Resumen

Increasingly post-secondary institutions are being called upon by governments and the public at large to demonstrate their contribution to positive social impact in communities, whether it be local, regional, national, or international. Schools of Social Work can contribute unique values, perspectives, strategies and experiences to this institution wide process. In 2021, Carleton University deepened this commitment launching their first university-wide Centre for Community Engagement, followed by the design and launch of a Strategic Plan for Community Engagement (SP4CE). Despite a long and expansive history of engaging communities rooted in its inception in 1942, the university was now poised to take stock of its past contributions, current state, and future responsibilities towards community members through the development of the Centre and plan. What does it take to develop such a Centre and plan? Who should be involved, when, and how to ensure inclusivity and representation of all aspects of our community? What can we learn from the experience, in and of itself, as a means of inclusivity and engagement? What stages were involved in developing a strategic plan, what worked well and not so well, and what might we do differently in looking back? What happens once the plan is released, what do next steps look like? Social work’s extensive community experience through field placements and establishing Memorandum of Understandings with community partners adds an important component to this collaborative methodology, which is not always full recognized in community-to-university impact.

Palabras Clave (separar con comas)

institution-wide planning for community-campus engagement, inclusivity in university strategic planning and policy, dialogue and co-creation strategies in planning, planning implementation strategies, social work values in strategic planning

Resumen

Historical and contemporary neoliberal contexts have resulted in (dis)Abled people across (dis)Ability communities encountering vast arrays of inequitable and oppressive experiences. Society is entrenched with barriers and inaccessible infrastructures, as evident through the lack of accessible housing and transportation, extensive wait times for health and human services, and complicated and convoluted (dis)Ability policies. These inequities perpetuate isolation and alienation for (dis)Abled people. Notwithstanding, biomedical health systems position medical professionals as experts, minimizing the voices and experiences of (dis)Abled people. In so doing, the biomedical model forgoes the structural elements of compounded trauma experienced through repeated ableist encounters within health care and human services systems. Furthermore, resiliency in its individualistic form, as constructed through traditional trauma-informed care approaches and neoliberal policies, can assert self-blame and additional internalized ableism upon (dis)Abled persons while negating societal responsibility pertaining to accessibility and inclusion. In this presentation, we unpack neoliberal-ableism and deconstruct resiliency and the biomedical model, while acknowledging the structural impacts of ableism experienced by (dis)Abled persons as we explore trauma experienced through (dis)Abled bodies. Practices that deconstruct resiliency and structural and neoliberal-ableism will be envisioned as the authors shed light on implications for social justice social work and (dis)Ability informed trauma practices. 

Palabras Clave (separar con comas)

neoliberal ableism, (dis)Ability policies, inclusive practices, (dis)Ability informed trauma practices, resiliency deconstructed

Resumen

Ensuring fairness and justice between different generations, both in terms of their rights and opportunities is an important public policy goal. Support of the civil society organizations and other stakeholders is crucial in this regard.  It involves assessment of present actions on future generations and making decisions that are sustainable and beneficial in the long run. By educating communities and individuals about intergenerational equity and its importance, social workers can raise awareness about the impact of social, economic, and environmental factors on different generations, promote dialogue and understanding between generations, engage in pertinent community development initiatives, advocate for groups in vulnerable situations, and promote solidarity between generations.Organizing intergenerational dialogue involves creating spaces and opportunities for individuals from different age groups to come together and engage in meaningful interactions. Creating a diverse group  of stakeholders in terms of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives is essential in this regard,  enriching the dialogue, and promoting intergenerational solidarity. Intergenerational “lens” is important in conceptualizing the programs that aim at creating opportunities for different age groups to interact and engage with one another. Mentoring initiatives, community service projects are useful in promoting the shared learning experiences, building opportunities for individuals from different generations to share experiences and understanding, while enhancing mutual collaboration.Given that population ageing can affect social cohesion and intergenerational solidarity, it is vital to avoid generational tensions by promoting understanding, empathy, and cooperation between different generations. Development of comprehensive strategies and programs that involve a range of policy options important for all generations, and bringing together people from various age groups, could be facilitated through adoption of forward-looking legal frameworks and intergenerationally- sensitive legislation. 

Palabras Clave (separar con comas)

intergenerational equity, solidarity between generations, intergenerational dialogue, policy options

Resumen

Immigration policy is complicated, especially in regard to undocumented immigrants in the United States. For decades, the Statute of Liberty has represented a beacon of hope for the global community, and a symbol of inclusion in the land of opportunity. Yet, immigrant groups are often pushed to the margins of society by a social exclusion process, which promotes a lack of opportunities, choice and not being part of the democratic process of social inclusion. The experience of social exclusion can be defined as a process that involves the lack or denial of resources, rights, goods and services, and the immigrant groups’ inability to participate in broad social relationships and activities (United Nations, 2016).This paper addresses the COVID-19 pandemic, a relational conceptualization of social exclusion and essential workers, and the significance of undocumented immigrant contributions during the pandemic in the U.S. and Europe. Presenters address the continuous divestment of “categorical” immigrant populations by the Trump administration, the lack of responsiveness by the U.S. Senate and other global countries to the needs of undocumented immigrant essential workers. Future directions include social inclusion policies and measures that respect the human rights and dignity of diverse immigrants. A partnership among government, employers and essential workers is necessary for the undocumented to come out of the shadows and become part of the social fabric. In global societies, undocumented immigrants work at higher rates in essential critical infrastructure sectors than native born citizens. COVID-19 exposed the systemic undervaluing of work that is now clearly understood to be essential for societal survival. As essential workers, immigrants fill gaps in the world economy and workforce, improve labor market efficiency and support the aging population.  A social work call to action is needed to promote social inclusion measures for immigrants working in essential services is a global concern.  

Palabras Clave (separar con comas)

Immigration policy, undocumented essential workers, COVID 19 pandemic, social exclusion, human rights.