The Voice of the Social Work Profession
Moving Ahead Together, OASW’s new five-year Strategic Plan, builds on the successes of our organization and our members over the past 18 months and sets a bold path for the future of the profession. Watch our video, download the plan, or scroll down to learn more – and join us as we chart the future of social work over the next five years.
At the core of our four strategic directions is our commitment to advance the social work profession. We intend to do so through collaboration, raising awareness, and providing our current and future members with accessible opportunities for their professional development, advocacy, networking, and engagement. We are committed to integrating equity-based frameworks in everything we do and to reinforcing our accountability through action and continuous monitoring.
Over the next five years, we commit to “Shaping the Future of Social Work” through:
Awareness Define and raise awareness of social work as a profession.
Advocacy Provide a collective voice for social workers in Ontario by advocating for issues that matter the most to our members and their communities.
Collaboration Enhance our reputation through mutually beneficial strategic partnerships, raising the visibility of our profession.
Forecasting Needs Identify and respond to the evolving needs of the social work profession.
Data Management Collect, cultivate, and acquire primary and secondary data to drive informed and effective decision making for our profession.
We will exemplify our commitment to equity integration through four focus areas, informed by an anti-oppressive, intersectional, and anti-racist lens:
INSPIRE ACTION: Changes that make an impact
INTENTIONAL AWARENESS: Critical reflective practice
INNOVATIVE EDUCATION: Excellence in development & delivery
INFLUENCE CHANGE: Critical transformations together
Over the next five years, we commit to “Leading Equity Integration” through:
Enhancing Professional Development/Knowledge Develop resources, training and policy recommendations that support social workers in implementing equity principles in their practice.
Amplifying Diverse Perspectives Build an Association and membership that reflects the incredible diversity of Ontario’s communities and the social work profession. Engage with, listen to, and elevate the diverse voices and experiences of our members.
Integrating Critical Reflection Integrate critical reflection into the profession by providing members with the tools and resources needed to integrate and engage in critical reflective practice in their work.
Building Intentional Partnerships Advance discourses on equity, disparities and disproportionalities with key stakeholders and decisionmakers to drive transformational change and outcomes together.
Over the next five years, we commit to “Growing our Membership & Enhancing our Engagement” through:
Collective Identity Foster a strong sense of belonging, community and collective unity amongst social workers and their networks.
Growth and Retention Engage with different sectors, students, Indigenous and Francophone communities, and under-represented individuals, while applying a data-informed approach to grow our membership.
Professional Development and Education Facilitate continuous learning by offering training and resources that enhance the application of best practice, evidence-based approaches, and collaboration.
Prioritizing Equity Integration Understand the needs and circumstances of members, enhancing authentic engagement with individuals from diverse identities and lived experiences.
Accessibility and Modernization Apply an accessibility lens and useful technological platforms to expand, enhance and align member services, meeting evolving needs.
Enhancing Membership Engagement Initiate integrated engagement strategies to improve members’ experiences across distinct sectors and stages in their career.
Community and Networking Develop channels so that members can share valuable knowledge and professional insights.
Over the next five years, we commit to “Building a Sustainable Future” through:
Increasing Capacity Build our capacity by refining our internal systems, streamlining our work, and applying technology to enhance our efficiency as an organization.
Diversifying Revenue Seek and sustain a variety of funding streams outside of membership fees to ensure the organization’s financial security, stability, and flexibility.
Nurturing our Culture Maintain our strong morale and positive culture through reinforcing trust, offering flexibility, and encouraging transparency and collaboration.
Planning for Succession Reduce knowledge silos by identifying core roles and competencies, empowering those demonstrating leadership, and leveraging technology for effective knowledge transfer.
Systems and Processes Develop sustainable frameworks, systems and processes to ensure that our services, benefits, communications strategy, advocacy efforts and initiatives remain aligned with members’ needs.