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This professional development cultural enhancement mini conference brings together several social work specialist and social justice advocates to speak to current issues regarding child protection legislation, service delivery and culturally appropriate court assessment tools. The focus of the day will be on current challenges, strategies and solutions for change from an Africentric framework and perspective. 

Moderator/Facilitator for the day is the highly regarded and sought-after Charla Williams.  Charla has more than 30 years of experience as a diversity professional.  She has worked consistently in the facilitation of conversations which enlighten us, define objectives, develop strategy and implement effective diversity and inclusion initiatives.  

Presenters: 

 Jackie Barkley MSW RSW will conduct a session on "Intersectionality: It’s use to assess practice and structure in child protection work". This workshop will examine the issue of "intersectionality", how to keep it from becoming a buzzword or cliche.  The discussion will focus on locating both the client and the worker in their complex contexts in order to work more effectively to support radical personal and social change.  We will look at individualism as a barrier to change, while acknowledging that it remains the location of intervention in the work of therapy and agencies; 

Lana MacLean MSW RSW an expert in the development and use of Cultural Assessments Reports in the Nova Scotia family and criminal courts and social justice advocate. Lana will introduce how cultural impact assessments can have an impact on exploring the ‘best interest’ of the child in child welfare and custody matters and the use of culturally appropriate tools on behalf of African Nova Scotian children and families;

Shawna Hoyte QC, PhD(stdt), MSW RSW a well known social justice advocate, lawyer, educator and clinical & forensic social worker. Shawna will focus on addressing issues of race and culture in the courtroom and provide a overview of the impact of child protection  legislation on racialized children and families. 

This professional development mini conference is open to social workers, students, lawyers, law clerks, social service providers and others who work with children and families in the child welfare system, youth justice, and family courts.

TO REGISTER FOR THE EVENT GO TO: WWW.EVENTBRITE.CA and SEARCH- Race, Law and Practice in Child Welfare Matters: Challenges and Change, February 22, 2018. 

Do you have questions? Email us at info@nifsw.com or call 877 886- 4379 for information regarding registration.

This 1 hour webinar will introduce you the basics of forensic social work  practise in child welfare  by incorporating the rule of law as it applies to child welfare concepts.  It is open to all Plus and Premium members of the NIFSW at no cost. Those with a General membership to the NIFSW and members of the public may register for a fee.  Further information will be posted regarding registration closer to the date. 

This 1 hour webinar will be of particular interest to lawyers, community legal workers, and article clerks who work in non-profit, community based and legal aid offices with marginalized, oppressed, disenfranchised populations. Those service providers and public defenders who are interested in taking a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to their work will find this to be an informative webinar. It is open to all Plus and Premium members of the NIFSW at no cost. Those with a General membership to the NIFSW and members of the public may register for a fee.  Further information regarding registration will be posted closer to the date.

This 1 hour webinar offers participants, "How To" practical skills to enhance your advocacy skills as a forensic social work expert in the courtroom. Focus will be placed on testimony in child welfare cases. This webinar is open to all Plus and Premium members of the NIFSW at no cost. Those with a General membership to the NIFSW and members of the public may register for a fee.  Further information regarding registration will be posted closer to the date.

This 1 hour webinar will consider and provide strategies to address our unconscious bias as forensic social workers in corrections and criminal law. The webinar is open to all Plus and Premium members of the NIFSW at no cost. Those with a General membership to the NIFSW and members of the public may register for a fee.  Further information regarding registration will be posted closer to the date. 

This 1 hour webinar considers the current plight of the Indigenous people of Canada who continue to suffer the atrocities of discrimination, oppression and colonization. As well, Canadian communities are increasingly diverse and as such our practise as forensic social workers in youth criminal justice and child welfare must reflect our understanding of how culture, race and historical trauma influence and  impact our clients in terms of existing laws in immigration and human rights. This webinar will address these current concerns. It is open to all Plus and Premium members of the NIFSW at no cost. Those with a General membership to the NIFSW and members of the public may register for a fee.  Further information regarding registration will be posted closer to the date.