ANNOUNCEMENT: Reduction in membership fees approved

On May 10, 2006, Council approved a By-law which will reduce the annual fee and registration fee for members, effective January 1, 2007. Council reviewed a number of possible financial scenarios and approved these changes in order to respond to member's recommendations regarding the fee while remaining fiscally responsible.  These changes also reflect a strategic priority of Council to recruit and retain new graduates of social work and social service work programs as members of the College.    

The following changes to the College's fee structure are effective beginning January 1, 2007:

• The registration fee, payable at the time of application to the College, will decrease from $370 to $340 and will continue to be pro-rated on a quarterly basis dependent upon the date when a certificate of registration is issued.

• The annual fee for members of the College will decrease from $370 to $340 per year.  This change will be reflected on the 2007 annual renewal forms that will be sent to members later this year. 

• For new graduates (those who apply for registration in the College in the year in which they graduate from a social work or social service work program), the registration fee will decrease from $370 to $240 and will be pro-rated quarterly.  Additionally, the annual fee for these new graduate members in the two subsequent years of their membership will be $240, provided that the payment of the annual fee is made prior to the date on which the late payment penalty is effective. 

• For new graduates, who graduate in 2006 and apply to the College in 2006, the registration fee will remain at $370 and be pro-rated quarterly.  However, the annual fee for these new graduate members will be $240 for the two subsequent years of their membership provided that the payment of the annual fee is made prior to the date on which the late penalty is effective.

• The non-refundable application fee remains unchanged at $75, payable when an application for registration is submitted to the College.

If you have any questions about the new fee structure, please contact the College via e-mail at info@ocswssw.org.

Annual Meeting and Education Day 2006 Update

UPDATE: NEW SESSION

Clients in Crisis: Assessing Risk & Utilizing Resources
Paula Podolski, RSW

For most practitioners working with individuals, it is inevitable that a crisis will emerge at some time. Those working outside the mental health field may be uncertain about determining a client’s risk of harm to self or others, what resources may be available and when to use them. This session will provide participants with tools and guidelines used in assessing risk, along with information about appropriate crisis resources.

*** This session will replace AMIS Database: Improving Service Delivery being offered from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

For more details and a schedule of events, please visit http://www.ocswssw.org/sections/Events/AMED2006.html.

Announcement of Deputy Registrar

The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Carolyn Daniels to the position of Deputy Registrar, effective June 13, 2006.  Carolyn obtained her PhD in Social Work in 1996 from Wilfrid Laurier University and her Master of Social Work in 1980 from George Williams College at Aurora University.  Carolyn brings to the position of Deputy Registrar 15 years of frontline social work experience in Children’s Aid and teaching hospitals as well as over 10 years of management experience in health care, most recently as Director of Discharge Planning and Palliative and Bereavement Care at the Hospital for Sick Children. Carolyn has held several academic appointments over the years, most recently at University of Guelph. Her specialty is teaching statistics and research methods.

Glenda McDonald, Registrar, noted that “It is Carolyn’s unique combination of membership in the College, direct practice experience and diverse management experience that make her the ideal candidate for this new position. We feel very fortunate to have Carolyn join the staff of the College at this time in our development.”