Social Work Week – March 4 to 10

March 4 to 10 is Social Work Week in Ontario, and across Canada, March is National Social Work Month. This March, we invite you to learn more about how #SocialWorkOpensDoors for people across Ontario and join us in celebrating this essential work. The 2024 theme, #SocialWorkOpensDoors speaks to the role of Social Workers in our communities that support and empower individuals and families in navigating the pathways to supports, systems and services needed for their wellbeing. 

What is a Social Worker? 

Social Work is a profession aimed at helping individuals, families and communities to build capacity and promote wellbeing. They can help to identify sources of stress or problems, strengthen coping skills and find effective solutions. Social workers are unique among helping professionals because they look at people’s problems within the context of their families, workplace and communities and consider the connection between personal problems and larger social issues (Ontario Association of Social Workers, 2024).  

Receiving and navigating through a disability diagnosis for your child is complicated and confusing and often evokes many difficult emotions, thoughts, and worries about the future. Parents and caregivers are often left to search for support in a convoluted system with little direction while caring for their child and/or family and managing their own well-being. This is an overwhelming time in a family’s life, and Social Workers at Grandview Kids play a unique role in the care team.

Social Workers can help your family understand your child’s diagnosis, assist in developing coping strategies and connect your family with programs or services in the community. Social Workers aim to include and promote the best interests of the entire family that may be impacted by a disability.  

Social Workers assist families in processing their emotions and thoughts and navigating the next steps regarding a child’s disability. Social Work Services at Grandview Kids can include individual, family or group counselling for caregivers/parents, clients and siblings and are provided by Registered Social Workers and Family Support Assistants. These services can also assist with resource coordination, transition support, and funding assistance to clients and their families.  

How to access Social Work at Grandview Kids and beyond:

Any child who is receiving Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, or Physiotherapy may be eligible for Social Work Services at Grandview Kids. Ask your clinician about Social Work Services, and they can complete a referral to our team.  

When you meet with a Social Worker, they will complete an intake assessment to better understand your current goals and support needs. From that point, you will work with your Social Worker towards those goals. Your Social Worker will be a supportive member of your child’s team that works collaboratively with your family, their Grandview Team, and other community members that may be supporting your child or family. 

Feedback from Grandview Kids families about Social Work: 

Myths About Social Workers  

Source: Ontario Association of Social Workers 

Myth: For psychotherapy or mental health services, you need to see a psychologist or psychiatrist. 

FACT: Social Workers are the largest group of practitioners providing psychotherapy and other mental health services in the province. In fact, Social Workers are often the only mental health care providers in many rural and remote communities.  

Myth: Anyone who has a kind heart can do what a Social Worker does. 

FACT: Social Workers are highly skilled professionals who have a university degree in Social Work at the bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral level. 

Myth: Social Workers are bleeding hearts. 

FACT: Social workers believe that many factors affect the health and well-being of individuals and communities. In fact, a growing body of research supports the conclusion that the roots of health and well-being can be found in such factors as access to early childhood education and care, education and literacy, employment and working conditions, income and distribution, housing, social inclusion, etc.  

Thank you to our amazing Social Work team for making a difference to clients and families. Join us in celebrating them this #SocialWorkMonth.