By Mary McNeil
Minister of Children and Family Development

March 8, 2012

VICTORIA - They serve families, children and youth, seniors, criminal offenders, trauma victims and people in need of social services. Social work practitioners and clinicians make a difference every day in every B.C. community.

British Columbia has proclaimed March 5-11, 2012, as Social Work Week to recognize the contributions of those valuable individuals in the social work field for helping make a difference in the lives of their fellow British Columbians.

Social workers and others working in the field are faced daily with extremely difficult decisions that affect the lives of others. Many of these decisions must be made instantly in high-pressure, complex and occasionally dangerous situations. A social worker who recently retired after 40 years said, "Nobody has all the answers, but some professions have to take on the social responsibility."

Practitioners and clinicians advocate, counsel, support and quite often cheerlead as they support those in need and in crisis. British Columbians are fortunate to have such a strong set of individuals who are willing to take on the heavy burden of responsibility and make difficult decisions with the aim of serving the public.

During Social Work Week, I want to recognize the more than 2,600 social workers, front-line staff and clinicians in the Ministry of Children and Family Development and delegated Aboriginal agencies, as well as the many other organizations serving the citizens of B.C. in family service, health and community-based organizations.

They are skilled, trained professionals who believe in the worth and dignity of the people they work with, and we owe them a debt of gratitude.

Contact:
Shae Greenfield
Manager, Media Relations
Ministry of Children and Family Development
250 356-1639