2010 National Social Work Week

Theme

The theme of the upcoming 2010 National Social Work Week is: “Poverty: There are Solutions – Social Workers Making a Difference”.  This theme was selected to highlight the critical need for solutions to poverty to remain at the forefront of the profession’s social advocacy in the coming decade; to focus attention on, and to support, initiatives and groups that are attempting to alleviate this pervasive social problem; and to spotlight ways in which social workers play an important role in helping individuals, families, groups and communities combat poverty.

Prevalence of Poverty

Poverty touches over 1.3 million Ontarians in communities across the province and the current recession is simply making life harder.  Poverty cuts across all fields of social work practice and impacts on all age groups, ranging from children through to adults living into late life.  Some Ontarians experience higher rates of poverty than others based on gender, race, length of time in Canada and ability.  According to Campaign 2000’s 2009 Report Card on Child & Family Poverty in Ontario, 317,900 children and youth (approximately 1 in 9) were living below the poverty line in 2007, based on the Low Income Measure after tax, a year when the province’s economy was reasonably robust.  Rates of poverty are shamefully high among Aboriginal, visible minority, immigrant and lone-parent families.   In addition to a multitude of other concerns about the long-term effects of poverty, it is the number one predictor of health status.   

Root Cause of Poverty

The root causes of poverty are well documented, as are a wide range of practical and credible solutions to reduce or eliminate this persistent social and economic inequity.  Ontario’s recently introduced Poverty Reduction Strategy is a step in the right direction; however, progress in grappling with poverty has often been impeded by the daunting nature of the task and the notion that comprehensive and decisive action cannot be taken until we have a deeper understanding of this phenomenon.     

Preparing for National Social Work Week

As social workers in Ontario prepare for the upcoming 2010 National Social Work Week, OASW encourages you to:

• reflect on the many faces of poverty in your community
• identify and support initiatives and groups that are addressing this problem, and
• seek out those who have found creative and innovative ways to do so. 

Profession’s Commitment to Social Determinants of Health

With the social work profession’s long-standing focus on the social determinants of health, we encourage you to take this opportunity to profile and celebrate the profession’s ongoing role and commitment to alleviating poverty though social advocacy, community development and direct practice. 

Poverty comes at a tremendous human and economic cost, not only to those directly affected, but also to society as a whole due to diminished social capacity and productivity.

There are solutions! We need to support them.

Connect to these links:
Information and Resources about Poverty in Ontario
Social Determinants of Health
Survey Minute – Poverty Solutions: Tell us about innovative solutions to poverty in your community