February 25 Newsletter (Members)

Latest News & Events for {firstname} {lastname} on February 25, 2025. Dear {firstname}, As we bid Farewell to February, with the importance of relationships and meaningful connections in mind, we are reminded of the strength and resilience within our Social work community. At the Social Workers Association of Alberta (SWAA), we continue Marching forward…together as we welcome March, Social Work Month—building bridges, fostering relationships, and creating opportunities that support and elevate our profession. We continue to celebrate the connections that unite us, the collaborations that sustain us, and the collective impact we make through our work. Stay tuned for updates, resources, and opportunities to engage as we move forward—together. “Farewell February... Marching Into March Together as we Welcome Social Work Month!" Connections – Building Bridges and Fostering Relationships As we bid Farewell to February and prepare to March Into March Together, we’re excited to continue building a strong and supportive community for Alberta’s social workers. With Social Work Month just around the corner, now is the perfect time to renew your SWAA membership for 2025 and stay connected with your professional network. By renewing, you’ll continue to enjoy access to exclusive resources, advocacy updates, and professional development opportunities. March is a time of recognition, advocacy, and engagement—a month to celebrate the connections that unite us and the vital work we do to empower communities. As we step into Social Work Month, we remain committed to strengthening relationships, fostering collaboration, and making a meaningful impact through social work. We sincerely thank you for your continued engagement and participation as we come together to celebrate Social Work Month 2025. Stay tuned for exciting updates and opportunities to be involved throughout the month! Be sure to follow us on social media to stay informed about the latest news, events, and advocacy efforts shaping our profession. Thank you for being a valued member of the Social Workers Association of Alberta. Together, let’s make 2025 a year of growth, connection, and meaningful impact for social workers across the province. Important Update: SWAA Contact Phone No. Change Please be advised that we have decommissioned our previous contact number (877-587-7922). You can now reach us by: Phone: 780-220-7570 Email: hello@myswaa.ca Inquiries tab: on the Members Portal  For any inquiries or assistance, please feel free to contact us through our new phone number or email. Thank you for your understanding and continued support! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Invitation for Board Applications. Call for director applications for our Board! Do you work in rural Alberta? Are you a member of a Queer, Indigenous or other diverse community? Are you trained with a BSW or have a diploma? SWAA is looking to diversify our board to reflect the diverse cultural, religious, sexualities, genders, geographical areas, educational levels and areas of practice of our membership. Regardless of your identities, if you are passionate about your work and our profession, you are encouraged to apply SWAA is committed to promoting the profession, advocating together for what matters, and supporting social work in Alberta. Diversity, anti-oppression and member involvement are key foci for SWAA.  Do you have a passion to be involved in shaping and leading the future direction of the Social Workers Association of Alberta? We invite you to consider applying for the Board of Directors!  Who is eligible? A voting member of SWAA who is in good standing. For more information, or to apply please follow this link or visit the new page on our website. Connect with us and your fellow social workers! Get involved this Social Work Week by submitting your photos, videos, or nominations for top-notch social workers to be featured on our social media and website. Let’s celebrate, share, and showcase the incredible impact of social workers everywhere! Get involved by submitting your: Monday Memes Top-Notch Social Worker Tuesday Nominations Who’s Who Wednesday Videos Tranquil Thursday Photos Friday Feeds - Tell us what qualities make a great Social Worker? Comment on your fellows Posts Share our posts using the hashtags #SWConnections, #FosteringNetworks, #StrongerTogether, #BuildingBridges, #ConnectionsThatMatter, #SupportingCommunities, #TogetherForChange, #CelebrateSocialWorkers Submissions: To submit your content for Social Work Week, Click Here Or Visit myswaa.ca. Help us showcase the amazing people who make a difference every day! We also encourage you to engage with us on social media throughout the week. Let’s come together to celebrate, connect, and honor social workers during Social Work Week 2025! We can’t wait to celebrate with you! For questions, email us at hello@myswaa.ca Canada Student Loan Forgiveness List of Occupations - Canada Gazette, Part 1  As announced in Budget 2024, the Government of Canada has committed to expanding the list of occupations eligible for Canada Student Loan Forgiveness to early childhood educators, dentists, dental hygienists, pharmacists, midwives, teachers, social workers, personal support workers, physiotherapists, and psychologists who choose to work in a designated underserved rural or remote community. The proposed regulatory amendments have now been published in the Canada Gazette, Part I.  Feedback can be provided using the online commenting feature until March 17, 2025.  The proposed regulations can be found at the following link: Regulations Amending the Canada Student Loans Regulations and the Canada Student Financial Assistance Regulations. Our practicum students have shared insightful reflections for several significant days this month. Please read more below: World Day of Social Justice: February 20th Officially designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007, World Day of Social Justice takes place every year on February 20th. This years theme is “Strengthening a Just Transition for a Sustainable Future” and will “explore how inclusive policies can ensure that climate action leads to more and better jobs, reduces inequalities, and fosters sustainable development.” Read the article here Black history Month: February 2025  Black Legacy & Leadership: Celebrating Canadian History and Uplifting Future Generation Every month in February, Canada celebrates Black History month and seeks to honour and amplify all of the voices, achievements and stories of resilience of Black Canadians. Black Canadians and their communities have shaped Canada’s history and enriched Canada’s cultural diversity and compassion that have helped lead to the growth of a more equitable and inclusive nation. Black History month was first officially recognized in Canada December 1995 in the House of Commons when this motion was put forward by Dr. Augustine and carried unanimously. Read article here  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The 13th annual World Hijab Day: February 1 2025. February 1st marked the 13th annual World Hijab Day, a global event inviting “people of all backgrounds to stand in solidarity with Muslim women who choose to wear the hijab and to challenge the prejudice and misconceptions they often face because of this choice” (World Hijab Day Organization, 2025). Founded in 2013, this annual event was created by Bangladeshi-American Nazman Khan who had the idea to promote better cultural understanding by inviting women from all backgrounds to wear hijabs on that day. This movement has grown to include the participation of over 150 countries around the world, who engage by holding their own education, advocacy, and community building events to amplify the voices and highlight the stories of these women.   Read the article here The Grieving Helper -A discussion of grief and loss in frontline work. A Webinar brought to you by: SWAA  Presenter: Krista Osborne - Registered Clinical Social Worker, and an Assistant Professor with the University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work Frontline workers experience loss on a regular basis in their careers. This loss is often tragic, deeply felt and leaves profound grief. Yet, professionally we are expected to keep moving and continue helping. Overtime, this can impact workers mental health, physical health and develop into compassion fatigue. This workshop will be a brief overview of grief and loss from a trauma-informed lens.  The goal is to help you reframe your experiences of loss at work. This will help you understand your professional losses, the impacts and how to support yourself and others while you grieve.  Dates: March 19, 2025 Time: 5:30 -7:00 PM MST) Learn more and Register Here  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Empowering Providers: Supporting Gender Diverse Youth and Their Families A Webinar brought to you by: SWAA & CASW Gender transition involves navigating complex social, legal, medical, and mental health systems. It can be hard for the caregivers of Two Spirit, trans, non-binary, and other gender-diverse youth to find the right information. In this webinar, social workers will build capacity to support caregivers of gender-diverse youth as they learn to be gender-affirming and find the services their families need, with a focus on an Alberta-context. Using case examples, we will explore common challenges caregivers face, offer tangible evidence-based strategies, and clarify processes for accessing care. PolicyWise for Children & Families is a non-profit organization working with diverse communities to improve policies and practices that benefit well-being. Webinar Key Objectives: Increase awareness of challenges supportive caregivers face as they navigate their youth’s gender transition. Build understanding of social, legal, and medical gender transition processes in Alberta and mental health impacts for gender-diverse youth and their caregivers. Learn evidence-based ways social workers can support gender-diverse youth and their caregivers. Dates: February 27, 2025 Time: 5:00 PM Mountain Time Edmonton (-07:00 GMT) Registration: Click Here  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Power of Showing Up Arnica Foundation In-person workshop by Tina Payne Bryson, PhD, clinician, consultant, and internationally recognized co-author with Dan Siegel of The Whole-Brain Child, No-Drama Discipline, The Yes Brain and The Power of Showing Up. Apply the framework of interpersonal neurobiology to child development, clinical practice, and parenting in a clinical setting. Understand implicit memory, and how to work with, and even effectively use our own emotional and physiological responses/reactions when working with families and their trauma.  Utilize Whole-Brain strategies to lay the groundwork for promoting integration and mental health in parents and their children. Utilize intervention and questions for reflection to support the development of parental earned secure attachment and the building of a coherent narrative. Dates: April 8 and April 9, 2025 8:30 AM to 4PM daily. Hotel Arts, Calgary, AB Early Bird: $495 per person (February 28, 2025) Regular: $550 per person Learn more and registration https://arnicafoundation.ca/events/ members.myswaa.ca/event/details/  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palliative Care Webinar Palliative Care Institute Presenters: Sheila Killoran & Danica Hans Palliative care relieves the physical symptoms and supports the psychosocial needs of people with a serious illness. The goal is to help people live as well as possible, this is the same as social workers goals. Palliative care can be delivered by generalists anywhere in the healthcare system. Social workers are doing palliative care when they improve quality of life, provide interventions, identify unmet needs, anticipate, and support declining function and social needs. Social workers help people maintain dignity and comfort while they navigate their serious illness. Our presentation aims to empower and equip social workers to have knowledge, resources and education needed to deliver palliative care with their clients.    Date and Time : March 6, 2025 from 6:30 PM (MST) Learn more and Register  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Presenters: Madelaine Robillard, BSW, MSW, RSW As AI becomes increasingly relevant in clinical practice, many therapists and social workers are eager to learn how to integrate it ethically, safely, and in compliance with regulatory standards. This training is designed to provide practical, compliance-first strategies for mental health professionals.   Date: Thursday, March 28, 2025 Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM (MT) Location: Virtual (Zoom) Format: 90-minute live interactive workshop + Q&A Learn more and Register  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End-of-Life Doula Certificate Program  Rhodes Wellness College  Due to popular demand, Rhodes will offer an additional online End-of-Life Doula training session on April 7th, 2025. Would you like to enhance your skill set and train to become an End-of-Life Doula? The Online End-of-Life Doula Certificate program at Rhodes Wellness College equips you with the skills and knowledge needed to become a certified End-of-Life Doula, guiding and supporting individuals through the end-of-life journey. Why Become an End-of-Life Doula? As the demand for end-of-life support continues to rise, trained professionals like you play a vital role in providing compassionate care and assistance to those facing grief, loss, and death. By becoming an End-of-Life Doula, you can make a meaningful difference in your community, offering essential emotional, spiritual, and logistical support to individuals and families during their time of need. The online training will commence on  April 7th, 2025, and will take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. To request more information on how to become an End-of-Life Doula, please click here.  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) Colleen E. Clark, MSW, RCSW | Clinical Social Worker | Clinical ART Specialist | RCRR Lead Certified Trainer Canada  Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is a drug-free, non-hypnosis therapy that transcends modern therapeutic methods by treating adults and children with depression, anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, sexual abuse, obsessive compulsive disorder, addictions and many other mental and physical conditions resulting in remarkable benefits starting in as little as one session. *This training may be eligible for the Canada-Alberta Job Grant. Click here for details.* 2025 Dates: Learn More Click Here to Register Order Colleen's new book: Come Passion: The Soulful ART of Healing Trauma Click here for Colleen's Interview with Authority Magazine  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Save the Date: Allies For Youth Connections Conference Theme: Empowering Hope through Authentic Connections Keynote Speakers: Dr. Michael Ungar, Ph.D | Dr. Melanie Doucet, Ph.D | Ashley Rhodes-Courter | Leigh Sheldon (Pihphichow) | The Allies 4 Youth Connections Conference will bring together service providers, researchers, experts, and the youth to focus on the growing population of young people (12+) with increasingly complex needs. This conference will specifically focus on youth homelessness, indigenous youth & social justice, ethnocultural youth & trauma, and the voice of youth. We keep in mind that all youth, deserve the opportunity to live their lives in a meaningful way, to feel safe, and experience a sense of inclusion and belonging. This work with our youth incorporates the most recent research, literature and trends in areas such as trauma, attachment and brain development in children and youth; harm reduction; resilience; strength-based practice; collaborative, multi-disciplinary practice; trauma-informed intervention. Dates: May 12-13, 2025  Fantasyland Hotel, West Edmonton Mall.  For More Details:  A4YC.ca   |   SWAA-Events  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Indigenous Wellbeing Conference 2025.  Empowering Care Networks for Community Healing and Resilience The Indigenous Wellbeing Conference 2025 is designed for those who dedicate their lives to helping others, such as caregivers, social workers, community leaders, counselors, and mental health professionals. This year’s theme focuses on building personal resilience while continuing to support others. Attendees will hear from inspiring speakers like Arvol Looking Horse, Ted Nolan, Michelle Thrush, and experts such as Dr. Michael Yellow Bird and Francoise Mathieu, who will share insights on traditional healing, resilience, storytelling, wellness, and community-building. The conference offers workshops, keynote talks, and interactive sessions to equip participants with practical tools for their well-being and work.  Date: February 24-26, 2025 Location: River Cree Venue, Enoch Cree Nation, Alberta, Canada This years Theme:  Empowering Care Networks for Community Healing and Resilience  Learn more and register here   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Social Work Month March is National Social Work Month and CASW is excited to celebrate with you! This year's theme is: "Social Work is Everywhere." This theme highlights the vast and diverse impact of the social work profession reaching into every corner of our communities to create meaningful change and support individuals, families, and groups. This #NSWM2025, join CASW in celebrating the many faces and facets of social work. Check out for a wide array of webinars and stay tuned for more details on how you can participate in this year's National Social Work Month! Coming Up: February Webinars CBT Foundations II: Exploring Together Through Guided Discovery and Socratic Dialogue In this webinar participants will discover the power and risk of Socratic Dialogue, develop the skill of asking good, Socratic questions and practicing guided discovery, and acquire practical resources to help them in their developing practice. Dates: February 28th, 2025, at 12pm ET Register Here _______________________________________________________________ Upcoming National Social Work Month Webinars CBT Foundations III: Cognitive Restructuring – It’s the Thought That Counts This webinar will teach participants the essential skills of cognitive restructuring and review interventions that deepen the impact of cognitive restructuring – moving from logic to feeling. The use of creativity, imagery and metaphor will also be introduced. Dates: March 4th, 2025, at 12PM ET Register Here --------------------------------------------------------- Ethical and Responsible Use of AI for Social Work Practice This webinar will engage participants in critical discussions about the ethical implications of using AI in social work, emphasizing the importance of social work ethics such as privacy, confidentiality, awareness of bias, and maintaining human-centered approaches while using generative AI. Dates: March 11th, 2025, at 12PM ET  Register here --------------------------------------------------------- Enhancing Client Care with AI in Social Work: Innovations and Ethical Considerations This webinar provides an in-depth exploration of the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in social work interventions, emphasizing its impact on client care and outcomes. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of both the potential benefits and risks of AI technologies, as well as their implications for mental health and social work practice.  Dates: March 17th, 2025, at 12PM ET  Register here ---------------------------------------------------------- Bigidendan “Release if from your Mind”: Using Indigenous Adapted CBT Mindfulness Meditations and Imagery Techniques In this webinar, participants will learn how to provide culturally responsive care to First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples through Indigenous adapted CBT interventions including Indigenous Adapted Mindfulness Practice and Indigenous Adapted Imagery Techniques. Dates: March 18th, 2025, at 12PM ET   Register here _________________________________________________________________________ A Fireside Chat with Social Workers at the Senate Join CASW for an intimate conversation with two esteemed social work Senators, to gain firsthand insights into their experiences in the Senate and their work in shaping social policy that impacts communities across Canada.  Dates: March 19th, 2025, from 12PM ET  Register here ---------------------------------------------------------------- Burnout, Vicarious Trauma and Self- and Community Care In this session, activist, social worker, and author Farzana Doctor will present practical ideas on how to reduce burnout and vicarious trauma and make self- and community care easier for us to practice so that our work can be more joyful and sustainable. Dates: March 25th, at 12PM EST  Register here. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Social Polarizations and Mental Health: Understanding for Better Intervention (presented only in French) This webinar will discuss the main issues of social polarization today, and the assessment and intervention process to be used with radicalized clients. Key webinar objectives: Better understand, assess and intervene in relation to social polarization and mental health issues. Dates: March 25 at 6:30PM, ET Register here.  -------------------------------------------------------------- Abuse of Older Adults The abuse of older adults is a serious issue in Canada affecting up to 8.2% of older Canadians. Hosted by MCSW, this webinar will provide an overview on how to recognize and respond to elder abuse, offer prevention strategies, and case study examples.  Dates: March 28th, 2025, 1PM ET   Register Here ---------------------------------------------------------------- Visit The Hub: Surveys, Forms, & Resources to Submit your request for research respondents, or complete surveys/questionnaires from available studies --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Available Studies Study on School Social Workers and Autistic Students: CLICK HERE to Learn more & Access the Questionnaire Researcher: Alisha Stubbs, MSW, PhD Candidate - Faculty of Social Work, WL University For more information or questions, please email Alisha at Email Alisha See: The Hub: Participate in Research - SWAA's website -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Research Study on Indigenous Social Workers Using Medicinal Plants: Walden University. Researcher: Iris Plain Eagle, Doctor of Social Work Student, MSW, RSW, (Alberta Canada) For more Information or questions, please Email Iris See: The Hub: Participate in Research - SWAA's website Interested in sharing your events with fellow SWAA members? Reach out to us at hello@myswaa.ca to learn more about our advertising rates for members. National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being: Royal College of Canada The Royal College has received a $3.5 million grant from Health Canada to collaborate with partners to develop a National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being to improve retention across health care professions. CASW Board member, Glenda Webber (NLCSW), will be representing CASW on the Steering Committee of this National Collaborative chaired by Melanie Lewis, MD, FRCPC, Chief Wellness Officer at the University of Alberta. The National Collaborative has established six priority areas that drive systemic change across Canada's health care workforce: Create and sustain positive work and learning environments and culture Invest in measurement, assessment, and research  Support mental health and reduce stigma     Engage effective resources to minimize administrative burden     Institutionalize and invest in well-being as a long-term value     Recruit and retain a diverse and inclusive health workforce, focused on meeting current and future needs     The Royal College is seeking health workforce leaders from a variety of professions with diverse backgrounds, good interpersonal skills and subject matter expertise to join the Working Groups.   Interested applicants to the Working Groups may submit their candidacy visit Social Work Careers — Social Workers Association of Alberta.   Notify SWAA via hello@myswaa.ca once you have submitted your application! Current Job Postings: The following employers are currently recruiting social workers and you can find details at myswaa.ca/socialworkcareers: Social Worker, Integrated Domestic Violence Response Team: enCompass Community Safety Agency – Edmonton, Alberta Trauma & Relationship Therapist: Williamson & Associates | Individual, Couple & Family Therapy – Olds, Alberta  Registered Social Worker: Living Well Counselling Services Inc. - Calgary, Alberta Family Resource Navigator: YWCA of Northern Alberta - Edmonton, AB  Social Worker - General: Edmonton Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) - Edmonton AB Director, Child and Family Services: TalentNova - Ft McMurray, AB Instructor, Community Social Work: Faculty of Social Work, Portage College - Lac La Biche Campus, AB Instructor, Addictions Counselling: Faculty of Social Work, Portage College - Lac La Biche Campus, AB Copyright © 2024 The Social Workers Association of Alberta PO Box 464, Edmonton Station Main Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2K1 CANADA unsubscribe from this list