Child, Youth and Family Services
March 17, 2011
Minister Recognizes National Social Work Month
The Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services, is pleased to acknowledge March as National Social Work Month, which provides an opportunity to recognize the significant contributions social workers make throughout the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
“Social workers play an important role in our society,” said Minister Johnson. “I commend social workers for their tireless dedication to providing people with the necessary tools and supports to ensure they reach their full potential, while also improving their overall health and well-being.”
The functions performed by social workers in the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services (CYFS) are imperative to ensuring safety and well-being for all children and youth within supportive families and communities. Within the department, these professionals work with individuals, families and communities in a variety of program areas including regulated child care, protective intervention, youth corrections, adoptions and foster care. Protective intervention is by far the most difficult form of social work. The profession is highly skilled to complete this type of work which includes complex clinical assessment and planning to maintain children in their own homes whenever possible, but ultimately to protect their best interest.
Many activities will take place, or have already taken place, to celebrate National Social Work Month. Minister Johnson recently attended a government-wide recognition event for social workers. In addition, the minister toured the Bell Building which is one of the CYFS offices within Eastern Health, and spoke with social workers about their work. A luncheon was also hosted for CYFS staff at the Port aux Basques office as well as for staff from surrounding areas. Later this month, coinciding with National Social Work Month, Minister Johnson will also be making an announcement regarding the first phase of the transition of CYFS staff and services from regional health authorities to the department.
“I would like to extend a sincere thank you to all social workers for the passion they have for their work and for their commitment to the healthy development of children and families throughout Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Minister Johnson. “The general public isn’t always fully informed about the imperative and difficult work performed by social workers, and I encourage everyone to learn more about this highly ethical and capable profession.”
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Photo #1: The Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services celebrates with social workers within the department to recognize March as National Social Work Month.
Front row: (left) Michelle Shallow, Director, Child Protection and In-care Division; (right) Joanne Cotter, Consultant, Youth Services. Back Row: (left-right) Helen McDonald, Consultant, Protective Intervention Program; Josephine Hogan, Executive Assistant to Minister Johnson; Wanda Lundrigan, Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Delivery and Regional Operations; Lynanne Furlong, Program Consultant; Robin Janes, Consultant, Extrajudicial Sanctions; Colleen Smith, Consultant, Protective Intervention; Joanne Rose, File Disclosure Officer
Media contact:
Andrea Nolan
Director of Communications
Department of Child, Youth and Family Services
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
709-729-5148, 725-1593
andreanolan@gov.nl.ca
2011 03 17 9:30 a.m.