December 17, 2013
Re: Letter of Support for TRAM ACCESS Network
Dear TRAM Review Committee Members,
The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) is pleased to offer this letter of support for the TRAM Proposal being submitted on behalf of the ACCESS Network.
CASW promotes the profession of social work in Canada. TRAM seeks to address the issues of unidentified youth with mental health issues and insufficient access to and quality of mental health services. These are issues social workers in Canada see frequently in their work and many social workers are extensively involved with youth populations. A transformation that addresses these issues will allow social workers to better help youth where mental health issues arise.
The social work profession has, since its inception, advocated for social justice and social policy reform. That tradition is reflected in the IFSW Declaration of Ethical Principles of Social Work and the CASW Social Work Code of Ethics (1994). The IFSW statement and the CASW Code include two important principles. The first is ‘dignity and respect’. Each individual has a right to self-fulfillment to the extent that the right does not encroach on the right of others. The second is ‘equality’. Each person shall be treated equally without unfair discrimination on the basis of disability, color, social class, race, religion, language, political beliefs, sex or sexual orientation.
These principles are particularly reflected in the ACCESS Network’s proposal, which promotes inclusion of vulnerable populations and substantive equality in access to services. The ACCESS model recognizes that there are vulnerable, under-serviced demographics of youth that may be even less likely to be identified as needing help or to access services, such as youth who are not in school or who are homeless. The ACCESS model includes service design such as mobile units and technology to ensure all youth can access services. The model is also built on principles of self-determination and dignity. Youth are engaged and empowered on a macro-level, through leading the transformation, and on a micro-level, through patient-led strength-based treatments.
CASW is pleased to provide support through our extensive cumulative knowledge of services and systems. The proposed ACCESS model will overlap with many areas of social work. CASW can provide input on how strengths, weaknesses and existing resources and capacities in the relevant areas. We can also provide a valuable function of knowledge transfer.
We will disseminate information from the ACCESS Network to social workers across Canada. We can also apply best practices for social workers, identified through the transformation, throughout Canada.
CASW looks forward to the opportunity to collaborate with the ACCESS Network, and with all stakeholders in transforming Mental Health service provision and long-term outcomes for adolescents across Canada. .
Sincerely,
Fred Phelps
Executive Director