CONTRIBUTIONS & CONNECTION Harold’s history with the NSCSW BY COLLETTE DESCHENES, NSCSW PROMOTIONS COORDINATOR
PART OF HIS PROFESSION From an Association to a College, the NSCSW has undoubtedly evolved significantly over the years. One social worker has seen and supported it all. Harold Beals wanted to connect with his profession from the beginning. After graduating in 1968 with a Master of Social Work from the then Maritime School of Social Work, he immediately sought out a way to contribute to the province’s social work community. The Association was the answer. Harold became a Registered Social Worker (RSW) through the Association right away just five years after the organization was established in 1963. “There was nothing else that brought social workers together at the time my involvement with the Association - it made me feel connected to the social work community.”
18 Connection | October 2017
He began his longstanding contributions as a volunteer. His urge for involvement lead him to serve many roles as the chair of various committees and eventually as president of the Association’s Council from 1979-1981. Throughout his early volunteer years with the organization, Harold worked full-time for the Department of Community Services as a social work supervisor for Child Protection Services. He recalls some of the challenges he and his colleagues faced after their work in the field. “We [social workers] remember things from our cases. Some situations can linger with you.”
