BCASW - Committees

BCASW Committees

Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Committee (MARC)

The Multiculturalism and Antiracism Committee (MARC) is a standing committee of BCASW and takes an ethno-racial approach to understand multiculturalism. The ethno-racial approach emphasizes anti-oppressive practice against any form of discrimination based on race, ethnicity and culture.

The functions of MARC are: a) to raise critical awareness by engaging Social Workers and related professionals through ongoing dialogue about issues of and beyond multiculturalism including ethno-racial relations, racism, human rights; and, b) to promote delivery of service appropriate to a multiracial and multi-ethnic society. The committee develops and recommends positions to the BCASW Board for action on specific issues of concern related to these areas.

Chairs: Sri Pendakur and Augusta Lokhorst

Read the Terms of Reference

Child Welfare and Family Committee

The committee addresses child welfare and family policy, practice and trends in the province of British Columbia. The committee does this in discussion with Social Workers active in this field, in dialogue with the various government ministries, in consultation with the Schools of Social Work and in cooperation with other community partners. The committee provides an assessment of current policy and practice to the appropriate governmental bodies as well as to the public via regular exchanges of information, meetings and an active involvement in the larger public discourse.

Chair: Paul Jenkinson
Read the Terms of Reference

Read the BCASW Submission to the Hughes Children and Youth Review

BCASW Child Welfare and Family Commitee Listening Tour 2006
Over the coming year, the chair of BCASW's Child Welfare and Family Committee, Paul Jenkinson, will travel to each BCASW branch to meet with child welfare social workers, foster parents and others providing services to families and children. Learn more about the listening tour here. The first 'tour', throughout northwest BC, took place recently and you can read about it here.

Health Practice Committee

The BCASW Health Practice Committee is comprised of social workers who have an interest in advancing the practice of healthcare Social Work. Its dual focus is advocacy for the role of Social Work in healthcare and advocacy for clients in the healthcare system.

Chairs: Mary Leslie and Fiona Lewis

Read the Terms of Reference

Read the Advisory Committee Update February 2007

Advocacy Committee

The Advocacy Committee meets regularly by teleconference. It has developed a number of advocacy actions which are featured regularly in our newsletter, Perspectives. The committee speaks out against bad social policy as well as for good policy and the programs that flow from them both. To do this, we encourage members to write individually or as groups. We provide model letters and background information. We issue press releases to the provincial media and copy the Premier, cabinet ministers, MLA’s. We encourage branches to follow up with their MLAs and copy their local press in turn. The Committee has a representative from each branch. If you would like to be active in your branch’s work or on the Committee itself, please contact us by email

For information, please contact the Chair, Robert Hart

Welfare rates and child poverty - Advocacy action plan - read here

Addictions Committee

BCASW’s Addiction Committee is newly formed. Our initial goals are two-fold. First, it will give social workers an opportunity to support each other in their addiction practice. Identifying and discussing common struggles and successes can bring us support and strength. Members of this committee will have the opportunity to network with each other, connect with others doing similar work in different areas, brainstorm strategies for making positive changes, advocate for improved services, learn from each other, and share our humour and practice wisdom. Second, the committee will be the voice of the BCASW on addiction-related issues. We may wish to prepare position papers or media releases, write newsletter or journal articles, work on special projects or issues of provincial significance, organize educational events or conference sessions, or influence research or policy. Perhaps we will be inspired to shake things up a bit, and make some noise about some controversial addiction-related issues!

Options for meetings include teleconferencing (by phone) or computer conferencing (email/live chat). Should we decide to form sub-committees, they might include include: Women, Aboriginals, Children/Youth, GLBT-S (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Two-Spirited), Corrections, Research, Policy, etc. We may also wish to designate a committee secretary, sub-committee chairs, and other positions as needed.

Like all new initiatives, this committee will need time, energy and some work to get going - and has great potential for action, change, and satisfaction. I look forward to working with you!

If you are interested in participating on this committee, or wish further information, please contact the Addictions Committee Chair, Leah Douglas, or email us at bcasw@bcasw.org.

Future Committees

BCASW is interested in developing practice committees in the areas of Poverty, Community Living Services, Aging, and Corrections. If you are interested in working with us to develop such committees, contact us by email

	Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Committee
	Child Welfare and Family Committee
	Health Practice Committee
	Advocacy Committee
	Addictions Committee