March 20^th marks World Social Work Day, an occasion for celebrating the important work done by teachers and technicians in Social Service through the province and country. The Québec Association of College Teachers in Social Service (which counts among its members Dawson College faculty like Social Service Department Chairperson Vanessa Robillard), highlights the direct impact social workers make in our communities, despite growing challenges in the field. See their full message below.

World Social Work Day:

Celebrating teachers and technicians in Social Service!

Montréal, March 20, 2018 – On this world day celebrating social work, the Québec association of college teachers in social service takes this opportunity to acknowledge the excellent work of social workers and, particularly, the efforts of Social Service technicians (TTS) in developing stronger communities.

Social Service technicians who, despite the impact of the Health Minister’s reforms and austerity measures valuing cost-effectiveness over the individual, humanize social services provided to marginalized persons, and who, in this period of mergers and administrative reform, succeed in putting the individual at the heart of the profession by promoting the values of solidarity, democracy and social justice. In the face of budget cuts, Social Service technicians have demonstrated the necessary creativity to help those in need find solutions.

Despite the lack of recognition and the confusion caused by Bill 21, Social Service technicians have continued to defend their place in the institutional and community networks through the quality of their work. The REECETSQ (Regroupement des enseignantes et enseignants des collèges en travail social du Québec) salutes and thanks them.

Confronting these challenges head on, the REECETSQ urges its members to consult and mobilize in elevating the profession and to ask governments to recognize the role of Social Service technicians as agents of social change wherever health and social services are delivered. The REECETSQ, which is celebrating its 30^th anniversary this year, offers a space for Social Service teachers to share current pedagogical resources and to engage in concerted political actions to promote Social Service education and practice. For more information on REECETSQ’s history and current challenges and objectives, please visit www.reecetsq.ca.

For more information:

Vanessa Robillard

Dawson College

(514) 931-8731 # 4823

(514) 970-4107