AlbertaCollege of Social Workers (ACSW)

Calgary Social Workers for Social Justice

Terms of Reference 2011,revised 2015

Purpose: The purposeof the ACSW Calgary Social Workers for Social JusticeAction Groupis to be an effective agent for positive social change and social justice.

Definition:

It is a foundational value of the social work profession to promote policies and practices which contribute to material well-being and social inclusion of all people. In a broad sense social justice includes working toward social, political and economic change essential for the creation of a sustainable world in which each person has the right and the responsibility to participate fully in their communities.

The mandate to be active in social justice issues, and hence the creation of the ACSW Calgary Social Workers for Social JusticeAction Group is defined in the ACSW bylaws 2.1 and 2.1.5 and the CASW (2005) Code of Ethics, value 2: the “Pursuit of Social Justice”.

2.1 “The Alberta College of Social Workers has the following objectives:

2.1.5 To promote social justice through influencing social policy development and implementation as outlined in the Code of Ethics and referred to in the definition of social work and professional social work practice”.

The SWSJAction Group is a non-regulatory (membership)professional interest group as defined by ACSW bylaws 2014 14.1 and 14.2

14.1Professional interest groups wishing to work under the auspices of the College must be approved by Council.

14.2The objectives of approved professional interest groups must meet one or more of the objectives of the College as defined in these bylaws (see below).

14.3Any statements, papers, or other articles prepared by approved professional interest groups for public use must be approved by Council prior to distribution.

Objectives of the ACSW Calgary Social Workers for Social JusticeAction Group:

Internal

  • To increase social workers’ awareness of the ethical imperative of including social justice as an element of all areas of practice
  • To develop and support a social action network of ACSW members interested in being engaged in social action activities
  • To share information to assist in individual and local justice initiatives.
  • To be a vehicle for membership interest committees to implement social action strategies to address issues in their area of interest, such as, children services, services for seniors, and social workers in health care
  • To provide recommendations to the College for social action initiatives.
  • To support education on social justice initiatives
  • To assist in the formation and functioning of SWSJ working groups

External

  • To respond in an effective manner” to ongoing and emergent social issues
  • To make the role of social work in social justice visible in Alberta
  • To effectively use coalitions to advance the values and interest of the profession in social policy
  • To ensure social work representation in multi-sector initiatives

Membership

  • 90% of group membership will be ACSW members.
  • The membership of the action groupconsists of a least one chairperson, selected by the group’s membership and appointed by Council, and additional ACSW members.
  • A staff liaison will be designated as a member of the action group and will act as a liaison between the group,othermembership interest groups, general membership, coalitions of which ACSW is a member, and Council.

Procedures:

  1. Scope: ACSW members
  2. Officers: Chairperson or Co-chairs, selected by the group and ratified by Council
  3. Terms of Office: Chairperson or Co-chairs will be ratified by Council for a term of two years
  4. Accountable to: ACSW Council; group is advisory to Council through the staff liaison
  5. Frequency of Meetings: Once a month or at the call of the Chairperson/ Co-chairs
  6. Quorum:5group members
  7. Record-Keeping: Minutes will be taken at each meeting. An electronic record will be saved at the offices of ACSW.
  8. Circulation of Minutes: Minutes will be circulated to staff liaison,Council and members
  9. Written Reports: An annual report will be written for the Annual General Meeting (included in the Annual Report document in the spring issue of The Advocate), and in special situations, additional reports may beprovided to Council.

Date Created: September 27, 2011, revised Oct 6, 2011, revised June 23 2015

Planned Date for Review: Annually

Date Adopted by Council:June 23 2015 revision approved by ACSW council Jan 2016

prepared for review: LMCF, June 2015