The Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development started in 2010 when 3000 social work representatives and social development professionals came together to set the priorities for the profession until 2020. This significantly successful period of the Global Agenda has been an essential voice in proactively setting and fulfilling the Sustainable Developmental Goals, working towards more peaceful and just societies and strengthening the voice of the social work profession.
Now, the social work profession needs to examine new themes and processes to expand the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development for the years 2020 to 2030. From IFSW, we are launching a consultation process, where your input is essential to build a robust and inclusive Global Agenda that meets the real needs of all people. The consultation period will end in July 2020.
Please make your contributions to the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development 2020 – 2030 by filling in the comments box at the bottom of this page.
To see the reports of the Global Agenda from 2010 to 2018 please visit the IFSW Bookstore where you can download the reports for free. Below is a video message from the IFSW President Silvana Martinez and Secretary-General Rory Truell providing some examples of the success of the Global Agenda and inviting all people interested in the development of social work to participate in the consultation process. The video is subtitled in both Spanish and English.
Comments Section
Please leave any comments on your proposed Global Agenda themes for 2020 to 2030 and any suggestions for how to integrate the themes across the decade which also allows the Global Agenda process to effectively respond to any unforeseen social issues that may arise.
According to the latest report issued by the Public Health Agency of Canada, it is estimated that one in every 66 Canadian children and youth aged five to 17 has autism spectrum disorder. This report details the prevalence of the disorder in Canada and the findings seem to align with those estimates in the United States; 1 in 68 children (The Canadian Press, 2018). Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is defined as a neurodevelopmental disorder that includes impairments in language, communication skills, and social interactions combined with restricted and repetitive behaviours, interests or activities (Government of Canada, 2018). Signs of ASD are typically detected in early childhood, with boys four to five times more frequently diagnosed with ASD than girls (Government of Canada, 2018). People with autism are often experience stigma and discrimination in their lives and their human rights are often violated through the unjust deprivation of health, education and opportunities to engage and participate in their communities (WHO, 2018). In May 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO), World Health Assembly adopted a resolution entitled “Comprehensive and coordinated efforts for the management of autism spectrum disorders (ASD),” which was supported by more than 60 countries (WHO, 2018). With the hope that Canada is moving closer to the creation of a national autism strategy, I feel there is a significant role for social work in the advocacy, support, and service delivery for children and adults with ASD and their families, at local, regional, national and world levels.
I am a social work student in Canada. As a student, there have been times when entering the profession has been daunting due to the intensity of the profession. Many informal social work groups discuss the often negative personal impacts of being a service provider, a front line worker, counselor, child protection and family worker. Social work has one of the highest rates of professional burnout. In Canada alone, 75% of social workers surveyed by the CASW indicated that they suffered under unmanageable caseloads. These overloaded caseloads are symptomatic of communities who need the unique support offered by social workers, but often have extremely long wait times as those who carry out that support need support themselves. Social workers often cite the difficulties of vicarious trauma, overwhelming administrative duties and work far beyond their paid hours. This problem is not unique to Canada and is one that is echoed all over the world. I would love to see an international commitment to improving the conditions under which social workers are employed so that they can give the appropriate care and services to the communities that they serve.
I am a social work student in Canada. In a worldwide climate of austerity and right wing conservative political agendas, I would love to see social workers meaningfully engage in critical and intersectional social justice work as integral parts of our work. Many of us are employed in social services where the charity/helper model is strong, and we are discouraged from engaging in systems level change doing. Complacency towards oppressive systems is harming our communities, and so many of us are kept incredibly busy with individual level interventions. For example, I work in harm-reduction where I spend most of my day loving and nurturing extremely traumatised communities surviving a war on drug users. I’d much rather be advocating for drug decriminalization and the demilitarization of local police forces. In comparison, the nursing field has taken much stronger stances and advocacy based measures on harm-reduction and overdose emergency related issues. I wonder how social workers and social work oversight bodies (such as the Canadian Association of Social Workers) could hold employers/government funders accountable to an approach that is invested in dismantling oppressive systems (such as drug prohibition, or eurocentric and settler-colonial mentalities, capitalism, heteropatriarchy, classism, etc).
Greetings,
My proposed Global Agenda themes for 2020 to 2030 are holistic theory and spirituality. I envision a social work that places great importance on holistic healing where systems theory is employed with the fundamental relationship being that with The Creator. Spirituality is truly global and has the ability to mitigate social issues.
Thank you,
– S. Craigg
The theme I would wish to suggest for the next 10 years is “The Role of Social Work & Rising Global Refugee Crisis”.
The effects of ongoing global conflicts on very vulnerable people – women (including those who are pregnant), children and the injured remains very critical. I believe with the unfolding political tone in the world, rising migration crisis and lots more, social workers should make this theme a frontline issue for the next decade.
I am a social work student in Canada. It would be impactful to have social workers on the global level unite to discuss how more preventative measures or approaches can be implemented into existing child welfare agencies. I understand from working on a Child Protection team that resources and funding are limited so would love to hear a discussion on how we, as social workers, can help support families within current structures.
I am a social work student in Canada. I would like to see social work in Canada improve with our Indigenous populations, who have greatly suffered at the hands of social workers (ie. The Sixties Scoop). Eurocentric practices within social work do not fully serve Indigenous populations and can often be harmful. Incorporating Indigenous social work practices into the Canadian Association of Social Work (CASW) would benefit Indigenous peoples in Canada as well as hopefully improve the relationship between social workers and Indigenous populations.
Yes.good work.go ahed