FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Recognize Social Work:  Social Work Students and Community Members Mobilize to Improve Social Work Recognition

 

SUDBURY, ON, Monday October 17, 2016 – The Students Association of the School of Social Work is working with community members to organize a series of events. These events scheduled to begin in November will educate the public about the social work profession and gather support for the field. The community is encouraged to use #recognizeSW.

 

This year Laurentian University’s School of Social Work is going through the Canadian Association of Social Work Educators (CASWE) accreditation process to renew the School’s accreditation for the Bachelor of Social Work Degrees in English (Sudbury and Barrie campuses) and French (Sudbury campus and distance education).

 

Laurentian University is the only bilingual accredited social work program in Canada and is one of the only accredited universities to offer an undergraduate French social work degree through distance education. The campus visit with the CASWE accreditation team revealed a need for greater faculty resources for all streams of the program. Students are confident that Laurentian University will continue to work to maintain the accreditation and reputation of its program as they have already committed to fulfilling the conditions that CASWE has yet to finalize for the Anglophone and Francophone streams.

 

Many members of the public do not know the extent of the work that social workers partake in within our community. Students’ participation in 700 placement hours during their education provides the local community and its agencies with significant support and resources. Even after decades of social works practice some social workers in the field continue to feel there is a lack of understanding and respect by other professionals despite the growing need for interdisciplinary collaboration. Nevertheless, social work is a protected health profession; and as such it is regulated by the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. Social work students are proud of their profession and want to share their love of the field with the community.

 

Beginning October 17th the community can purchase apparel with a ‘recognize social work’ logo. Contact Stephanie by email at luswulss@gmail.com to order clothing. Community members can reach out to student leaders @lulssw on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for event information and opportunities to get involved. Social work students, along with community members look forward to recognizing social work on our campus and within our community.