Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, next week is NWT Social Work Week. Today I rise to recognize the valuable contribution of social workers to children, families and communities in the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, the strength and wellness of a community is most clearly reflected in the care and concern it places on the most vulnerable of its residents. The practice of social work in the NWT reinforces this premise as the profession is dedicated to building community connections and family supports that ensure our most vulnerable individuals, including children, seniors, persons with disabilities and people in crisis, have safe, respectful and nurturing environments.

The social work profession is as diverse as the people who fill the positions. Social workers bring their strengths, their skills, their education and their life experiences to their work. In addition to child protection services, social workers provide services in a variety of specialty areas including:

• • community corrections;
• • community development;
• • addictions services;
• • seniors and disabilities services;
• • mental health services;
• • adoption services;
• • family counselling; and,
• • crisis intervention counselling.

As you can see, the social work profession offers much to the well-being of our communities and to the NWT society as a whole. The profession, particularly here in the NWT, is all about working with communities in partnership with other frontline

professionals and support workers. This partnership is key to building on family and community strengths in a proactive manner and to providing the necessary supports during times of crisis or need.

The Department of Health and Social Services has a leadership role to promote and nurture the profession of social work within the health and social services system. As Members know, Mr. Speaker, the department continues to work in partnership with health and social services authorities to implement an action plan that responds to recommendations of the child and family services review done in May 2000. Our accomplishments include:

• • providing funding for social workers to access professional development;
• • increasing the number of social workers in the GNWT workforce by 20 positions in the past two years;
• • creating a new mentorship program for the social work profession;
• • improving the electronic information system that social workers use to deliver child and family services;
• • developing system-wide standards of practice as well as guidelines of best practices;
• • supporting the development of a territorial Foster Parent Association; and,
• • supporting non-government organizations to provide services and to advocate for community members.

I am also pleased to announce, Mr. Speaker, some new resources that are being released as part of Social Work Week. The department partnered with the Association of Social Workers in Northern Canada and Aurora College to develop career booklets, an interactive CD and a toolkit to market the profession of social work in the NWT.

These resources are being highlighted during the social work conference and AGM that's being held today and this weekend.

Mr. Speaker, this year's theme for Social Work Week is aptly titled "Social Work - Leaders for Social Change." Join me in recognizing social workers throughout the NWT who bring positive social change to NWT families and communities every day. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause