NSCSW Connections: Black & African social worker community of practice

African Nova Scotian and Black social workers in Nova Scotia are invited to join colleagues from across the province to connect, network, organize, & share resources. Providing spaces and resources for closed groups can create safe(r) spaces for social workers who have shared identities and lived experiences.

Communities of practice are wonderful opportunities for like-minded practitioners, or professionals engaged in similar areas of practice, to be able to gather and share ideas and best practices. They are an opportunity for networking, fellowship, resource sharing, and advocacy development. They can also help reduce burnout by reminding us that we are not alone, but rather part of a larger whole.

These sessions will happen once every three months and are intended to be a low-barrier and informal opportunity. There is no preparation required to attend these events, and you are encouraged to arrive as you are! Bring your lunch, something you want to talk about, or just show up. Get together with your colleagues to talk about what matters to you and build your professional network!

This session is hosted and facilitated by Bria Symonds, Associate Registrar, NSCSW.

Objectives

• Relational: Connect with other Black & African Nova Scotian social workers and build relationships that support professional Social Work identity and practice. (Create)

• Skill: Develop and implement self-reflective processes that support ethical social work practice (Apply).

• Knowledge: Identify and understand strategies and approaches to ethical social work practice used by other social workers in the Black & African Nova Scotian context (Analyze & Understand).

• Values: Examine and shift beliefs, worldviews, and ideologies contributing to ethical social work practice (Evaluate & Understand).

Facilitator

Bria Symonds BSW/ CYC/ MSWC/ SWC (She/Her)

Bria is a proud African Nova Scotian, social worker, educator and community connector. She has practiced in the non-for-profit sector and in post-secondary education. Bria is currently the Associate Registrar for Nova Scotia College of Social Workers and a graduate student at Dalhousie University.

Related Code of Ethics & Standards of Practice

CASW (2024):

• Value 4: Valuing Human Relationships

• Value 7: Providing Competent Professional Services
• Guiding Principle 7.1: Social workers continuously develop their professional knowledge and skill at the level required to provide competent professional services.
• Guiding Principle 7.2: Social workers practise within their level of competence and seek appropriate guidance when services required are beyond their competence.
• Guiding Principle 7.3: Social workers contribute to the ongoing development of the social work profession and current and future social workers.

Eligibility

This event is only for members of the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW) who identify as being African Nova Scotian and/or Black. All active, associate, retired associate, and student members who are part of these communities are welcome to attend. There are no other prerequisites for this session.

This space is created to be a closed group that is not open to allies outside the Black and African Nova Scotian communities. If you are outside these communities and practicing allyship/solidarity you are invited and encouraged to join the main Community of Practice sessions which occur every three months.

Black and African social workers outside Nova Scotia may wish to explore the monthly conversation series hosted by the Canadian Association of Social Workers in partnership with

Tracking professional development

For members of NSCSW, this event is eligible towards the annual requirement for professional development in prevention of vicarious trauma & secondary stress. Members who have already fulfilled that requirement may choose to track this session as an informal self-care activity instead.

Visit nscsw.org/pd for more information about the updated professional development requirements for Nova Scotia social workers.

Questions?

If you have questions, please contact the College's Professional Development Consultant Tyler Colbourne, tyler.colbourne@nscsw.org.