Canadian Association of Social Workers

The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) is the national association for the social work profession in Canada.

Video Canadian Association of Social Workers

Introduction

CASW was founded in 1926 to establish standards of practice for social workers. It has individual members, and 10 provincial and territorial partner organizations. Its mission objective is to promote positive social services, protect the professionals of social work from mistreatment in Canada, satiate social needs of Canadians by influencing policies and advancing social justice.

It is a member of the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), and evaluates the credentials of foreign-trained social workers. It makes policies and offers advice, decides ethics, and provides services to social workers. CASW provides benefits and advantages associated with a professional organization for its members, such as insurance packages that include professional liability insurance, group life, disability, and a retirement plan.

The CASW's Code of Ethics, last updated in 2005, together with its Guidelines for Ethical Practice, serve as the benchmark for ethical social work practice in Canada.

Non-registered and registration-inclined social workers who have completed a social work degree use LSW or LMSW, the licensed social worker designation is a common designation for career generalists and licensed master’s social worker to those entering the profession with a postgraduate degree.

Maps Canadian Association of Social Workers

Provincial and Territorial Partner Organizations

CASW has 9 provincial and territorial partners in Canada, representing all provinces and territories with the exception of Ontario and Québec. Affiliate memberships are offered to Social Workers in provinces not represented by a partner organization.

• British Columbia Association of Social Workers (BCASW)
• Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW)
• Saskatchewan Association of Social Workers (SASW)
• Manitoba College of Social Workers (MCSW)
• New Brunswick Association of Social Workers (NBASW)
• Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW)
• Prince Edward Island Association of Social Workers (PEIASW)
• Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Social Workers (NLASW)
• Association of Social Workers in Northern Canada (ASWNC), representing Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut
• Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), established in 1982, the Ontario College of Certified Social Workers (OCCSW) provided an platform for Social Workers in Ontario to voluntarily certify themselves in the profession. The primary objective of the College was to protect the public interest and social worker's welfare. To ensure and engage its members to be competent or fit practitioners with the changing practices. OCCSW was expanded as Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) in 1998. Registered members are permitted to use the professional designation RSW (Registered Social Worker) or RSSW (Registered Social Service Worker) accordingly to their qualification after their name in documents related to their practice of social work. It is a Provincial organization in the pipes for being a partner organization of CASW to ensure better mobility for its members.

See also

• History of Canadian Psychiatric Social Work
• International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW)

Further reading

• CASW, "About CASW," http://www.casw-acts.ca/en/about-casw
• Therese Jennissen; Colleen Lundy (17 February 2011). One Hundred Years of Social Work: A History of the Profession in English Canada, 1900â€"2000. Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press. pp. 27â€". ISBN 978-1-55458-280-8. 

References

External links

• ADRAO - Addictions Ontario
• CAILC - Canadian Association of Independent Living Centres
• Canadian Association of Professionals with Disabilities (National: Victoria, BC)
• CCC - Canadian Caregiver Coalition
• ICVA - International Council of Voluntary Agencies
• CCCF - Canadian Child Care Federation (National: Ottawa, ON)
• CCACC - Canadian Counseling Association
• CMHO - Children's Mental Health Ontario (National: Toronto, ON)
• HCCC - Health Charities Council of Canada (National: Ottawa, ON)
• LDAC - Learning Disabilities Association of Canada (National: Ottawa, ON)
• OACYC - Ontario Association of Child and Youth Counsellors