoples / History of
Canada. Throughout our lives, we are confronted with
Health Policy / Federal Involvement / Canada’s Medicare System / How Does Medicare Work? /
unforeseen events such as accidents, illness, User Fees and Extra Billing Controversy / Threats to Universal Health Care / Medical Social Work /
unemployment, violence and death. Social service First Nations Health
practitioners are concerned with helping individuals, 8. Social Work and Aboriginal Peoples. Who Are Aboriginal Peoples? / Poverty and Canada’s First
families and communities face such events and move on Nations / History of Aboriginal Peoples / Residential School System / Government Policy Objectives /
to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Aboriginal Social Work Practice—Four Principles / The Medicine Wheel and Social Work /
This book introduces the reader to the fundamentals of Urban Social Services for Aboriginal Peoples / Who Will Provide Services to Aboriginal Peoples? /
sound practice in the context of such challenges as The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
9. Social Work with Women. Social Work Beginnings / Equal Pay and Employment Equity Legislation /
inequality, poverty, homelessness, violence, globalization
Persistent Problems / Sexism and Gender Equality / Principles of Feminist Practice /
and discrimination. Feminist Principles in Practice / Violence against Women / Other Areas of Social Work Intervention
10. Anti-Racist Social Work Today. History of "Race Relations" in Canada / The New Immigration /
Textbook support: Accompanying this text are the Multiculturalism Policy / Human Rights Legislation / Hate Crimes / Concepts and Terms / Towards an
following supplementary materials: (1) Microsoft PowerPoint "Anti-Racist" Social Work: The Personal, Institutional and Societal / Anti-Racism Analysis Tool
Slides (classroom instructional aids), (2) an Instructor's 11. Social Work and Sexual Diversity, by George F. Bielmeier. Theoretical Perspectives / Historical
Manual (containing test material), and (3) an author's Web Phases in Perspective on Sexual Diversity / Social Work Perspectives on Sexual Diversity /
Site for students at www.socialpolicy.ca/swc (containing Social Work Organizations / Community and Groups / Individual and Family / Lesbian and Gay Suicide
12. Social Work with Persons with Disabilities, by Roy Hanes. The World of One in Six / History of
definitions, web links, and other student resources).
Services for People with Disabilities / The Disability Rights Movement / Disability Theories / Income
Security Programs / Gaining Access to Services / The Independent Living Movement / Social Work
Steven Hick is an associate professor in the School of Social Practice with Persons with Disabilities / Serving Those with Disabilities
Work at Carleton University. His published works include Land 13. International Social Work Practice. The Global Economy and Poverty / Human Rights and
Our Life: A Study of the Struggle for Agrarian Reform in the Sustainable Development / International Social Work Practice Models / What Do International Social
Philippines (1987), Human Rights and the Internet (2000) and Workers Do? / The Internet and International Social Work / Participatory Action Research
numerous journal articles and studies on social work, social Appendix A: CASW Code of Ethics Appendix B: IFSW Code of Ethics
policy and human rights. He is a co-founder of War Child Appendix C: IFSW International Policy on Human Rights Key Terms / Index
Canada, which seeks to aid children affected by war.

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SOCIAL WORK IN CANADA
An Introduction

1
 SOCIAL WORK IN
CANADA
An Introduction

STEVEN HICK
Carleton University

THOMPSON EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING, INC.

Toronto

3
 Contents

Preface, 7
Acknowledgments, 8

1. INTRODUCTION, 9 • The Ambiguity of Social Work, 58

• What Is the Welfare State?, 9 • CASW’s Code of Ethics, 59
• The Provision of Social Welfare, 11 • The Roles of the Social Worker, 60
• What Do Social Workers Do?, 13 • Employment Opportunities in Social
• Approaches to Practice, 14 Work, 61
• Defining Social Work, 15 • The Education of Social Workers, 62
• Conclusion, 17 • Unionization, 63
• Salaries of Social Workers, 64
2 . INCOME SECURITY AND SOCIAL • The Future of the Profession, 65
WELFARE, 19 • Conclusion, 66
Steven Hick and Reva Gutnick
• Income Security and Social Services, 19 5. SOCIAL WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS,
• Public Income Security Programs, 21 GROUPS AND COMMUNITIES, 71
• The Costs of Income Security, 24 • Three Fields of Direct Practice, 71
• Tax Cuts and Social Welfare, 26 • Social Work with Individuals, 72
• Selective and Universal Programs, 27 • Social Work with Groups, 78
• Unemployment and Employment • Social Work with Communities, 82
Insurance (EI), 29 • Conclusion, 88
• Poverty and Inequality, 30
• Canadian Federalism and Social Welfare, 33 6. SOCIAL WORK WITH CHILDREN AND
YOUTH, 91
• Ideology: Or Why People Differ on
What to Do, 34 • The Organization of Child Welfare, 92
• Globalization and Social Welfare, 36 • Provincial Legislation, 92
• Conclusion, 37 • History of Child Welfare, 95
• The Dilemma of Protection and the “Best
3. THE HISTORY OF SOCIAL WORK, 39 Interests” of the Child, 100
• PHASE 1: The Era of Moral Reform—to • Children in Care, 102
1890, 40 • The Incidence of Child Abuse, 103
• PHASE 2: The Era of Social Reform—1890 to • Steps in Providing Child Welfare
1940, 43 Services, 106
• PHASE 3: The Era of Applied Social • Social Services for Children and Youth, 110
Science—1940 to Present, 49 • Income Security for Children, 112
• Conclusion, 53 • Early Childhood Development Services, 113
• Child Protection Worker “Burnout”, 114
4. SOCIAL WORK AS A PROFESSION, 55 • Conclusion, 115
• The Canadian Association of Social
Workers, 55 7. SOCIAL WORK AND HEALTH, 117
• The Canadian Association of Schools of • Health and Inequality, 117
Social Work, 56 • Health Status of Aboriginal Peoples, 118
• The International Federation of Social • History of Health Policy, 120
Workers, 57 • Federal Involvement, 121

5
6 CONTENTS

• Canada’s Medicare System, 123 11. SOCIAL WORK AND SEXUAL DIVERSITY, 203
• How Does Medicare Work?, 124 George F. Bielmeier
• User Fees and Extra Billing Controversy, 127 • Theoretical Perspectives, 203
• Threats to Universal Health Care, 128 • Historical Phases in Perspective on Sexual
• Medical Social Work, 132 Diversity, 206
• First Nations Health, 136 • Social Work Perspectives on Sexual
• Conclusion, 137 Diversity, 210
• Social Work Organizations, 211
8. SOCIAL WORK WITH WOMEN, 139 • Community and Groups, 212
• Social Work Beginnings, 139 • Individual and Family, 213
• Equal Pay and Employment Equity • Lesbian and Gay Suicide, 214
Legislation, 141 • Conclusion, 215
• Persistent Problems, 142
• Sexism and Gender Equality, 143 12. SOCIAL WORK WITH PERSONS WITH
• Principles of Feminist Practice, 144 DISABILITIES, 217
• Feminist Principles in Practice, 146 Roy Hanes
• Violence against Women, 150 • The World of One in Six, 218
• Other Areas of Social Work • History of Services for People with
Intervention, 154 Disabilities, 219
• Conclusion, 157 • The Disability Rights Movement, 221
• Disability Theories, 222
9. SOCIAL WORK AND ABORIGINAL • Income Security Programs, 224
PEOPLES, 159 • Gaining Access to Services, 225
• Who Are Aboriginal Peoples?, 159 • The Independent Living Movement, 228
• Poverty and Canada’s First Nations, 161 • Social Work Practice with Persons with
• History of Aboriginal Peoples, 162 Disabilities, 230
• Residential School System, 165 • Serving Those with Disabilities, 232
• Government Policy Objectives, 167 • Conclusion , 233
• Aboriginal Social Work Practice—Four
Principles, 170 13. INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL WORK
• The Medicine Wheel and Social Work, 174 PRACTICE, 235
• Urban Social Services for Aboriginal • The Global Economy and Poverty, 236
Peoples, 177 • Human Rights and Sustainable
• Who Will Provide Services to Aboriginal Development, 237
Peoples?, 178 • International Social Work Practice
• The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Models, 240
Peoples, 181 • What Do International Social
• Conclusion, 183 Workers Do?, 241
• The Internet and International Social
10. ANTI-RACIST SOCIAL WORK TODAY, 185 Work, 244
• History of “Race Relations” in Canada, 185 • Participatory Action Research, 246
• The New Immigration, 189 • Conclusion, 247
• Multiculturalism Policy, 191
• Human Rights Legislation, 192 APPENDIX A: CASW Code of Ethics, 249
• Hate Crimes, 193 APPENDIX B: IFSW Code of Ethics, 261
• Concepts and Terms, 195
APPENDIX C: IFSW International Policy on
• Towards an “Anti-Racist” Social Work: The Human Rights, 267
Personal, Institutional and Societal, 197
Key Terms, 273
• Anti-Racism Analysis Tool, 199
• Conclusion, 201 Index, 286

6
 1
Introduction
What This Book Is About

Despite reductions in social expenditures in recent years,

government social programs continue to play a significant role in
the life of many individuals and families. Every Canadian is
eventually touched by a social worker at some point in their life,
whether while in hospital or through a child welfare agency,
community centre or income security agency.

ne hundred years ago private charity was the main recourse

O for persons in distress (and even then for only a small part of
the population). Today, however, public (government-run
or government-funded) social programs and services are
widespread and affect nearly everyone at some point in his or her life.
Nevertheless, while the social services are commonplace, Canadians
today in general are not well aware of the history of social welfare in
their country or the role it plays in our daily lives.
This book is an effort to redress that imbalance. We hope that you,
with the aid of this textbook, will become familiar with the key concepts
and issues in social work practice in Canada.

WHAT IS THE WELFARE STATE?

The basic goal of our social welfare system is simple: it is to help

people through difficult times until they can rebuild their lives. This may
sometimes be long term, as, for example, when persons have a physical
or psychiatric disability, a continuing illness or lack the skills required by
the labour market and require ongoing help. The kinds of “contingen-
cies” for which the welfare system is designed can be grouped into three
interrelated categories: (1) contingencies that threaten economic sur-
National Archives of Canada. Neg. no. PA137107.

vival, (2) contingencies that threaten the integrity of the person and (3)
contingencies that affect the family. Retirement, unemployment, a drop
in income and price changes are examples of contingencies that affect
economic survival. Disability, illness, violence, homelessness, addiction,
racism, warfare and death are examples of contingencies that affect the
integrity of the person. Separation, divorce, the ageing of family mem-
bers and additional children are events that threaten the survival of the
family.
While this book focuses on social work and the provision of social ser-
vices, it is important to understand that social services are part of a range
of activities that fall more generally under the term social welfare. Social Social welfare is indispensable
welfare includes not only the social services proper (the provision of in a civilized society.
9

9
1 / INTRODUCTION 11

THE PROVISION OF SOCIAL WELFARE

There are several different types of welfare available to Canadians. A

key distinction is between public programs and private programs.
Because Canada is a federal state, public welfare occurs at the three
levels of government: the federal or national government, the provincial
and territorial governments and the regional and municipal govern-
ments. As well, there are public non-government agencies, such as advi-
sory and appeal boards, which are the creations of government (whether
federal, provincial or municipal) but which consist of members who are
appointed from the public by government. Government is ultimately
responsible for their activities, but they are either completely independ-
ent or semi-independent.
There is also private welfare. Here we should distinguish between
two types of organizations: private non-profit and private for-profit.
Non-profit organizations are mandated to provide a service or an activ-
ity but not to create a profit. In Canada, such organizations are often reg-
istered by law, and rules and regulations govern what steps must be
taken if a profit is generated. Many of these agencies are incorporated as
non-profit corporations; they receive funds from one or more levels of
government and from private sources. At the same time, they can earn
money by providing services for other organizations. Take the example
of the Children’s Aid Societies in Ontario. They receive their principal
funding from the provincial government of Ontario, they are registered
as non-profit organizations and they have boards of directors composed
of private citizens who are elected annually, and they also receive funds
from private organizations or individuals. For-profit organizations, on
the other hand, are prevalent in certain social service areas, such as nurs-
ing homes, home care and child care. These organizations provide ser-
vices that are often purchased by government on behalf of individuals,
but their purpose is to generate a profit for the owner of the organization.
With government cutbacks in recent years, more and more welfare ser-
vices are being provided by non-profit and for-profit private agencies.
All three organizations—public, private non-profit and commercial
—are part of the structure of social services in the Canadian welfare state.
(Another important source of funding for income security and social ser-
vices in Canada, but not covered in this text, is industrial welfare. Indus-
trial welfare is available through employment and provides everything
National Archives of Canada. Neg. no. C145057.

from dental and optical plans to legal aid services and pension plans.
Only people employed by companies offering these services can access
these benefits.)

• Approaching Social Welfare

The idea of providing social services to citizens in need is no longer a

controversial one in Canada. Major disputes do arise, however, in deter-
mining which groups are in need and to what extent they need state
assistance. Different approaches to social welfare are represented in
these disputes. Generally, there are two such approaches: let’s call these Many services are threatened
the residual view and the institutional view. by government spending cuts.

11
12 1 / INTRODUCTION

© Dick Hemingway
Homelessness in urban centres is a national problem that requires urgent attention by politicians, social policy makers
and social workers.

In the residual view, social welfare is a limited and temporary

HOMELESSNESS response to human need, implemented only when all else fails. It is
Recent estimates of the number based on the premise that there are two natural ways through which an
of homeless are alarming. individual’s needs are met—the family and the market economy. The
residual model is based on the idea that government should play only a
In Canada’s largest city,
Toronto, emergency shelters for limited role in the distribution of social welfare. The state should only
the homeless took in an step in when these normal sources of support fail, and the individual is
average of 6,500 persons each unable to help him or herself. Residual social welfare is, therefore, highly
night in 1997. About 30,000 targeted to those most in need. Additionally, residual social welfare
different people used Toronto’s
tends to provide benefits at a low level in order to discourage use and not
shelters in 2000.
make social welfare appear desirable. Canadian public social welfare
“Housing Again” is a website programs, from early history to the Depression of the 1930s, can be char-
dedicated to putting affordable acterized as residual in nature.
housing back on the public
In the institutional view, on the other hand, social welfare is a neces-
agenda. For information and
statistics, go to: sary public response in helping people attain a reasonable standard of
http://www.housingagain. life and health. Within this view, it is accepted that people cannot always
web.net meet all of their needs through family and work. Therefore it is both
proper and legitimate in a complex industrial society for society to help
people through a set of publicly funded and organized systems of pro-
grams and institutions. The institutional model promotes the principle
that all citizens are entitled, as a matter of right and unconditionally, to a
decent standard of living, and it is the role of the state to ensure this. The
institutional model, then, seeks to even out, rather than promote, stratifi-
cation or status differences that arise in the market.

12
1 / INTRODUCTION 13

These views represent different overall approaches to social welfare

and capture the political controversy surrounding social welfare today. It SOCIAL WORK
is useful to think about and understand this distinction, since each gives a The term social work has been
different sense of what social welfare is all about and how extensive it credited to Jeffery Brackett, who
should be—and, more particularly, how much government funding it was a Charity Organization
should receive. Society volunteer in the early
1900s. He argued for the
adoption of the term to
WHAT DO SOCIAL WORKERS DO? differentiate between
professionals doing social work
and the volunteers who helped
People are often confronted with unforeseen events, such as accidents,
at various societies as a
illness, incidents of violence and death. People are also faced with eco- recreational or volunteer
nomic contingencies, such as unemployment, retirement and homeless- activity. The inclusion of the
ness. A whole range of welfare services are available to Canadians to word “work” was meant to
help them deal with such circumstances, and it is within this complex emphasize this distinction.
web of social welfare institutions (income security programs and social
services) that social workers work or practice.
Those who choose social work as their profession do so for a variety of
reasons. They appear to be motivated to make this choice by some com-
bination of humanitarian and egalitarian values, and by a desire to
understand how society works. Frequently, a person is motivated to
become a social worker following exposure to injustice and oppression.
Whatever the combination of factors that leads a person into the profes-
sion, social workers require more than just the desire to “do good.”
Social workers require the necessary values and skills of analysis to be
able to approach social situations in a way that is useful. In order to pro-
vide assistance, they require knowledge and skills in a variety of areas.
The Canadian Association of Social Workers’ Code of Ethics (1994; see
Appendix A for the full Code of Ethics) defines social work practice as
including
• the assessment, remediation and prevention of social problems,
and the enhancement of social functioning of individuals, families
and communities by means of
• the provision of direct counselling services within an estab-
lished relationship between a social worker and client;
• the development, promotion and delivery of human service
programs, including that done in collaboration with other pro-
fessionals; and
• the development and promotion of social policies aimed at im-
proving social conditions and equality.

The Code, in fact, distinguishes between two types of social work:

direct social work and indirect social work. Direct social work involves
providing services (such as individual counselling, group work and com-
munity development). Most often people who are doing direct social
work will be working for public or publicly funded but privately admin-
istered social service agencies and institutions. Some social workers
work on their own or in groups in a private practice.
Indirect social work also benefits those in need, but usually those
who do indirect social work will do so with governments–formulating,

13
1 / INTRODUCTION 15

Approaches that locate the problem in social structures. Approaches within

SOCIAL WORK VALUES
this category give emphasis to the wider social factors influencing a par-
ticular problem. These factors may include social class, poverty, racial • Humanitarianism
discrimination and patriarchal relations. Approaches within this cate- • Egalitarian ideals
gory include structural social work practice, radical casework, and
• Self-determination
feminist, anti-racist and Aboriginal approaches. These approaches vary
• Mutual respect and dignity of
according to their particular emphasis, but they are all based on the every person
belief that structural factors have major significance for many types of • Privacy
social work problems.
• Human rights
In Canada today there are a variety of perspectives and several differ- • Fair and non-judgemental
ent approaches or models of social work. The two dominant approaches • Co-operation
in Canadian social work (the “generalist” and the “structuralist”
approaches) are discussed briefly at the end of Chapter 5 (see page 89).
What is important for the beginning social worker to understand is that
there is a range of approaches and that there is no single or best body of
knowledge to inform one’s practice. In order to be effective, the social
work practitioner must be prepared to approach daily practice from all
angles and to find the one that works for him or her.

DEFINING SOCIAL WORK

A new international definition of social work was adopted at the Gen-

eral Meeting of the International Federation of Social Workers’ (IFSW)
in Montreal in July 2000 (available on-line at http://www.ifsw.org):
The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in
human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to
enhance well-being. Utilizing theories of human behaviour and social
systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with
their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fun-
damental to social work.

The definition emphasizes four concepts: social change, problem solving,

person-in-the-environment and empowerment. To begin to understand
this complex work it is necessary to explore these four key concepts.

• Social Change Mandate

A social change mandate means working in solidarity with those
who are disadvantaged or excluded from society so as to eliminate the
barriers, inequities and injustices that exist in society. Social workers
Public Archives of Canada. Neg. no. PA-118221.

should be at the forefront of promoting policy and legislation that redis-

tributes wealth in favour of those who are less well-off—that is, promoting
equal opportunity for women, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender per-
sons, people with disabilities, Aboriginal peoples and racial and other
minorities, and defending past gains made in these areas.

• Problem Solving
Social workers respond to crises and emergencies as well as everyday
personal and social problems. Within this process, social workers use
problem-solving techniques to identify the problem and formulate Child welfare continues to be
possible plans of action. A problem is not usually clearly defined when a main focus for social work.

15
 16 1 / INTRODUCTION

someone comes to a social service agency. It is therefore crucial for the

EMPOWERMENT
social worker to explore the person’s concerns, to identify the need(s)
Elizabeth Whitmore and involved, to identify barriers to meeting need(s) and to carefully deter-
Maureen Wilson, two Canadian mine the goals and possible plans of action. A key characteristic of the
social work faculty members, problem-solving process is the inclusion of the client at each stage. The
worked with other social
process should also teach clients problem-solving skills so that they can
workers at the Universidad
Centroamericana in Nicaragua better deal with future problems on their own.
to help redesign their social
work program. As part of this, • Person-in-the-Environment
they did workshops on gender
equality, which included linking
A key aspect of effective social work practice is to go beyond the
the local with the global. “internal” (psychological) factors and examine the relationship between
individuals and their environments. This person-in-the-environment
They worked from a model of
international development
approach is partly what distinguishes social work practice from other
practice that they called helping professions. These “environments” extend beyond the immedi-
“accompaniment.” This practice ate family and include interactions with friends, neighbourhoods,
emphasizes ownership and schools, religious groups, laws and legislation, other agencies or organi-
control by the partners. zations, places of employment and the economic system. Based on this
The principles of understanding, intervention may focus on the individual, interactions
“accompaniment” are outlined between people and any given system or structure, or on the system or
in Seeds of Fire: Social structure itself.
Development in an Era of
Globalism, a book compiled by
• “Empowerment” and Social Work
Wilson and Whitmore.
In order for the interventions of social workers to be successful, the
clients must believe that the efforts of the social worker will make a dif-
ference. This leads to the important concept of empowerment. Being
empowered means feeling that you have power and control over the
course of your life.
Empowerment is the process of increasing personal, interpersonal or
political power so that one can improve one’s particular situation. Power
can be a personal state of mind, in the sense that one feels that one can
make a difference and have control and influence over one’s own life. It
can also be empowerment within an organization in the sense that one
has tangible influence and legal rights. Empowerment, then, involves
both a personal perception of being in control and tangible elements of
power within the various social structures of society. Social workers seek
to empower their clients as a way of helping them to focus on, among
other things, access to resources and the structures of power.
“Empowerment-based social work,” therefore, has three aspects:
• making power explicit in the client-worker relationship (in order
thereby to help equalize the relationship between the client and the
worker);
• giving clients experiences in which they themselves are in control
TEP Photo Archives, Toronto.

(to allow them to see the potential for controlling their lives); and
• always supporting the client’s own efforts to gain greater control
over their lives as a way of promoting change.

Putting an empowerment perspective into practice can involve tech-

Empowering individuals and niques that make power relations between the workers and their clients
communities into action. explicit, thereby equalizing the client-worker relationship. Additionally,

16
 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Key Concepts Discussion Questions

• Social welfare 1. What are the main components of the social welfare system in
• Social services Canada?
• Income security 2. Define and compare the following terms: (1) social policy and social
• Welfare state program, and (2) public welfare and private welfare.
• Social policies 3. What is meant by the “residual” and “institutional” approaches to
• Social programs welfare?

• Public welfare 4. List and describe the four key concepts contained in the International
• Private welfare Federations’ definition of social work practice.

• Approaches to social welfare 5. Define empowerment and outline what a social worker could do to put
an empowerment perspective into practice.
• Residual view
• Institutional view
• Direct social work Websites
• Indirect social work
• Social change mandate • Social Work Glossary
http://www.socialpolicy.ca
• Problem-solving techniques
This site contains Steven Hick’s personal collection of over 600
• Person-in-the-environment definitions of social welfare terms. It also includes links to publications
• Empowerment and on-line course materials.

• Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD)

http://www.ccsd.ca
CCSD is one of Canada’s most authoritative voices promoting better
social and economic security for all Canadians. A national,
self-supporting, non-profit organization, the CCSD’s main product is
information and its main activity is research, focusing on concerns such
as income security, employment, poverty, child welfare, pensions and
government social policies. Check out the Internet launch pad for a
variety of excellent links.

• Canadian Social Research Links

http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net
This is Gilles Séguin’s virtual resource centre for Canadian social
program information. His purpose in creating and maintaining this site
is to provide a comprehensive, current and balanced collection of links
to Canadian social program information for those who formulate
Canadian social policies and for those who study and critique them.

• Critical Social Work journal

http://www.criticalsocialwork.com
An on-line journal with articles on how social work can contribute to
social justice. In part the goal of Critical Social Work is to assist in
collectively recognizing the current potentials for social justice as well as
the future possibilities. They propose that through dialogue there exists
the possibility of refining our ideas about the individual and community,
clarifying the relationship between interpersonal relations and
institutional structures, and identifying actions that promote both
individual and community well-being.

18
 2
Income Security and
Social Welfare
An Overview
Steven Hick and Reva Gutnick
This chapter focuses on income security in Canada. In addition to
detailing the many government programs currently in place, the
chapter surveys some of the ideas and debates surrounding
income security provisions. It also draws attention to some of the
major social issues that the welfare state attempts to address,
such as unemployment, poverty and globalization.

here is no question that income security programs are at the core

T of the welfare state in Canada. However, two myths should be

dispelled. The first is that income security programs are used
only by the poor. The reality is that every Canadian over the
course of their lives is a beneficiary of Canada’s income security infra-
structure, whether it in the form of a retirement pension, Employment
Insurance, Death Benefits, Social Assistance or Family Benefits. The
second myth is that income programs serve only to keep the poor from
destitution. While it is true that they accomplish this more or less, they
also provide the government with key levers over the economy. In the
post-World War II period, social welfare spending played a vital role in
the macro management of the Canadian economy and labour force.
The level of commitment to social welfare, in Canada or any other
country, is derived from what the members of the society in question
value as a society, and what they believe the role of government is in
their lives. For example, should the risk of unemployment be shared or
should those who fall on bad times be left to fend for themselves? What
are the long-term costs to society of letting people spiral into
hopelessness?
These are a few of the underlying questions that need to be consid-
National Archives of Canada. Neg. no. C29397.

ered, and this chapter attempts to sort through some of the complexities.

INCOME SECURITY AND SOCIAL SERVICES

In this text, we try to maintain a distinction between income security

and social services. Of course, as noted in Chapter 1, it is not always easy
to distinguish between an income security provision and a social service.
Social services, in our sense of the term, essentially involve providing
non-monetary help to persons in need; that is, the work done largely by
social workers as outlined in the other chapters of this book. Examples Income security should be a
are child welfare (e.g., Children’s Aid Societies, which include adoption right of Canadian citizenship.
19

19
 CHAPTER 2: INCOME SECURITY AND SOCIAL WELFARE

Key Concepts Discussion Questions

• Social insurance 1. What are the four categories of income security programs?
• Minimum Income 2. What is the main difference between a social insurance program and a
• Demogrants minimum income program?
• Income supplementation 3. List five income security programs and describe the level of
• Social security government responsible for it and who is eligible.
• Quintile 4. Who benefits from income security programs?
• Universal benefits
5. What are the two primary differences between universal and selective
• Selective programs programs? Does Canada currently have any universal programs?
• Means test 6. How did the discontinuation of the Canada Assistance Plan (CAP)
• Needs test affect social welfare programs?
• Unemployment 7. What are the Social Union Agreement and the CHST and how have
• Unemployment rate they changed social policy in Canada?
• Low Income Cut-off (LICO)
• Absolute poverty Websites
• Relative poverty
• Poverty gap • Policy.ca
• Average income deficiency http://www.policy.ca
• Food banks and feeding Check out the social policy issue area. Policy.ca is a non-partisan
programs resource for the public analysis of Canadian policy issues. It consists of
• Federalism a constantly growing database of on-line public policy resources in
sixteen different issue areas. These resources are selected to provide
• Canada Health and Social users with a balanced review of both documents and organizations in
Transfer (CHST) key Canadian public policy issue areas.
• Canada Assistance Plan (CAP)
• Social Union Agreement of
• Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
http://www.policyalternatives.ca
1999
The CCPA is a non-profit research organization, funded primarily
• Ideology
through organizational and individual membership. It was founded in
• Workfare 1980 to promote research on economic and social policy issues from a
• Keynesianism progressive point of view. Check out the “Behind the Numbers” section.
• Monetarism
• Caledon Institute of Social Policy
• Political economy http://www.caledoninst.org
• Globalization The Caledon Institute of Social Policy does rigorous, high-quality
• Global social welfare research and analysis; seeks to inform and influence public opinion and
to foster public discussion on poverty and social policy; and develops
and promotes concrete, practicable proposals for the reform of social
programs at all levels of government.

38
 3
The History of Social Work
The Development of a Profession

In the early twentieth century, social work established itself as a

vocation committed to major social reform, social change and
the eradication of poverty. Over time, it shifted from a religious
and charitable practice to a more systematic, professional one.
Along with this, social service shifted from a privately funded and
volunteer activity to a publicly funded, paid occupation.

he systematic giving of charity to the poor coincides, more or

T less, with the upheaval of the Industrial Revolution and, in par-

ticular, with the consolidation of the wage-labour system (at the
time, capitalism was quickly becoming the dominant economic
system). The immediate antecedents of Anglo-Canadian social work can
be found in such socioeconomic changes in Britain and the United States
in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Broadly speaking, relief in the nineteenth century was based on the
poorhouse or house of industry. In the twentieth century, it shifted to the
provision of food and other necessities to people in need in their homes,
and later to the provision of cash. From the mid-twentieth century
onwards, the state came to play an increasingly important role. Follow-
ing World War II, Canada’s economic surplus grew, as did the expecta-
tion that the state would ensure the economic and social security of its
citizens. As state provision of social welfare has expanded, so has the
social work profession. Most members of this profession are now
employed in government-financed social welfare agencies.
We can thus divide the history of social work practice into three more
or less distinct phases. These coincide roughly with major social and eco-
nomic changes taking place at the time. In each phase, certain character-
istics predominate.
• The era of moral reform: the pre-industrial phase from the forma-
National Archives of Canada. Neg no. PA93921.

tion of Canada until 1890;

• The era of social reform: the transition from a commercial to an in-
dustrial society, from 1890 to 1940; and
• The era of applied social science: the post-war transformation pe-
riod of rapid economic growth and mass consumption, from 1940
to the present.
This chapter looks at each phase so as to provide a quick overview of the
evolution of social work practice in Canada. For a more detailed survey
of the history, readers are referred to the various reference sources listed Lining up to get into the Scott
at the end of this chapter. Mission, Toronto, 1953.
39

39
 CHAPTER 3: THE HISTORY OF SOCIAL WORK

Key Concepts Discussion Questions

• Private charities 1. What are the historical roots of social work?

• Poor relief
2. What are the three phases of the evolution of social work in Canada,
• Deserving poor and what are the defining characteristics of each phase?
• Undeserving poor 3. What has been the influence of charity organization, the settlement
• Charity Organization Society house movement and social reformers on social work in Canada?
(COS)
4. Describe the influence of the social gospel movement on social work in
• Settlement house movement Canada.
• Scientific philanthropy
5. What was the effect of the Depression of the 1930s on the
• Social survey research development of social work in Canada?
• Casework
6. How has casework changed since the days of Mary Richmond?
• Freudian thought
7. What was the influence of Freudian psychology on the way social work
• Social gospel movement
was understood and practised? Why has this influence lessened since
• Great Depression the 1960s?
• Diagnostic approach 8. What is the scientific approach to social work and how did it change
• Functional approach the nature of social work practice?

Websites

• A History of Social Work on-line Timeline

http://ia1.carleton.ca/cush/m4/m4contents.stm
Go and click on Topic 2, A Timeline of the Evolution of Social Work in
Canada, for a timeline of the major events in the history of social work.

• World Wide Web Resources for Social Workers

http://www.nyu.edu/socialwork/wwwrsw
This vast resource for social workers, produced by Dr. Gary Holden at
New York University, offers an eclectic collection of material on social
welfare with a useful search engine, covering many of the topics in
these pages. It is particularly helpful for researching a particular topic
or locating an international association. Try clicking on “social work,”
then “general” and finally “history” for a few interesting history links.

54
 4
Social Work as a Profession
Making a Difference

It was not until the end of World War I that social work began to
be recognized as a distinct profession in Canada. Since that time
there has been rapid growth in the number of professional social
workers. All levels of government, federal, provincial and
municipal, now fund and deliver social services and income
security programs.

ccording to available census data, there were 1,056 self-

A described social workers in 1931, the first year for which data
is available. Thirty years later, in 1961, there were 10,854
social workers. As a result of the funding made available after
the passage of the Canada Assistance Plan in 1966, there was enormous
growth in the number of social workers in the following years. The 1971
census recorded 30,535 social workers. By 1991 the number of workers
had doubled to 61,135. Today the combined total of social workers and
community and social service workers is 85,955.
Of course, this growth in the number of social workers reflects the
expansion of social services and income security programs over this
period, particularly in the 1960s when significant new money was put
into child welfare and Social Assistance. As the importance of social wel-
fare programs increased, and as more and more people were involved in
providing these services, a higher level of organization and a greater
degree of professionalization was required from all those involved in the
system. Important legislation was passed by provincial legislatures to
meet the increasing demands for social services, and provincial associa-
tions were created to help train and organize social workers at the local
level. Training and professional programs were introduced to accommo-
date this expansion, and codes of practice were elaborated to ensure
quality service.
This chapter examines the state of the social work profession today.

THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS

The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) was

“founded” at the 1924 American National Conference of Social Work,
which was held in Toronto. At this meeting, several Canadian social
workers discussed the need for a professional association that addressed
the specific needs of Canadians. The Association was formally estab-
lished in 1927, and the first edition of its professional journal, The Social Canadian Association of Schools
Worker, appeared in 1932. Initially, social workers joined the Association of Social Work homepage
55

55
 CHAPTER 4: SOCIAL WORK AS A PROFESSION

Key Concepts Discussion Questions

• Canadian Association of 1. What are the main associations to which Canadian social workers
Social Workers (CASW) belong?
• Canadian Association of 2. Define the ambiguity of social work, and its implication for direct
Schools of Social Work practice.
(CASSW)
3. Social work has its own code of ethics. What is the purpose of the
• International Federation of
code, and what are three of the key elements contained in the code?
Social Workers (IFSW)
• Ambiguity of social work 4. Define and describe the various roles that social workers may take on
in the course of their work.
• Ethical dilemmas
• Code of Ethics 5. Does the composition of the profession (women, Aboriginal and visible
minority) reflect the diversity of Canadian society? Why is this
• Voluntary clients
important?
• Involuntary clients
6. How are the employment patterns of social workers changing and
• Social worker roles what are the implications for social workers?
• Public sector unions
7. What four challenges does the profession of social work in Canada
• Professional associations face, and how will they affect the social workers and social work
practice?

Websites

• Canadian Association of Social Workers

http://www.casw-acts.ca
The CASW website contains useful information about how the CASW
represents Canadian social workers, information about the profession,
and the status of professional legislation in each province.

• The Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work (CASSW)

http://www.cassw-acess.ca
CASSW-ACESS is a voluntary, national charitable association of
university faculties, schools and departments offering professional
education in social work at the undergraduate, graduate and
post-graduate levels. Check out their research reports, news and school
information.

• International Federation of Social Workers–Code of Ethics

http://www.ifsw.org
“The Ethics of Social Work Principles and Standards” adopted by the
IFSW General Meeting, Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 1994 is on-line. Also
check out the various policy documents.

• In Critical Demand: Social Work in Canada

http://www.socialworkincanada.org
A major review and analysis of the profession of social work. The study
examined human resource issues such as wages and benefits, working
conditions, qualifications and experience, turnover rates, opportunities
for advancement, job satisfaction, career and educational paths,
portability of credentials, licensing and regulation, training and human
resource development programs and unionization.

70
 5
Social Work with Individuals,
Groups and Communities
Direct Social Work Practice

Social work practice is the use of social work knowledge and skills
to implement society’s mandated policies and services in ways
that are consistent with social work values. It is the values and
principles that social workers work and live by that are at the core
of this work. It is what motivates social workers to do what they
do.

t is important for all social workers to have a basic understanding

I of the processes and activities for the three fields of social work
commonly defined under the category of direct practice. They are
(1) social work with individuals, (2) group work, and (3) commu-
nity work. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce each of these fields
and to discuss the main kinds of activity a social worker is likely to
encounter in each field.
The three social work specializations or fields emerged in the 1940s.
Today many schools of social work use this breakdown for purposes of
social work training. Social work with individuals is directed at
helping individuals, using counselling and other one-on-one methods.
Group work aims to assist a group of people in a variety of ways—the
group could be a therapy group, a peer group or a family. Assisting a
local community to plan, implement and evaluate efforts at health and
social welfare can be fostered through community work.
Most social workers will find themselves involved in one or another of
the three forms of direct practice at different times in their careers. This
diversity of fields within which social workers practice requires a
multi-skilled and broad-based practitioner. Although one may specialize
in one of the three fields, all workers will need a range of basic skills to
intervene effectively with individuals, groups and communities.

THREE FIELDS OF DIRECT PRACTICE

© Dick Hemingway

Social work practice essentially consists of a series or process of

interventive actions. The worker calls upon his or her repertoire of help-
ing knowledge, skills and values and applies them in particular ways in
specific situations to achieve planned and purposeful change. While
each situation will require a different pattern of interventions, the pro- Often, individual, group and
cess or steps are essentially the same. community work overlap.
71

71
5 / SOCIAL WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS AND COMMUNITIES 89

TWO APPROACHES TO DIRECT PRACTICE

The Generalist Approach The Structuralist Approach

Generalist social work education is widespread in Though the term appears to have originated in the
undergraduate and introductory training in Canada. It United States, the structural approach to social work is
is particularly common as an approach for beginning largely a Canadian development.
students in the United States, as the Council on Social
Social workers taking a more “structural approach”
Work Education (CSWE) requires a “generalist orienta-
frequently arrive at this approach from a critical analy-
tion” at the undergraduate level.
sis of the outcomes of their own interventions. Workers
The generalist approach evolved from attempts by who previously concentrated only on personal factors
social workers to address issues in a way that goes or interpersonal interactions between individuals find
beyond diagnosing individual problems by looking that, by ignoring the broader social structures that
only at the individual factors. Practitioners recognized shape the individual’s problem, they are minimizing
that it is also important to examine elements such as the very changes required to alleviate their client’s dif-
the family, community and institutions in society. ficulty (as well as those of many others experiencing the
Whereas those formulating a structural approach problem). They find that it is more effective to focus on
looked to power theory and political economy theory, the root causes of the problems at hand and deal with
those developing the generalist approach adopted the client’s personal issues or behaviour at the same
“systems theory.” Systems theory focuses on the sys- time.
tems in the person’s immediate environment that may
The skills involved in structural social work are of
be causing the individual’s problem.
course similar to the generalist approach and draw on
With the generalist approach, the worker is trained to the same sense of humanism, empathy and reflection.
use the problem-solving process in combination with It is the way in which the social worker analyzes prob-
systems theory to assess and intervene to establish lems and the type of actions that result from this analy-
the social functioning of individuals, families, groups, sis that distinguishes the structural approach. The
communities or organizations. Social systems theory structural social worker is concerned with helping the
provides a framework for understanding how systems individual deal with a difficult problem, but he or she is
such as the individual, the family, the small group, the also concerned with changing the overall situation that
school, the church, the social agency, the community is causing the problem, whenever that is possible.
and societies interact and relate causing both private
Structural social work, then, can be defined as practice
problems and public issues. When assessing the situa-
that focuses on the impact of wider social structures
tion with the client, the social worker decides which
on personal problems. It involves a critical analysis of
system is the appropriate unit of attention or focus.
these structures, whether they are based on class, race,
The generalist approach integrates knowledge about age, gender, ability or sexuality. These include primary
human behaviour and knowledge about the influence structures—such as patriarchy, racism, capitalism,
of social environment on behaviour. It is therefore the heterosexism, ageism and ableism—as well as second-
job of the generalist practitioner to understand both ary structures such as personality, family, community,
the personal reasons for the client’s behaviour and and bureaucracy.
also the environmental factors influencing this behav-
iour. For example, in being presented with a case of Advocates of structural social work emphasize the links
child abuse, the social worker would look at each of the between a person’s feelings and behaviour, and the
separate factors. First, the parent may have alcohol larger society. Client empowerment and social worker
abuse problems, may have a low income or problems activism are emphasized. The structural approach
with anger control. The family may be one where the works simultaneously at liberating people and trans-
parents are separated and hostile towards one forming social structures. Individual and social changes
another. The community may include support groups are seen as inextricably related.
that would be appropriate for the child and the parent.
Like the generalist approach, the structuralist approach
In the institutional area, the child welfare worker may
requires that the social worker be skilled in casework,
have such a large caseload that individual attention is
family counselling, group work and community orga-
non-existent and resources for family education are
nizing, as well as have a deep knowledge of social
limited.
policy and social welfare. Structural social work differs
As with the structuralist approach, there is no unani- in that it goes beyond an analysis of the immediate
mous agreement as to the meaning of generalist prac- family and community as external factors and looks to
tice. The above overview highlights the key points the broader analysis of socioeconomic factors such as
where there is some consensus. class, gender and race.

89
 CHAPTER 5: SOCIAL WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS AND
COMMUNITIES

Concepts Discussion Questions

• Social work with individuals 1. What are the three fields of social work practice and how do they
• Group work differ?
• Community work 2. What steps does a social worker usually follow in providing help to:
• Social work practice (a) an individual; (b) a group; (c) a community?
• Praxis 3. Social work practice involves continually reflecting with the client on
• Intake past actions. Explain this process.
• Assessment and planning 4. What is a community and what different types of communities exist?
• Intervention 5. What are the main features of community-based social work?
• Evaluation and termination
6. What is the key feature of participatory action research and what is the
• Confidentiality role of the social worker?
• Treatment groups 7. What is the significance of the new information technology for
• Task groups community organizing?
• Family or household groups 8. Explain what is meant by the “generalist” and the “structuralist”
• Therapy groups approaches to social work practice.
• Self-help or peer groups
• Stages of group development
• Geographic community Websites
• Membership community
• Self-help community • A Community Toolbox
http://ctb.lsi.ukans.edu
• Model of community
development This website contains information and tools to help social workers be
more effective community organizers. The core of the Tool Box is the
• Virtual community work
“how-to tools.” These sections explain how to do the different tasks
• Systems theory necessary for community development.
• Social structures
• Charity Village
http://www.charityvillage.com
Defines itself as Canada’s supersite for the non-profit sector. It has
3,000 pages of news, jobs, information and resources. The resources
section of the site should connect you with a cause or group that
interests you. You can even volunteer or donate on-line.

• Canadian Social Work Discussion Group

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/csocwork
This is a listserv that enables social workers in Canada to discuss
general practice issues as they arise.
Go to the website to subscribe.

90
 6
Social Work with Children
and Youth
Child Protection and Family Support

Social workers have always been at the forefront in advocating

for improvements in policy and services for children and youth.
From their unique vantage point, social workers know that
children are not only the most vulnerable citizens of Canada,
they are also our hope for the future.

he 1995 federal budget marked a turning point for social ser-

T vices across Canada. The budget determined that social funding

would be substantially cut in an all-out effort to reduce the gov-
ernment deficit. More recently, in 1999, the Liberal government
announced a new era of government surplus, thus opening up the possi-
bility of a renewed commitment to social welfare. Whether this will
come to pass remains to be seen.
In Canada, provincial, territorial, Aboriginal and private non-profit
child welfare agencies are mandated to protect children under the age of
sixteen. The agencies are legally obligated to look into allegations of
child abuse and neglect and are, for the most part, crisis oriented. More
recently, child protection services have come under scrutiny as a result
of high-profile child deaths during custody. For example, in April 1996,
the Office of the Coroner for the Province of Ontario and the Ontario
Association of Children’s Aid Societies, with support from the Ministry
of Community and Social Services, established a task force to undertake
a review of the children who had died while receiving child welfare
services.
Child welfare is a major area of employment for social workers today.
It is also one of the most difficult areas of work for practitioners in terms
of the heart-wrenching cases that can arise and the often complex ethical
Public Archives of Canada. Neg no. PA-118220.

issues involved. This chapter provides an overview of the child welfare

system in Canada. It examines:
• the current and historical organization of child welfare in Canada;
• the extent of child neglect and abuse;
• the state of child welfare legislation and the work of the child wel-
fare agencies;
• the process of removing a child from the home when the child is in
need of protection; and
Our most vulnerable citizens
• other social services available for children and youth. and our hope for the future.
91

91
 CHAPTER 6: SOCIAL WORK WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH

Key Concepts Discussion Questions

• In-home services 1. Identify and discuss three phases in the history of child welfare.
• Out-of-home services
2. Explain what is meant by the “least restrictive” and the “best interests”
• Best interests approach approaches to child protection cases.
• Least restrictive approach
3. What is the extent of youth in care in Canada and how does this match
• Child abuse up with government policy in this area?
• Neglect 4. What is the extent of child abuse today in Canada?
• Physical abuse
5. What are the steps to be followed in providing child welfare services?
• Sexual abuse
6. What are some of the issues that trouble youth who are in care?
• Emotional abuse
• Risk assessment 7. How has provincial child welfare legislation changed in the past few
years in ways that you see as positive? How has it changed in ways
• Duty to report
that you see as negative?
• Court order
• Early childhood development
Websites
• Burnout

• Child & Family Canada

http://www.cfc-efc.ca
A unique Canadian public education website. Fifty Canadian non-profit
organizations have come together under the banner of Child & Family
Canada to provide quality, credible resources on children and families
on an easy-to-navigate website. The “library” provides access to over
1,300 documents on child welfare.

• Child Welfare League of Canada

http://www.cwlc.ca
The CWLC is an organization active in Canadian policy, research and
advocacy. The site contains an issue-specific search engine for those
doing research in the child welfare area.

• The Ontario Association of Children Aids Societies

http://www.oacas.org
The voice of child welfare in Ontario, dedicated to providing leadership
for the achievement of excellence in the protection of children and in
the promotion of their well-being within their families and communities.

• Child Welfare Resource Centre

http://www.childwelfare.ca
This website offers an excellent list of web links, an on-line CHAT
group, and an e-mail discussion list. This would be a good place to start
exploring the field of Canadian child welfare.

116
 7
Social Work and Health
Medicare at Risk

Canadians generally see their health care system as exemplifying

many deeply held Canadian values, such as equity, fairness,
compassion and respect for the fundamental dignity of all. Social
workers have been at the forefront of defending this publicly
funded system and promoting healthy living and illness
prevention. They have an increasingly important role in health
care delivery.

ocial workers play a key role in the provision of health services

S in Canada. The range of services they provide includes medical

social work (such as social work with individuals, group work,
discharge planning, family consultation, patient advocacy,
counselling of terminally ill patients, training and policy analysis) as well
as community-based and preventative services (such as health promo-
tion and education, self-help group formation, community development
and advocacy). In hospital care settings, social workers are often part of a
multidisciplinary team that provides a unique holistic perspective to
health care. This holistic perspective is not only concerned with the
treatment of illness, but also with the promotion of wellness and the con-
sideration of the social, economic, spiritual and cultural needs of the
health services client.
This chapter begins by looking at the relationship between economic
inequality and health status, or what is known as the “health gap.” It then
gives an overview of the history of public medical care in Canada, the
current Canada Health Act and the role of the federal government and the
provinces in the provision of health care. Several contemporary issues
are discussed, including universality, privatization, extra billing and user
fees. It also looks at the recent agreement between the federal govern-
ment and the provinces to restore federal funding to the health care
National Archives of Canada. Neg no. PA141509.

system. Finally, the chapter examines the role of social workers in medi-
cal social work, community health centres and social work with people
who have contracted HIV/AIDS.

HEALTH AND INEQUALITY

Despite the availability of public health care across the country, there
is a serious health gap between the rich and the poor in Canada. The
rich are healthier than the middle class, who are in turn healthier than
the poor. The well educated are healthier than the less educated, the Public health significantly
employed are healthier than the unemployed and so on. reduces the “health gap.”
117

117
 CHAPTER 7: SOCIAL WORK AND HEALTH

Key Concepts Discussion Questions

• Health gap 1. What is the “health gap” in Canada and why should we be concerned
• Universal public health care about it?
• Pre-payment health plans 2. Canada’s health care system is publicly financed but largely privately
• Medicare delivered. Explain.
• Public administration 3. What are the five fundamental principles of Canada’s health care
• Comprehensiveness system?
• Universality 4. What do you think about user fees and extra billing?
• Portability 5. What are some signs that the universal public health care is being
• Accessibility eroded in Canada?
• Extra-billing 6. What are some of the arguments against a private health care system
• User fees based on the model in the United States?
• Two-tier health system 6. How can governments continue to finance universal medical care in an
• Contracting out “era of constraint”? What alternatives are there to cutbacks and
• Privatization privatization in health care?

• Cost containment 7. What are some the key challenges facing medical social workers
today?
• Preventive medicine
• Community health centres
• Medical social work practice Websites
• Holistic approach to health
care • Health Canada on-line
• Mental Illness http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca
• Addiction Health Canada is the federal department responsible for helping the
people of Canada maintain and improve their health.
• Harm-reduction approach
• Canadian Health Network
http://www.canadian-health-network.ca
The Canadian Health Network (CHN) is a national, bilingual
Internet-based health information service. Through CHN, the Canadian
public and health intermediaries alike can find excellent resources
provided by health information providers across Canada.

• Canadian Health Coalition

http://www.healthcoalition.ca
The Canadian Health Coalition is dedicated to preserving and
enhancing Canada’s public health system for the benefit of all
Canadians. Founded in 1979, the coalition includes groups
representing unions, seniors, women, students, consumers and health
care professionals from across Canada.

• World Health Organization (WHO)

http://www.who.int
World Health Organization (WHO) is an agency of the United Nations
and is based in Geneva. WHO was established in 1948 and is “the
directing and coordinating authority on international health work.”
WHO is responsible for helping all peoples to attain "the highest
possible levels of health." In 1987 the organization had 166 member
countries. Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland took office as Director-General of
the World Health Organization on 21 July 1998. Her term of office is
five years.

138
 8
Social Work with Women
A Feminist Approach

As with other approaches to social work, feminist social work

practice seeks to understand a client’s situation by acquiring
knowledge of the client’s history, family and social relations, and
cultural context. However, in analyzing individual problems and
working out effective interventions, the feminist approach gives
greater emphasis to the harmful role of patriarchal relations
within the family and within the wider society.

ne of the defining social characteristics of the second half of

O the twentieth century was the increased labour force

participation of women. Indeed, the participation rate for
Canadian women more than doubled over the thirty-year
period from 1961 (29 percent) to 1991 (60 percent). The social
implications of this economic fact were phenomenal (Gunderson 1998).
Among other things, it gave rise to the dominance of the two-earner
family. It precipitated a marked increase in the demand for child care,
part-time work and flexible work arrangements, and in pressure for
legislation that would foster and ensure equality between men and
women. What feminist author Betty Friedan referred to in the 1950s as
“the problem with no name” very soon received a name and a solution—
women’s inequality and women’s liberation.
This chapter begins by looking briefly at the important role women
have played in the history of Canadian social work. It reviews the cur-
rent economic context and the serious individual and social problems
inherent in a society organized along patriarchal lines. Finally, it outlines
the main principles of the “feminist approach” to social work practice
and the role of social workers in dealing with key problems faced by
women in Canadian society today.

SOCIAL WORK BEGINNINGS

In Canada, the movement for greater participation of women in

public life arose at the end of the nineteenth century. It had a number of
major strands, including the temperance movement, women’s mission-
© Dick Hemingway

ary and charitable activities, and the suffragette movement. The temper-
ance movement focused on the abolition of alcohol (because of its
devastating effects on male breadwinners and therefore on women and
children); missionary and charitable activities were an opportunity for
women to become involved in public life beyond their role as caregivers Social problems are inevitable
in the family; and the suffragette movement sought to establish the in patriarchal societies.
139

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 CHAPTER 8: SOCIAL WORK WITH WOMEN

Key Concepts Discussion Questions

• Maternal feminism 1. What was the general approach of the early women who were
• Equal-pay policies involved in social work?
• Employment equity 2. List and define five persistent problems that women in Canadian
• Facilitating programs society confront.
• Sex 3. What is meant by the feminization of poverty?
• Gender 4. Define and compare the terms gender equity and gender equality.
• Sexism
5. List and define five components of feminist social work practice.
• Patriarchy
6. Describe two ways in which social workers put feminist principles into
• Consciousness-raising groups
practice.
• Feminist theory
7. What is the generational cycle of violence?
• Feminist social work practice
• Transition houses 8. What are two theories that explain violence against women?

• Suffragette movement 9. What is the role of social workers when working with women who have
been abused?
• Power theory
• Learning theory
• Anger-control theory Websites
• Cycle-of-violence theory
• Feminization of poverty • Status of Women of Canada
http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca
• Gerontological social work
Status of Women Canada (SWC) is the federal government agency that
• Home care
promotes gender equality and the full participation of women in the
economic, social, cultural and political life of the country. SWC focuses
its work in three areas: improving women’s economic autonomy and
well-bring, eliminating systemic violence against women and children
and advancing women’s human rights.

• Gender-based Analysis: A Guide for Policy-making

http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/publish/gbagid-e.html
This “hands-on” working document developed by Status of Women
Canada is a must read for social workers interested in analyzing social
policy to assess the differential impact of proposed or existing policies,
programs and legislation on women and men. The guide is divided into
three sections: Section 1 defines key concepts and provides the
rationale for gender-based analysis; Section 2, Policy Development and
Analysis Process, outlines a commonly accepted policy analysis process
and highlights how sensitivity to gender can be integrated into this
process; and Section 3, Gender-Based Analysis Methodology, offers a
step-by-step process for gender-based analysis.

• National Clearinghouse on Family Violence

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hppb/familyviolence
National Clearinghouse on Family Violence is a national resource
centre for those seeking information about violence within the family
and new resources being used to address it.

158
 9
Social Work and Aboriginal
Peoples
The Canadian Legacy

“Government policies have been singularly aimed, for over a

century, at reducing the differences that exist between Aboriginal
life and the mainstream of Canadian society in the hope that
Aboriginal peoples would disappear as distinct societies. The
extent to which Aboriginal peoples have retained their
distinctiveness is a testimonial to their strength and endurance as
peoples”—Justice Murray Sinclair, Aboriginal Justice Inquiry of
Manitoba (Manitoba 1991, 97).

his chapter examines social work with Aboriginal peoples. To

T understand this aspect of contemporary social work and social

welfare, however, it is necessary to begin with the history of rela-
tions between Aboriginal peoples and the European settlers
who made Canada a colony, first of France and then of Britain.
With the founding of Canada, the social relations between the original
inhabitants and the colonizer were expressed in the Indian Act and the
reserve system. These continue to shape contemporary relations
between Aboriginal peoples and mainstream Canadian society. The
chapter begins by briefly describing the Aboriginal peoples of Canada.
It continues with a brief review of the history of colonialism in Canada
and its contemporary legacy. It then goes on to examine the residential
schools and early child welfare systems, which were attempts by the gov-
ernment to wipe out Aboriginal societies altogether. The chapter exam-
ines the issues pertaining to providing welfare and social work services
to Aboriginal peoples, and outlines the basic principles that underlie an
Aboriginal approach to a social work practice. The factors that make a
variety of social work interventions successful are discussed, as well as
the question of who will provide services to Aboriginal peoples.

WHO ARE ABORIGINAL PEOPLES?

Aboriginal peoples are the original inhabitants of this portion of

© Dick Hemingway

landmass known as Canada. It is generally agreed that Aboriginal peo-

ples have lived upon this land for thousands of years. The term Indian is
widely understood to have originated with explorers who thought they
had reached India in their search for a passage to the east. Today the
term is used to define a group of indigenous people registered as such Land claims focus on need for
according to the Indian Act. Menno Boldt states that the term Indian Aboriginal self-government.
159

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 CHAPTER 9: SOCIAL WORK AND ABORIGINAL PEOPLES

Key Terms Discussion Questions

• Aboriginal peoples 1. What bearing does the history of the relationship between Aboriginal
• Colonialism peoples and the people of Canada have on the social welfare of
• The Indian problem Aboriginal peoples?
• Land-cession treaties 2. What was the reasoning behind the residential schools?
• Indian Act 3. What were the six major goals of public policy in relation to Aboriginal
• Indian Agent peoples as identified by Gibbins and Ponting?
• Scrip system 3. What are the four principles of an Aboriginal approach to social work?
• Disk list system 4. Why does one need to be careful in describing a uniform Aboriginal
• Residential school system approach?
• Assimilationist policies 5. What is the relevance of the Medicine Wheel for social work? How can
• The Scoop it inform our approach to social work practice?
• Aboriginal approach to social 6. Is there a way for non-Aboriginal people to work productively with
work Aboriginal peoples and under what circumstances might this take
• Aboriginal worldview place?
• Reclamation of Aboriginal
culture Websites
• Aboriginal empowerment
• Medicine Wheel • Aboriginal Canada Portal
• Holistic approach to healing http://www.aboriginalcanada.gc.ca
• Healing lodges This is a window to Canadian Aboriginal on-line resources, contacts,
• Aboriginal self-government information, and government programs and services. The portal offers
ease of access and navigation to listings of Aboriginal associations,
• Aboriginal political activism
businesses, organizations, bands, communities, groups, news and so
• Royal Commission on forth.
Aboriginal Peoples
• Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
(RCAP)
http://www.indigenous.bc.ca/rcap.htm
The Final Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples brings
together six years of research and public consultation on Indigenous
issues. This website makes the entire report accessible through on-line
search features and download capabilities.

• Assembly of First Nations (AFN)

http://afn.ca
The AFN is the national representative/lobby organization of the First
Nations in Canada. Their website has up-to-date news and information
about First Nations people.

• Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP)

http://www.abo-peoples.org
The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples was founded in 1971 as the Native
Council of Canada (NCC). It was established to represent the interests
nationally of Métis and non-status Indians, a population that
out-numbered all other Native people combined. This is an excellent
website with statistics, history and news.

184
 10
Anti-Racist Social Work
Today
Resisting Resistance to Change

Racism is the subordination of one group by another using

arbitrary physical features such as skin colour. It can occur at
individual, institutional or societal levels in the form of attitudes,
beliefs, policies or procedures. Anti-racist social work is an
approach to practice that aggressively combats racism on all
three levels.

acism is not simply a series of random discriminatory acts

R against “visible minorities”—it is much more than that. There

is a deep-seated ideology underlying racism and this ideology
needs to be understood and combated. Is there racial equality
in Canada? Do visible minorities still face barriers to success in the work-
place and in accessing health and social services? What is the role of the
social worker in combating discrimination based on race or ethnicity?
These are a few of the questions this chapter will address.
In order to practice anti-racist social work, one must understand the
history of racism in Canada, its extent today (for example, the preva-
lence of hate crimes), and be aware of one’s own preconceptions in this
area. This chapter introduces students to basic concepts, themes, strate-
gies and practices associated with anti-racism and the role of social work
and social workers in combating racism within themselves, their organi-
zations and the wider society. The chapter touches on the following
points: the history of racism in Canada in relation to various minority
groups (Aboriginal, Chinese, Japanese and Blacks), Canadian immigra-
tion policy and the impact of the recent shift in immigration away from
Europe to Third World countries, the history and impact of Canada’s
multicultural policy, the nature and scope of provincial and federal
human rights legislation, and the prevalence of hate crimes in Canada
today. The key concepts in this area are defined and, finally, the chapter
outlines the basis of the new “anti-racism” approach and its application
in the field of social work today.
© Dick Hemingway

HISTORY OF “RACE RELATIONS” IN CANADA

Canadians take great pride in the ethnic and racial diversity of their
country. By comparison with many other countries, there is much to feel
good about. However, one need not dig too deeply into Canadian his- Anti-racist rally highlights the
tory to see that ethnic conflict and racism are not at all foreign to the persistence of racism.
185

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 CHAPTER 10: ANTI-RACIST SOCIAL WORK TODAY

Key Terms Questions

• Immigration policy 1. Describe three major events in Canadian history that illustrate racial
• Multiculturalism injustice.
• Human rights legislation 2. How has immigration changed in the past twenty years?
• Charter of Rights and
3. Describe the origins and basic principles of Canada’s multiculturalism
Freedoms
policy.
• Employment Equity Act
4. What is meant by a “hate crime”? What is the extent of hate crime in
• Human rights commissions Canada? What is the best way to combat such crimes?
• Hate crimes
5. Explain what is meant by systemic racism and give some examples of
• Stereotype systemic racism in Canada.
• Prejudice
5. What is anti-racist social work? How has the approach to racism
• Ethnicity/Ethnic group changed in the last decade?
• Culture
• Ethnocentrism Websites
• Race
• Visible minorities • Canadian Race Relations Foundation
• Racism http://www.crr.ca
• Discrimination The Canadian Race Relations Foundation is committed to building a
• Systemic discrimination national framework for the fight against racism in Canadian society.
They have an excellent on-line media centre, publications and an
• Anti-racist social work
E-Race-It website for youth.

• Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work-Anti-Racist

Training and Materials Project
http://www.cassw-acess.ca
This is a site with an extensive list of resources and materials. These
include print journals, organizations, publishers, videos and films,
websites, virtual libraries and teaching tools. There are course outlines
and papers available for downloading as well. This site also includes
numerous bibliographic citations organized by theme. Five themes have
been selected as entry points. There are definitions to help you access
the right category for your needs. Full-text searches are also available.

• The World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination,

Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR)
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/racism
The World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination,
Xenophobia and Related Intolerance was held in South Africa in 2001.
The conference focused on developing practical, action-oriented
measures and strategies to combat contemporary forms of racism and
intolerance.

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 11
Social Work and
Sexual Diversity
Bisexual, Lesbian & Gay Identities
George F. Bielmeier
Same-sex attraction, love and personal relationships have been
given a variety of meanings throughout human history. In the
past, however, heterosexism and an emphasis on patriarchy and
male power ensured that mainly heterosexual relationships
would be publicly sanctioned. This is gradually beginning to
change.

oncepts of sex, gender and relationship are formulated in our

C minds early in the socialization process. A four-year-old can

identify culturally “appropriate” behaviour, without the sophis-
tication of any critical analysis, but with a moral sense of “right”
or “wrong.” Within the socialization context is the assumption that the
child will form intimate relationships with opposite-sex partners, marry
at least one, and reproduce. The universal assumption maintains that
female and male were created for each other with a primary function of
reproduction, ensuring the survival of the family, community and
culture.
Historically, particularly in Western societies, religious organizations
assumed a major role in sanctifying these relationships, condemning all
others and viewing same-sex relationships as a moral wrong and an
abomination to nature and the “divine plan.” This view continues to
inform and shape personal, social and professional understandings of
sex, love, intimacy and relationships. In concert with economic and
political arrangements, heterosexism has become firmly embedded in
social understandings and expectations, marginalizing and oppressing
those who express difference.
This chapter examines the major theoretical approaches to sex,
gender and sexuality. It then briefly reviews some of the historical back-
ground and more recent experience of sexual diversity, and goes on to
examine the implications for social work practice today.
TEP Photo Archives, Toronto.

THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES

Critical to an understanding of sex, gender and sexuality are the

theoretical perspectives that have been developed and underpin social
knowledge and social organization. Since the nineteenth century three
major schools of thought have emerged: biological essentialism, social Part of a World Pride March in
constructionism and, most recently, postmodernism. Italy, 2000.
203

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 CHAPTER 11: SOCIAL WORK AND SEXUAL DIVERSITY

Key Terms Discussion Questions

• Heterosexism 1. What are the three theories that are helpful in understanding
• Biological essentialism sexuality? Briefly explain each theory.
• Social constructionism 2. What are the main characteristics of each decade in the history of the
• Postmodernism gay and lesbian movement since the 1950s?
• Gay and lesbian communities 3. What changes were made to the Criminal Code in 1969? What is Bill
• Criminal Code of Canada C-23 and why is it important to the social welfare of same-sex
• Human rights codes couples?

• Bill C-23 4. What is “internalized homophobia” and why is it important for social
workers (and others) to understand it?
• Internalized homophobia
• Canadian census 5. What is the social work profession’s perspective on sexual diversity, and
how has it changed in the last two decades?
• Homophobia
• Coming out 6. What is “coming out,” and what are some of the factors of which social
workers should be aware?
• Suicide risk
7. How serious is the problem of suicide among gay, lesbian and bisexual
persons and what are its underlying causes?

Websites

• Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere (EGALE)

http://www.egale.ca
This national organization is committed to advancing, at the federal
level, equality and justice for lesbians, gays and bisexuals. The website
has a vast collection of news, articles and resources. Included is a
summary of lesbian and gay rights in each jurisdiction in Canada.

• Gay Canada Website

http://www.gaycanada.com
This is a large website covering most issues. GayCanada, which was
started in 1994, focused directly on serving as a resource centre on the
Internet. The section on support groups and counselling is most relevant
to the work of social workers.

• Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays

http://www.pflag.ca
Information and resources for gay men, lesbians and bisexuals and
their families and friends. Most chapters have scheduled meetings that
provide support and information.

• International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission

http://www.iglhrc.org
IGLHRC’s mission is to protect and advance the human rights of all
people and communities subject to discrimination or abuse on the basis
of sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status. Their website
contains excellent resources, news and urgent action items.

216
 12
Social Work with Persons
with Disabilities
The World of One in Six
Roy Hanes
Person with disabilities is a contemporary term, used,
appropriately, to indicate that a disability is only one of many
characteristics of the individual. Over the years, such terms as
impotent, defective, crippled, lame, and handicapped have been
used to denote persons with disabilities. The new term reflects a
healthy change in social attitudes towards more inclusiveness
and less stereotyping of people who have disabilities.

tatistics Canada estimates that there are approximately 4.2 mil-

S lion Canadians who are disabled–that is, about 16 percent of

the population. Worldwide, there are approximately 600
million disabled people. Disabling conditions can include sen-
sory disabilities, such as blindness or deafness, mental impairments, psy-
chiatric disabilities, developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities
resulting from trauma and head injury, and learning disabilities. Many
disabled persons have more than one impairment.
A number of methods for providing care and services to disabled
people have been utilized over the years. These include programs based
on the principles of out-of-door relief, indoor relief and scientific charity,
the common methods for the provision of relief during the nineteenth
and early twentieth centuries. Throughout most of the last century, there
was a transition from these charity-aid models to a greater reliance on
programs provided by municipal, provincial and federal levels of gov-
ernment. During the latter part of the twentieth century, people with dis-
abilities became involved in civil rights activities. This led, among other
things, to the creation of the Independent Living Movement, which
advocates for the control of services by disabled people themselves.
This chapter provides background information and guidelines for
prospective social workers who may find themselves working with per-
sons with disabilities. After providing some basic statistical information,
TEP Photo Archives, Toronto.

the chapter surveys the history of social services in this area. It goes on to
examine the various theories of disability and the different approaches
to serving the needs of those with disabilities, and highlights the impor-
tance of the disability rights movement. The second half of the chapter
traces the history and philosophy of the Independent Living Movement.
Finally, the chapter examines the important role social workers play in About one in six Canadians has
helping persons with disabilities. a disabling condition.
217

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 CHAPTER 12: SOCIAL WORK WITH PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES

Key Terms Discussion Questions

• People with disabilities 1. Give some of the basic statistics that capture the extent of disability
• Disability within the Canadian population.
• Institutionalization 2. Give a brief description of indoor relief, out-of-door relief, scientific
• Eugenics movement charity, and modern social welfare, showing how each of these delivery
models has been applied historically to persons with disabilities.
• Disability rights organizations
• Ableism 3. There are two dominant theoretical approaches to disability. Identify
and compare these approaches.
• Medical model
• Political rights model 4. Briefly trace the origins of the Independent Living Movement and
describe its main objectives.
• Personal tragedy theory
• Social oppression theory 5. List some of the major associations involved in serving the needs of
persons with disabilities and describe some of the services they
• Publicly funded disability provide.
programs
• Privately funded disability
programs Websites
• Independent Living Movement
• Disability organizations • Disability WebLinks
http://www.disabilityweblinks.ca
This site has been specifically developed for persons with disabilities
and the site design, layout and technical features reflect the
requirements identified by members of the community and
internationally accepted guidelines for accessibility. Human Resources
Development Canada is managing the site under the direction of the
Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers responsible for Social Services.
For the first time, persons with disabilities across Canada have a
dedicated Internet site. Disability WebLinks provides quick access to
information on government-related disability programs and services. It
is a single-window access to over 1500 federal, provincial and
territorial government programs and related services for persons with
disabilities. Disability WebLinks provides information on a variety of
topics; e.g., accessibility, education, employment, financial supports,
health, housing and residential supports, personal supports, rights, tax
programs and transportation.

• Canadian Association of Independent Living Centres (CAILC)|

http://www.cailc.ca
The Canadian Association of Independent Living Centres (CAILC) is a
national umbrella organization that consists of local autonomous
Independent Living Resource Centres (ILRCs). Their website contains a
wealth of information about the topic, including a virtual library.

234
 13
International Social
Work Practice
Helping People Help Themselves

Practising social work abroad has always been an important part

of what Canadian social workers do. In pursuing the ideals of
human rights and sustainable development and in defending
oppressed groups, social workers practise in a wide range of
governmental, religious and community organizations
worldwide. Today, of course, this occurs in the context of the
rapid “globalization” of social and economic life.

nternational social work is a vast field of activity, and the term itself

I has a variety of meanings. It can refer to comparative social wel-

fare or the examination and comparison of the social welfare sys-
tems in different countries. It can also denote work in international
organizations, such as governmental or voluntary organizations, assist-
ing in the carrying out of social planning, social development and wel-
fare programs sponsored by such organizations. Finally, of course,
international social work can simply refer to day-to-day social work in a
country other than one’s own.
The history of international social work is certainly a distinguished
one. Since the early days of Jane Addams, the profession’s first Nobel
Prize winner, social workers have worked within various national and
international forums struggling for human rights, peace, development
and social justice. Social workers have been and remain involved with
the resettling of refugees and other persons displaced by war, operating
emergency relief services for victims of natural and human-made disas-
ters, advocating on behalf of disadvantaged and vulnerable populations,
organizing groups of oppressed people into effective political entities,
and otherwise extending various programs of assistance to populations
in need. They play an indispensable and often unacknowledged role,
often working in very difficult conditions.
This chapter focuses on the work of social workers in “Southern,”
“developing” or “Third World” countries. It examines the core problems
Courtesy of Steven Hick.

of social and economic development in the modern context of economic

globalization. Since those involved in social work at the international
level tend to be heavily involved in community development and
human rights work, much of the chapter explores these areas. It is impor-
tant to remember that the work that social workers do abroad is at times
very dangerous, and this is further testimony of the dedication of those Children in a refugee camp in
individuals drawn into the profession today. Kukes, Albania.
235

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 CHAPTER 13: INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE

Concepts Discussion Questions

• North-South divide 1. What are a few of the indicators of global economic and social
• Third World inequality?
• Human rights 2. Define the two key concepts that underlie international social work.
• Sustainable development
3. Define and distinguish the three levels of human rights. Why is it
• Social welfare model important for social workers to affirm and work towards all three
• Social development model levels?
• New world order model 4. What are the three approaches to international social work practice?
• Cultural competence 5. Describe the various agencies that employ social workers abroad.
• Inter-governmental
6. How is the Internet changing the way that social workers network and
organizations (IGOs)
advocate for human rights?
• Non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) 7. What is it about the AH-HAH! method of working in communities that
has made it so successful in international social work?
• Overseas humanitarian
programs
• International community Websites
work
• Electronic advocacy • New Internationalist
• Digital divide http://www.newint.org
• Participatory action research This monthly print magazine, which first sparked my interest in global
issues, is available on-line. It provides a clearly written and concise
• AH-HAH! method
overview of the important global issues of concern to social workers. An
excellent resource to kick-start an essay on international issues.

• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

http://www.undp.org
At the UN Millennium Summit, world leaders pledged to cut poverty in
half by 2015. UNDP is charged with helping to make this happen. Their
website contains comprehensive related links, publications and various
UNDP speeches and reports. Their publications section has numerous
complete books on-line including their annual Overcoming Human
Poverty Report at http://www.undp.org/povertyreport

• Heritage Canada, Human Rights Program

http://www.pch.gc.ca/ddp-hrd
This comprehensive website has all the basic information about human
rights in Canada and internationally. It contains most of the official UN
human rights covenants and an excellent overview of how the
international human rights system works.

248
 APPENDIX A

Code of Ethics
Canadian Association of Social Workers
January 1, 1994

[This Social Work Code of Ethics, adopted by the Board of Directors of the Canadian
Association of Social Workers (CASW) is effective on January 1, 1994 and replaces the
CASW Code of Ethics (1983). The Code is reprinted here with the permission of CASW.
The copyright in the document has been registered with Consumer and Corporate Affairs
Canada, registration No. 427837.]

DEFINITIONS
In this Code,

Best Interest of Client

means
(a) that the wishes, desires, motivations, and plans of the client are taken by the
social worker as the primary consideration in any intervention plan developed
by the social worker subject to change only when the client's plans are docu-
mented to be unrealistic, unreasonable or potentially harmful to self or others or
otherwise determined inappropriate when considered in relation to a mandated
requirement,
(b) that all actions and interventions of the social worker are taken subject to the
reasonable belief that the client will benefit from the action, and
(c) that the social worker will consider the client as an individual, a member of a
family unit, a member of a community, a person with a distinct ancestry or cul-
ture and will consider those factors in any decision affecting the client.

Client1
means
(a) a person, family, group of persons, incorporated body, association or com-
munity on whose behalf a social worker provides or agrees to provide a service
(i) on request or with agreement2 of the person, family, group of persons,
incorporated body, associations or community, or
(ii) as a result of a legislated responsibility, or
(b) a judge of a court of competent jurisdiction who orders the social worker to
provide to the Court an assessment.3

Conduct Unbecoming
means behaviour or conduct that does not meet standards of care requirements
4
and is therefore subject to discipline.
249

249
 APPENDIX B

Ethics of Social Work

Principles and Standards

Adopted by the IFSW General Meeting, Colombo,

Sri Lanka, July 6-8, 1994

1. Background

Ethical awareness is a necessary part of the professional practice of any social

worker. His or her ability to act ethically is an essential aspect of the quality of
the service offered to clients.
The purpose of IFSW's work on ethics is to promote ethical debate and reflec-
tion in the member associations and among the providers of social work in
member countries.
The basis for the further development of IFSW’s work on ethics is to be found in
"Ethics of Social Work - Principles and Standards" which consists of two docu-
ments, International Declaration of Ethical Principles of Social Work, and Inter-
national Ethical Standards for Social Workers. These documents present the
basic ethical principles of the social work profession, recommend procedure
when the work presents ethical dilemmas, and deal with the profession's and the
individual social worker's relation to clients, colleagues, and others in the field.
The documents are components in a continuing process of use, review and
revision.

2. International Declaration of Ethical Principles of Social

Work

2.1 Introduction
The IFSW recognises the need for a declaration of ethical principles for guid-
ance in dealing with ethical problems in social work.
The purposes of the International Declaration of Ethical Principles are:
1. to formulate a set of basic principles for social work, which can be adapted
to cultural and social settings.
2. to identify ethical problem areas in the practice of social work (below
referred to as 'problem areas'), and
3. to provide guidance as to the choice of methods for dealing with ethical
issues/problems (below referred to as 'methods for addressing ethical
issues/problems').

Compliance
The International Declaration of Ethical Principles assumes that both member
associations of the IFSW and their constituent members adhere to the principles
261

261
 Key Terms

Ableism — This term refers to the belief in the superi- Absolute poverty — A definition of poverty that
ority of able-bodied people over disabled people. looks at the minimum income required for physical
survival.
Aboriginal approach to social work — The devel-
opment of an Aboriginal approach to social work Accessibility — One of five principles of Medicare in
practice should be consistent with four key principles. Canada. This means that there must be a wide range
These principles are: (1) the recognition of a distinct of services, accessible services and a reduction or
Aboriginal worldview; (2) the development of elimination of user fees. Each province is required to
Aboriginal consciousness regarding the impact of provide health care with reasonable access, both
colonialism; (3) an emphasis on the importance of financially and geographically. This applies to ward
cultural knowledge and traditions; and (4) utilizing care in a hospital, free choice of a physician, reason-
the concept of Aboriginal empowerment. able compensation to physicians and adequate pay-
ments to hospitals.
Aboriginal empowerment — In the context of
social work, Aboriginal empowerment emphasizes Addiction — Addiction can be defined as a compul-
the participation of community members in promot- sive need for, or persistent use of, a substance known
ing self-determination and social change. to be harmful.
Aboriginal peoples — Individuals who have Native AH-HAH! Method — An approach to popular edu-
origins. It is a term commonly used to refer to Indi- cation that aims to help people see how local prob-
ans, Inuit and Métis in Canada. Aboriginal peoples lems are influenced by larger societal-level structures.
have their own names for themselves in their respec- It refers to the experience people have when they
tive languages: Anishnaabe, Inuit, Innu, understand clearly something they knew only in a
Nuu-chah-nulth, and Métis. partial or confused way.
Aboriginal political activism — A surge of Aborigi- Ambiguity of social work — This refers to the
nal political activism, beginning in the 1970s, has led dilemmas faced by social workers in the social work
to the development of several national organizations relationship. While social workers are helpers, they
representing and uniting distinct constituent groups. are also expected to enforce rules and regulations in
Among these are: (1) the Assembly of First Nations, the helping relationship with the client.
which represents status Indians who reside on Indian
reserves across Canada; (2) the Inuit Tapirisat of Anger-control theory — This theory focuses on the
Canada, representing Canada’s Inuit population; idea that men must be held accountable for their vio-
(3) the Métis National Council; (4) the Congress of lent behaviour and learn to deal with and control
Aboriginal Peoples, representing off-reserve Aborigi- their tempers, showing their feelings in more appro-
nal peoples; and (5) the Native Women’s Association priate ways.
of Canada.
Anti-racist social work — Racism is the subordina-
Aboriginal self-government — Quite simply, the tion of one group by another using arbitrary physical
concept expresses the desire of Aboriginal peoples to features such as skin colour. It can occur at the indi-
control their destiny. It precludes accountability to vidual, institutional or societal levels in the form of
the provincial and federal governments in favour of attitudes, beliefs, policies or procedures. Anti-racist
accountability and responsibility to the Aboriginal social work is an approach to practice that aggres-
peoples by their own Aboriginal leaders. sively combats racism on all three levels.
Self-government is concerned with sovereignty in
relation to the Canadian state — within it or outside it, Approaches to social work practice — The genera-
depending on one’s view. list approach and structural approach are common
approaches to social work practice in Canada. A
Aboriginal worldview — While Aboriginal peoples body of knowledge or theoretical base informs each
do not have one single philosophy or worldview, one approach to practice. Think of knowledge as a collec-
can draw upon the fundamental differences between tion of beliefs and ideas. These take the form of con-
Western Euro-Canadian and Aboriginal worldviews. cepts and propositions about reality. A theory then
For example, the concept of the circle captured in the combines these concepts and propositions into a
Medicine Wheel illustrates the notion of balance coherent picture of reality. Finally, a model or
prevalent in Aboriginal societies, in contrast to the approach takes the theory and moulds it into a visual
typically linear models of cause and effect common in or metaphoric representation of the theory or
some Western societies. theories.

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 Index

Aboriginal approach to social work, 170 casework, 45

Aboriginal peoples, 159 Charity Organization Society (COS), 41
assimilationist policies of Canadian government, 165 disabilities and, 220
child welfare policy and, 165 Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 192
empowerment, 173 child abuse, incidence of, 103
government objectives towards, 167 Child Poverty in Rich Nations (UNICEF Report), 113
health care, 169 child poverty rates, 99
health care of, 136 child protection
health status of, 118, 136 best interests approach, 100
history of, 162 least restrictive, 100
income security programs, 170 steps in providing, 106
political activism, 179 child welfare
poverty and, 161, 164 history of, 95
reclaiming Aboriginal culture, 172 legislation, 95
residential school system, 165 organization of, 92
self-government, 179 provincial legislation, 92
social work and, 175 children in care, 102
the Scoop, 165
urban services for, 177 Chinese Canadians, racism towards, 187
who will provide services?, 178 client, use of the term, 74
Aboriginal worldview, 171 Code of Ethics (CASW), 13, 58-59
absolute poverty, 30 confidentiality issue, 77
action-reflection-action (praxis), 73 colonialism, 161
addiction, social work and, 134-135 impact of, 171
harm-reduction approach, 135 coming out, 213
Africville, 188 Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada
AH-HAH! method, 246 (Romanow Commission), 125
ambiguity of social work, 58 community health centres, 131
anti-racism community organizing, rules of, 82
analysis tool, 199 community work, 71
anti-racist social work, 196-197 four types, 82
approaches to social welfare, 11 intervention steps, 85
approaches to social work practice, 14 virtual communities, 84
See generalist and structuralist approaches confidentiality, 77
assessment and planning, 74 consciousness-raising groups, 144
assimilationist policies towards Aboriginal peoples, 165 Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), 48
average income deficiency, 30 corporate power, global, 36
B Criminal Code of Canada, 207
Bill C-23 (same-sex couples), 213 cultural competence, 197, 241
Bill C-41 (hate crimes), 215 culture, 195
biological essentialism, sexual diversity and, 204 D

Blacks in Canada, racism towards, 187 deserving poor, 41

burnout, child welfare worker, 114 diagnostic approach, 51
C
digital divide, 245
Canada Assistance Plan (CAP), 33, 52 dilemma of protection, 100
Canada Child Tax Benefit/National Child Benefit, 22 direct social work, definition, 13
Canada Health Act, 123-124, 127-128, 137, 156 disabilities
Canada Health and Social Transfer (CHST), 33, 225 advocacy groups, 231
Canada/Quebec Pension Plan, 23, 227 Canada Pension Plan, 227
Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work gaining access to services, 225
(CASSW), 52, 56 history of services, 219
Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW), 55 income security programs, 224
Canadian Bill of Rights, 192 organizations, 232
Canadian Council on Child Welfare, 46 poverty and, 228
Canadian Council on Social Development, 14, 46 programs, 23
Canadian Human Rights Act, 193 rights organizations, 221
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), social and medical categories of, 221
85 social work practice and, 230
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), 51, 64 statistics on, 218-219
Canadian Welfare Council, 46, 51 theories of, 222

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