Introduction to Social Work in Canada Histories, Contexts, and Practices

Nicole Ives, Associate Professor, School of Social Work, McGill University,Myriam Denov, Professor, School of Social Work, McGill University,Tamara Sussman, Associate Professor, School of Social Work, McGill University

Nicole Ives is an Associate Professor and Director of the Bachelor of Social Work program at McGill Universitys School of Social Work. She is a qualitative researcher with a focus on refugee and immigrant issues and issues of acculturation, exploring the lived experience of policies. Her research has included examining outcomes for refugees that have been sponsored by religious congregations, the effects of US immigration policy on Liberian refugee families, and Bosnian refugee resettlement in the United States and Denmark. Ives teaches Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice and Qualitative Research Methods, participates on the BSW Program Task Force, and is a member of the First Nations and Inuit Social Work Program Steering Group. She has taught at McGill, the University of Pennsylvania, and Rutgers.

Myriam Denov is James McGill Professor, a Trudeau Fellow, and Canada Research Chair in Youth, Gender, and Armed Conflict (Tier 1) at the School of Social Work at McGill University. Her research and teaching interests lie in the areas of child and youth in adversity, and international child protection, with an emphasis on war and political violence, children in armed conflict, and gender-based violence. Denov has authored five books, including for Cambridge University Press and for Palgrave Macmillan. She holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge, where she was a Commonwealth Scholar.

Tamara Sussman is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work, McGill University. Her research focuses on how health services and systems impact older adults and their family members. Her research projects include spousal carers experiences with home care; older adults and family members experiences with the transition into long-term care; barriers and facilitators to the delivery of effective interventions for depressed older adults and their care partners; and most recently the experiences of more marginalized populations of older adults such as older homeless adults and older adults identifying as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT). In 2011, Dr. Sussman was awarded the H. Noel Fieldhouse Award for Distinguished Teaching in recognition of her teaching excellence.

Part I: Historical, Theoretical, and Philosophical Frameworks
Chapter 1: Historical Foundations of Addressing Need: Indigenous, French, and English Tradition
Learning Objectives
Chapter Outline
Indigenous Helping and Healing Traditions
French Historical Foundations of Social Work
English Historical Foundations of Social Work
Women and Poverty
Major Social Legislation from the Depression Onwards
The Development of Social Work as a Profession
From All Our Histories to Today: A Vision of Contemporary Canadian Social Work
Conclusion
Questions for Critical Thought
Chapter 2: Social Work Theories
Learning Objectives
Chapter Outline
Theory and Social Work: An Awkward and Unwanted Partnership?
What Is Theory?
Can One Theory Do It All?
Ways of Seeing and Ways of Knowing: Power and Politics in Social Work Theory
Theoretical Perspectives
Conclusion
Questions for Critical Thought
Chapter 3: Ethics in Social Work
Learning Objectives
Chapter Outline
Why Are Ethics Important in Social Work?
A Brief History of Ethics in Social Work
The Canadian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics
Addressing Ethical Dilemmas: The Process of Reflexive Decision-Making
Ethical Social Work Practice and Self-Care
Conclusion
Questions for Critical Thought
Part II: Foundational Skills for Social Workers
Chapter 4: Social Work with Individuals and Families
Learning Objectives
Chapter Outline
Historical Contexts of Social Work with Individuals and Families
Practice with Individuals and Families
Communication Skills
Attending
Questioning
Reflecting
Summarizing
The Social Work Relationship
Care and Concern
Genuineness
Empathy
Collaboration
Self-Disclosure: A Contested Issue in Supporting the Development of Common Factors
Hope: A Neglected Common Factor
Official Language Legislation and Social Services in Canada
Phases of the Helping Process
Phase I: Exploration and Assessment
Phase II: Contracting/Planning
Phase III: Implementation/Intervention
Phase IV: Ending/Evaluation
The Helping Process with Families
The Genogram
Conclusion
Questions for Critical Thought
Chapter 5: Social Work with Groups and Communities
Learning Objectives
Chapter Outline
Historical Contexts of Social Work with Groups and Communities
Different Forms of Social Work Groups
Treatment Groups
Task Groups
Stages of Group Development
Group Leadership and Facilitation
Community Social Work Practice
Community Practice Frameworks
Conclusion
Questions for Critical Thought
Part III: Fields of Social Work Practice
Chapter 6: Social Work and Health
Learning Objectives
Chapter Outline
Early Health-Care Provision
Contemporary Approaches to Health-Care Provision
Report by the Commission of Inquiry into Health and Welfare (1970)
Canada Health Act (1984)
Romanow Report (2002)
The Privatization of Health Services in Canada
Social Work Practice in Health Care
Hospital-Based Social Work
Social Work and End-of-Life Care
Social Work and Mental Health Care
Social Determinants of Health in Canada
Income
Early Childhood and Adolescence
Unemployment and Working Conditions
Food Insecurity
Housing
Indigenous Status
Racialized Identity
Disability
Gender
Access to Health Services
Substance Use and Abuse
Education
Conclusion
Questions for Critical Thought
Chapter 7: Social Work Practice with Children
Learning Objectives
Chapter Outline
Canadas Children: Issues, Facts, and Figures
Child Poverty
Family Violence
Child Maltreatment
Changing Conceptions of Children in Canada: A History of Child Welfare
Stage One: Children as Objects: The Absence of Legal Rights and Protections
Stage Two: Children as Vulnerable Individuals in Need of Protection
Stage Three: Children as Subjects
The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal on First Nations Child Welfare
Contemporary Child Welfare Practice
Youth Justice in Canada
Children as Objects: The Absence of Legal Protections
The Vulnerable Child and Parens Patriae: The Introduction of the Juvenile Delinquents Act
Children as Subjects? The Clash Between Rights and Accountability
Youth Crime in Canada
Recent Reforms: Bill C-25 and Bill C-10
The Role of Social Workers in Youth Justice
Preventative Social Work with Children
Key Challenges in Child Welfare and Youth Justice: Implications for Social Workers
Conclusion
Question for Critical Thought
Chapter 8: Indigenous Peoples and Social Work (by Cindy Baskin and Alyssa McLeod)
Learning Objectives
Chapter Outline
Who Are Indigenous Peoples?
Since the Beginning of Time: Indigenous Ways of Helping
Colonization: The Time of the Great Struggle
Kill the Indian in the Child
The Sixties Scoop
Contemporary Challenges in Indigenous Communities
Contemporary Challenges in Urban Settings
Disappeared and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
Walking with Our Sisters
Steps towards Healing
The Medicine Wheel as a Healing Tool
Indigenous Worldviews in Social Work
Uniqueness of the Metis
Social Work Theories as Seen Through an Indigenous Lens
Challenges Facing Indigenous Social Workers
Indigenous Focused Social Work Programs
Being an Ally
Idle No More
The Eighth Fire
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
Conclusion
Questions for Critical Thought
Chapter 9: Social Work with Immigrants and Refugees
Learning Objectives
Chapter Outline
Overview of the Contemporary Canadian Migration Landscape
Who Are Todays Migrants?
The War in Syria
Migration Policy Overview
International-Level Policies
National-Level Policies
Theoretical Approaches to Working with Migrant Populations
Ecological Systems Theory
Strengths and Empowerment Approaches
Integrating Culture into Practice Approaches
Stages of Migration Framework
Settlement Issues Facing Migrants in Canada
Goals and Expectations
Employment and Education
Language
Health
Housing
Social Support
Settlement Services
Vulnerable Groups
Gender and Migration
Trafficking
Unaccompanied Minors
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Immigrants and Refugees
Refugee and Immigrant Older Adults
Migrants with Disabilities
Survivors of Torture
Conclusion
Questions for Critical Thought
Chapter 10: Social Work and Sexual and Gender Diversity (by Edward Ou Jin Lee and Shari Brotman)
Learning Objectives
Chapter Outline
Taking Up Sexual and Gender Identity Terms
Overview of the TSLGBTQ Human Rights Global and Canadian Landscape
Global Context
Canadian Context
Violence, Discrimination, and Stigma
Internalized Homophobia and Transphobia
Intersectionality as a Theoretical Framework
Intersectionality, Identity, and Social Location
Disclosure of Sexual and Gender Identity: Coming Out
Families and Communities
Families
Communities
Social Work Practice with TSLGBTQ People across Health-Care and Social Service Settings
Historical Dimensions
Social Dimensions
Access to Health Care for Specific TSLGBTQ Groups
Access to Social Services for TSLGBTQ People
Barriers to Access for TSLGBTQ Individuals across Health-Care and Social Service Settings
The Continuum of Attitudes towards Sexual and Gender Difference in Health/Social Services
Guidelines for Social Workers to Foster Safe and Affirming Space for TSLGBTQ People
Social Location and Institutional Power
Collective Empowerment
Conclusion
Questions for Critical Thought
Chapter 11: Disability and Social Work Practice (by Carl Ernst and Radha MacCulloch)
Learning Objectives
Chapter Outline
Defining Disability
What Is Disability? How Is Disability Defined in Canada?
Theorizing Disability
The Medical Model of Disability
The Social Model of Disability
The World Health Organizations International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF)
Categorizing Disability
The Categorical or Diagnostic Approach
The Non-categorical or Functional Approach
Prevalence of Disability in Canada
History of Disability Policy in Canada
Early Beliefs about Individuals with Disabilities
Asylum, Confinement, and Institutionalization
De-institutionalization
Progress and Development of Disability Rights in Canada
Social Work Practice with Individuals with a Disability
Health and Social Services for Individuals with Disabilities: Navigating the Systems of Care
Settings for Social Workers in a Disability Context
Promoting Inclusion: Roles for Social Workers in a Disability Context
Social Work Practice Guidelines
Conclusion
Questions for Critical Thought
Chapter 12: Social Work with Aging Populations
Learning Objectives
Chapter Outline
Overview of Canadas Aging Population
Ethnic and Racial Diversity among Older Adults in Canada
Aging of Minority French-Speaking Canadians
Rural Aging
Mental Health and Aging
Theorizing Aging
Micro Theories of Aging
Macro Theories of Aging
Policies that Have an Impact on Older Adults
Retirement Policies and Programs
Long-Term Care Policies and Programs
Elder Abuse: A Global Issue
Elder Abuse in Canada
Theorizing Elder Abuse
Social Location and Elder Abuse
Conclusion
Questions for Critical Thought
Chapter 13: International Social Work
Learning Objectives
Chapter Outline
Why International Social Work?
Social Work beyond Borders: Historical Patterns of Expansion and the Canadian Connection
Defining International Social Work: An Ongoing Challenge
International Social Welfare Organizations and Their Functions
The United Nations and Its Agencies
Government Agencies
International Non-governmental Organizations
Faith-Based Organizations
Values and Ethics in International Social Work
International Social Work Practice: Implications of the Export Model
Social Work and International Issues: The Global Reality of Child Soldiers
Girls and War
The UN System
Non-government Organizations
Canadian Government Agencies
Canadian NGOs and Agencies

Conclusion
Questions for Critical Thought

Glossary

References

Index