In this update:
- College Updates MAID Resource for Members
- SAVE THE DATE! Educational Forum
- ODSP Revises Disability Determination Package and Medical Review Package Self Report
- Online Mental Health and Substance Use Supports for Health care Workers and Primary Care Providers
The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (the College) is pleased to share the following information and resources to support members’ practice:
College Revises MAID Resource for Members
The College recently has updated its medical assistance in dying (MAID) practice resource, entitled Medical Assistance in Dying: What Are My Professional Obligations? This resource guides College members in understanding their professional obligations in relation to MAID.
The Parliament of Canada first passed legislation on MAID on June 17, 2016 and made additional changes in March 2021. As is the case with any changes to legislation, there are many details to be worked out as health care professionals – which may include social workers and social service workers – apply the legislation to their day-to-day work. The College will continue to keep a close watch on this issue as it evolves.
Members can access the College’s resource on MAID here. For all practice inquiries related to MAID, please contact practice@ocswssw.org.
SAVE THE DATE! Educational Forum
The College is pleased to announce that it will be holding its upcoming virtual Educational Forum on Wednesday October 27, 2021. The Educational Forum is part of the Glenda McDonald Educational Series.
Following the success of this year’s two-day virtual Annual Meeting and Education Day (AMED) – which reached over 2,000 members – and as part of the College’s ongoing efforts to leverage technology as well as increase equity and inclusion, this year’s Educational Forum will be hosted entirely online via livestream.
The College is pleased to have Tina Gandhi, MSW, RSW, as the keynote speaker for this year’s Forum. Tina’s keynote address will focus on accessibility and disability issues in relation to social work and social service work practice. Social workers and social service workers can view Tina Gandhi’s presentation from her educational session at the College’s Annual Meeting and Education Day this summer on the College’s YouTube channel.
Stay tuned for more information
College members will be required to register for the Educational Forum. During the livestream, members will have the opportunity to participate by asking questions and/or making comments through the virtual portal. Please note that registration is not yet open. The College will provide more information about the 2021 Educational Forum, including registration details, to members in the coming months.
For more information, please contact the College’s Communications Department at communications@ocswssw.org.
ODSP Revises Disability Determination Package and Medical Review Package Self Report
The Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) has revised the Disability Determination Package (DDP) for Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) applicants and developed a new Medical Review Package (MRP) Self Report for recipients.
The MCCSS states that it is improving the ODSP adjudication process by introducing updated forms which it says will be easier for health care professionals and ODSP applicants and recipients to complete.
Members can learn more about the changes and how to complete the forms by clicking on the following links:
Ontario.ca – ODSP
ODSP Directives
Online Mental Health and Substance Use Supports for Health care Workers and Primary Care Providers
The Government of Canada is inviting College members to use its Wellness Together Canada (WTC) portal, which offers services tailored to health care and primary care providers.
The WTC portal was launched on April 15, 2020 to help address the rise in feelings of stress, anxiety and depression in Canada due to COVID-19. The portal offers access to free and confidential online mental health and substance use supports, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in both official languages, and phone-counselling sessions are supported by interpretation in 200 languages and dialects.
For more information on the WTC portal, please visit wellnesstogether.ca.