November 13, 2013
Dr. Carol Strike
Dalla Lana School of Public Health
155 College Street
Toronto, ON
M5T 3M7
Re: Letter of Support for Proposal - How interpersonal, socio-spatial and regulatory contexts impact health services for people living with HIV/AIDS who use substances
Dear Dr. Strike,
Pease accept this letter of support on behalf of the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) for your proposed project entitled “How interpersonal, socio-spatial and regulatory contexts impact health services for people living with HIV/AIDS who use substances.”
CASW was founded in 1926 to monitor employment conditions and to establish standards of practice within the social work profession in Canada, and is further active in initiatives in North America, and internationally through the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW).
CASW works to ensure the social work profession has a positive impact on public/social justice issues by promoting social service development that will be responsive to the social needs of Canadians and by working with policy makers to help them understand the impact of policy decision on social justice.
CASW recognizes that HIV/AIDS crosses all fields of practice, including mental health, addictions, community development, and health care. Social work practice in this area continues to evolve, as social workers provide support to persons living with HIV/AIDS and those affected by the disease through direct counselling, treatment intervention, and social justice activities.
In this regard, social workers possess the knowledge and skills to work effectively with individuals who are living with HIV/AIDS and those affected by the disease, including family members, friends, partners, and children. Social workers bring the unique skill of working with people within the context of their environment and advocating change that best meets the needs of clients.
CASW was on the forefront of advocating for HIV/AIDS resources, supports and public education and recognizes that the needs of people living with HIV have changed over the past 30 years. Whereas hospital-based care was once primarily palliative, people living with HIV now need and use a range of hospital-based, community-based and residential care services. These services need to be responsive to the needs of people living with HIV who use drugs and alcohol in what are often termed “problematic ways.” Unfortunately their substance us sometimes results in receiving poor care when they access healthcare and social services. Recently, CASW joined the growing chorus of health professionals to support harm reduction for a national drug strategy. As we move beyond prohibition and denial about substance use, including in hospital-based and community-care, social workers need to develop strategies to support the needs of people living with HIV who use substances to meet their health and wellness goals.
Your proposed project, which seeks to compare two innovative models of care at Casey House and the Dr. Peter Centre, has promise for advancing knowledge about effective practice and policy based issues of interest to social workers in hospitals and long-term residential facilities.
Specifically, this research will inform social workers about how people living with HIV are managing psychosocial issues such as depression and stigma, structural issues such as poverty and the erosion of care and support services, in addition to their substance use. The proposal recognizes the important role social work has in these facilities and as members of inter-professional teams.
Often social workers are involved in helping clients manage their use in ways that are non-judgmental but seek to help them meet their goals and in addressing conflict between clients and clinicians and staff. To this end, CASW is hopeful that this is initiative will be the first of a larger program of research examining the realities of effectively integrating harm reeducation into hospital-based and residential facilities. CASW is especially interested in the proposed performed ethnography that will be shared with social workers, nurses, and physicians. In this regard, CASW will be pleased to disseminate project materials to its membership and provide study updates.
Sincerely/Sincèrement,
Fred Phelps MSW, RSW
Executive Director/ Directeur général
Canadian Association of Social Workers
Association canadienne des travailleuses et travailleurs sociaux