| GOALS | OBJECTIVES & ACTION ITEMS | SPECIFICS, TIMELINES AND PERSONS RESPONSIBLE |
| 1.MEMBERSHIP/BOARD The ASWNC will build its membership base and a sustainable Board. | Objective One: The ASWNC will build and promote membership benefits of the ASWNC to northern social workers. Action Items: - ASWNC will aim to secure funding that can be used for training purposes for members of ASWNC. (Refer to Goal Two)
- ASWNC will design/produce a 1-page summary of membership benefits for website and distribution to northern social workers.
- ASWNC will identify marketing opportunities (newsletters, government communications, list-serve emails, conferences and training gatherings) to share the 1-page summary and educate/remind northern social workers about the benefits of membership.
- Executive will meet with Territorial governments to promote the benefits of supporting their social work staff in becoming members (i.e. paying membership dues, supporting travel to conferences, having input in to conference/training agendas).
Objective Two: The Board will encourage the establishment of regional and/or community chapters who host regular meetings in each of the territories. Action Items: - The Board and/or ASWNC members will be encouraged to establish regional and/or community chapters to link social workers, share information and promote social work and ASWNC.
- The Board will ask regional groups to provide reports/updates to the Board that can be shared in newsletter or minutes with all members.
- Distribution of membership list to all members of ASWNC.
Objective Three: ASWNC will ensure that it has a sustainable Board with members from each Territory, new and repeat Board members, and members who agree to sit on at least one sub-committee. Action Items: - An orientation session will take place within two weeks following the AGM for new Board Members and returning Board Members.
- Each Board member will actively recruit at least one regular (non-Board) member to assist with committee business.
- Sub-committee chairs and/or Board Members will write a brief description of the work their committee requires and the volunteer commitment that it entails (i.e. “1 conference call per month”, “2 meetings per year”, “read and respond to draft documents”).
Objective Four: ASWNC will actively seek out new members. Action Items:
- All ASWNC members are encouraged to invite non-members to join ASWNC.
- ASWNC will encourage/invite students and recent graduates to be members of ASWNC by doing the following:
· Every June an ASWNC Board member will be responsible for obtaining the names and address of new graduates from Arctic College, Aurora College and Yukon College and sending out a congratulatory card to new graduates along with membership application forms. · Every October an ASWNC representative will arrange to speak in social work classes at Arctic College, Aurora College and Yukon College and present information about ASWNC membership benefits, its goals and activities. - ASWNC Board members will explore the possibility of extending membership to social workers in Nunavik and Labrador.
- Regional chapters will encourage the attendance of non-ASWNC members to their meetings and activities.
- Previous members of ASWNC will be encouraged to renew membership on an annual basis. Updates on ASWNC will be provided (Objective One).
| Finance Committee Sandy Little, Board members May 2009 Communication Committee Ongoing Executive Committee March 2010 Communication Committee and Promotion Committee Ongoing Regional & Community Chapters Ongoing Executive Director Annually in June Executive and Board Members Annually Board Members Ongoing Board Members and Committee Chairs Within six-months of establishing the committee. All members Ongoing Promotion Committee Annually in June Lynn Sparks, Board Members January 2010 Regional Chapters Ongoing Executive Director, Board Members Annually in April |
| 2. FINANCES The work and activities of ASWNC will be supported by a sustainable funding source and/or membership fees. | Objective One: ASWNC will approach the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon Territorial governments for a funding contribution agreement to support the activities of ASWNC. Action Items: - ASWNC Board Members will send letter to each government requesting core funding for ASWNC.
- If required, ASWNC executive will set up meetings with senior government officials in each territorial government to request core funding for ASWNC.
- ASWNC executive will apply to GNWT Human Resources for Professional Development funding on an annual basis. (August Deadline)
Objective Two: The ASWNC will have a fair and sustainable membership fee scale. Action Items: - Establish a committee to research a membership fee scale for ASWNC that is reflective of the services we offer as well as consistent with other provincial associations.
- This information will be presented to the Board and brought forward for a vote to all members.
- Subsequently, membership fees will be reviewed every three years and re-established on the basis of services ASWNC offers and consistent with other provincial associations.
Objective Three: ASWNC will seek alternative funding sources to government. Action Items: - A volunteer from each territory will research potential NGO funding sources and grants in the social services field.
- Develop a list of possible funding sources within the three Territories.
- Develop an annual plan to contact funding sources.
| Finance Committee Finance Committee May 2009 NWT Board Members Annually in July Review this Objective in 2010 Finance Committee December 2009 January 2010 March 2010 |
| 3. COMMUNICATION The ASWNC communicates effectively within the membership and the public. | Objective One: A chair and sub-committee for communication related activities will be maintained. Guiding principles: - The committee will be responsible for updating the website, creating a newsletter and other tasks as agreed to at board meetings.
- The chair of the committee will provide updates on the website, newsletter and other communication activities at board meetings.
Objective Two: ASWNC will ensure that the website is regularly updated with correct information about ASWNC activities. Action Items: - The chair and members of the Communication Committee will work with the web administrator to update and maintain the AWNC website.
- Determine what information should go on the website, arrange for updates and bring reports back to the board.
- The Communication Committee will establish a social work job-postings section on the website. The sub-committee will work with government human resources departments to establish an agreement for posting.
Objective Three: The ASWNC will create and distribute a newsletter to all members, social work agencies and related Ministers/ADMs/Managers on a bi-annual basis. Action Items: - The chair and members of the communication sub-committee will prepare a newsletter on a bi-annual basis (Spring and Fall) with input from the Board and ASWNC members.
- Board members will seek input/stories from their local social work community to include in the newsletter.
- The newsletter will be posted on the website, sent electronically and by regular mail to social work agencies in the north.
Objective Four: ASWNC will provide all members with email versions of the Board meeting minutes. Action Items: · The Executive Director will send out minutes to all current members following each Board meeting. Objective Five: ASWNC will increase ways for members to connect with each other on a regular and ongoing basis. Action Items: - The communications committee will explore the possibility of a list-serve and/or on-line chat room for social workers in the North.
- Explore the possibility of conference calls that could be open to all members to share news/updates/learning.
- Establish regional ASWNC chapters: See Goal #1, Objective #4
| Communication Committee Communication Committee Ongoing Initial update and report to Board December 2009/Ongoing Initial discussion & report to Board by May 2009 Ongoing Communication Subcommittee Initial Newsletter July 2009 Ongoing Board Members Ongoing Executive Director and Communication Committee Ongoing (following publication of letter) Executive Director Ongoing Communications Committee January 2010 Communications Committee January 2010 Territorial Board Members January 2010 |
| 4. REGULATION The ASWNC will continue to explore and promote the regulation of the social work profession with the membership, public and territorial governments. | Objective One: ASWNC will continue to consult with membership regarding regulation of the social work profession. - Establish a section of the ASWNC website for “Social Work Regulation News”.
- Use web-based survey tools and emails when seeking membership input on regulation issues.
Objective Two: The ASWNC will have regulation sub-committees in each of the three territories to relay information regarding regulation to the Board and Members and also to promote regulation within their own territory. Action Items: - Local ASWNC members will host an information session for social workers regarding regulation status/efforts in each territory.
- NWT regulation subcommittee members will continue to work with government and NWT social workers regarding regulation efforts.
| Regulation Committee June 2009, Ongoing Regulation Committee May 2010 Sandy Little, Jette Finsborg Ongoing |
| 5. ADVOCACY and SOCIAL JUSTICE The ASWNC will present a voice in advocating on social issues and on issues related to the social work profession. | Objective One: A chair and committee for related advocacy/social justice activities will be maintained. Objective Two: ASWNC members will present safety and working condition related concerns to our governments. Action Items: - Advocacy/Social Justice Committee will work with GNWT on the status of Worker Safety Working Group and report and provide updates to ASWNC members.
Objective Three: ASWNC will review and/or respond to social justice concerns in the North when they are brought forward by members of the Association or the public. Action Items: - Advocacy/Social Justice Committee together with the Board will respond promptly to opportunities for public education and social justice when issues are identified.
- Advocacy/Social Justice Committee together with the Board will develop a list of northern social issues and choose 1 per year to research, write a position statement on, and communicate these to the public via website, newsletters and press releases.
| Advocacy and Social Justice Committee Established by March 2010 Ongoing Advocacy/Social Justice Committee Review this objective in March 2010 Advocacy/Social Justice Committee Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing |
| 6. PROMOTE SOCIAL WORK The ASWNC will promote awareness of the roles, skills, contributions of and opportunities in social work practice in the North. | Objective One: The ASWNC will encourage and support the creation of territorial committees to host social work week events in each of the territories. - ASWNC Board will provide advance notice to membership about the dates and them for Social Work Week.
- Social Work week will be discussed at the Board meeting every January to encourage the establishment of March Social Work Week events in each territory.
- ASWNC Board will provide sample ideas for Social Work Week events to the membership.
- Where possible, ASWNC will arrange for a pan-Territorial Social Work Week activity or press-release.
- ASWNC will connect with one other professional discipline/organization for Social Work Week activities with the goal of building partnerships between ASWNC and that discipline/organization.
Objective Two: ASWNC will initiate activities during the year to promote social work in the North and ASWNC. - ASWNC Promotion Committee will seek out nominations and present awards for students graduating with a Bachelor of Social Work Degree or Social Work Diploma from Aurora College, Arctic College or Yukon College.
| ASWNC Promotion Committee Annually in November Annually in January Annually in January Annually in January To be reviewed in 2010 ASWNC Promotion Committee Annually in April and May |
