SPEAKING UP FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND WORKERS BY JACKIE BARKLEY, MSW, RSW, CHILD WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR
Being involved with the Child Welfare Advisory Committee of the college has been a highlight of my year.
The Child Welfare Advisory Committee had a very busy year once we came together in 2019, meeting frequently to maintain the momentum begun in 2018.
We’re often unable to directly address the very difficult problems faced by our clients. And of course, conflicted issues, roles and confidentiality make it even harder to speak out in child welfare matters. So the support received from our College in setting up this committee to address issues a number of us had raised in late 2018 was a terrific support and collaboration. The committee has brought together frontline child protection workers, other DCS staff, private therapists, Association of Black Social Workers representation, and union activists, among others. The College staff were invaluable in their initiatives to make a way for people to stay involved.
18 Connection | Spring 2020
Under the leadership of Alec Stratford, and Lynn Brogan during Alec’s paternity leave, we continued our advocacy regarding serious child welfare issues in our province that affect client families, children and child welfare social workers.
