In his 1967 speech to Philadelphia high school students, the civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. said: “If you can’t fly, run. If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t walk, crawl, but by all means, keep moving.”
Since March 2020, we have encountered many changes and obstacles. The “new normal” of the pandemic has caused pain and anxiety for so many, yet it has also compelled us to re-examine the world in which we live, on a personal and professional level. And though the future may feel uncertain at times, it is imperative for the College and its members to remain open, flexible and willing to adapt. Or, in the words of Dr. King, “to keep moving.”
Recently, the College implemented its return-to-office plan – a hybrid model approach which will see staff working in the College’s office in Toronto as well as at home. This approach is a major cultural and organizational design shift for the College, but it allows us to be more flexible and accessible for stakeholders and staff while also continuing to fulfill our important public protection mandate.
We recognize, too, that many of you – our members – have had to adapt many aspects of your practice, including the way you access the College and deliver your services. According to our COVID-19 Impact Survey conducted in November 2020, more than two-thirds of College members said that they or their organization will continue to offer electronic services – or use a hybrid approach – beyond the pandemic. This represents a dramatic shift from just two years ago.
In recognition of these changes for members, the College has prioritized the development of resources related to electronic practice, including our most recent Practice Notes which can be accessed in this newsletter. College members are also required to read resources related to communication technology and electronic services as part of the 2021 Continuing Competence Program (CCP).
In addition to new practice resources, we have changed the way we serve our stakeholders, with a focus on accessibility and equity. The 2021 Annual Meeting and Education Day (AMED), for example, was hosted entirely online and was by many accounts the most interactive AMED to date, attracting more than 2,000 participants, 98% of whom indicating they would attend the event next year.
We continue to move forward with our efforts to increase diversity, equity and inclusion – a strategic priority for the College – with the establishment of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Task Group earlier this year. We are encouraged by the work of the Task Group and look forward to its recommendations. You can read the latest updates from the Task Group in this newsletter.
I want to thank all College members for their continued commitment to ethical and professional practice. We have encountered many changes and obstacles over the past couple of years, but with open minds and flexible thinking, the future looks bright.
Sincerely,
Lise Betteridge, MSW, RSW
Registrar and CEO