Our Vision & Mission
OUR VISION
The Canadian Society for Spirituality and Social Work (CSSSW) envisions a diverse and dynamic collaborative network of social workers and professional partners, at both national and international levels, who are committed to excellence and engaged in the advancement of spiritually sensitive approaches to social care and justice. Our ultimate goal is to support individuals, groups and communities to fulfill their highest potential and wellbeing across all areas of life.
In this pursuit, this collaborative network embraces, promotes, and enhances spirituality in practice, research and academia to advance knowledge, competency and evidence of spiritually sensitive care. We incorporate a bio-psycho-social-spiritual lens into social work.
OUR MISSION
The mission of the CSSSW is to explore, understand, foster, and facilitate the integration of spirituality into social work practice, education, and research within a collaborative and interprofessional holistic model of care. The CSSSW’s intention is to support and welcome the exchange of information, knowledge and ideas that enable the pursuit of excellence in social work within a spiritually sensitive approach.
We aim and strive to promote social justice, confront oppression, improve overall health and wellbeing, and nurture the spiritual and transcendent nature of all. The CSSSW believes that an increased awareness, acceptance, and integration of spirituality in social work, as well as familiarity with spiritually sensitive approaches to social work, will support the attainment of the highest levels of human potential for both individuals and communities.
OUR VALUES
Members of the CSSSW respect and honour the interconnectedness, sacredness, dignity and diversity of all aspects and forms of life. The CSSSW upholds ethical, inclusive and holistic spiritual beliefs and practices.
ETHICAL
The CSSSW values and is committed to promoting the highest professional standards in the advancement of spiritually sensitive approaches. The CSSSW seeks to develop policies and practices which are consistent with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the relevant provincial human rights legislation. In pursuit of expanding the depth and breadth of the profession, the CSSSW upholds the core values, principles, ethical standards and guidelines of practice outlined by the Canadian Association of Social Workers.
The CSSSW values and welcomes interprofessional partnerships across Canada and internationally. We believe that interprofessional collaboration can promote quality and comprehensiveness in holistic care.
HOLISTIC
Holistic as used here refers to the consideration of the whole person (bio-psycho-social-spiritual) and their whole environment. This understanding recognizes the interdependence and connectedness of all things, and the belief that individual and social well-being requires the well-being of Earth. As a result social work interventions consider the whole person and the whole context. The achievement of one’s fullest potential (whether individual, community or Earth) requires environments in which each member can achieve their fullest potential. In this context, fulfillment and self-transcendence refer to the ability to be motivated by interests that include self in community -- the wellbeing of all.
We believe that increased awareness, acceptance, integration and competency in spiritually sensitive approaches to social work will facilitate effective practice. Our holistic agenda is one of inclusivity, anti-oppression and respect. We value diverse and dynamic spiritually sensitive social work, and the CSSSW strives to promote collaboration with other professions.
INCLUSIVE
The CSSSW welcomes scholars, practitioners and students from social work and other professions, who value the importance of spirituality. The CSSSW celebrates diversity and is committed to breaking down barriers and promoting social inclusion for the spiritual development of all. The CSSSW promotes the facilitation and nurturance of spiritual interventions across a broad spectrum of social work and interprofessional practice, education and research. We are committed to creating space for traditional, diverse, and unique epistemologies and heuristics within our global context.
OUR GOALS
To provide members with knowledge and information that enables them to more effectively attend to spirituality in their professional and personal lives.
The CSSSW sees value in multiple perspectives, beliefs, religions, and spiritualities that are respectful and inclusive of all persons. Spirituality involves ways of being and knowing which change across the lifespan. Spirituality is defined and experienced uniquely by each human being, and can be expressed within a wide spectrum of beliefs, narratives, rituals and practices. Spirituality commonly involves aspects of life and ways of being which provide a sense of connection, meaning and purpose. Common themes pertaining to spirituality include identity, sense of self, faith, hope, peace, wonder, awe, mystery, meaning, transformation and transcendence. Spirituality can be expressed in many ways including religion, symbols, metaphors, rituals and ceremonies. Many individuals recognize an interconnectedness of all aspects of life. Spirituality is complex and multidimensional and the CSSSW believes it should be defined contextually.
The Canadian Society for Spirituality and Social Work (CSSSW) envisions a diverse and dynamic collaborative network of social workers and professional partners, at both national and international levels, who are committed to excellence and engaged in the advancement of spiritually sensitive approaches to social care and justice. Our ultimate goal is to support individuals, groups and communities to fulfill their highest potential and wellbeing across all areas of life.
In this pursuit, this collaborative network embraces, promotes, and enhances spirituality in practice, research and academia to advance knowledge, competency and evidence of spiritually sensitive care. We incorporate a bio-psycho-social-spiritual lens into social work.
OUR MISSION
The mission of the CSSSW is to explore, understand, foster, and facilitate the integration of spirituality into social work practice, education, and research within a collaborative and interprofessional holistic model of care. The CSSSW’s intention is to support and welcome the exchange of information, knowledge and ideas that enable the pursuit of excellence in social work within a spiritually sensitive approach.
We aim and strive to promote social justice, confront oppression, improve overall health and wellbeing, and nurture the spiritual and transcendent nature of all. The CSSSW believes that an increased awareness, acceptance, and integration of spirituality in social work, as well as familiarity with spiritually sensitive approaches to social work, will support the attainment of the highest levels of human potential for both individuals and communities.
OUR VALUES
Members of the CSSSW respect and honour the interconnectedness, sacredness, dignity and diversity of all aspects and forms of life. The CSSSW upholds ethical, inclusive and holistic spiritual beliefs and practices.
ETHICAL
The CSSSW values and is committed to promoting the highest professional standards in the advancement of spiritually sensitive approaches. The CSSSW seeks to develop policies and practices which are consistent with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the relevant provincial human rights legislation. In pursuit of expanding the depth and breadth of the profession, the CSSSW upholds the core values, principles, ethical standards and guidelines of practice outlined by the Canadian Association of Social Workers.
The CSSSW values and welcomes interprofessional partnerships across Canada and internationally. We believe that interprofessional collaboration can promote quality and comprehensiveness in holistic care.
HOLISTIC
Holistic as used here refers to the consideration of the whole person (bio-psycho-social-spiritual) and their whole environment. This understanding recognizes the interdependence and connectedness of all things, and the belief that individual and social well-being requires the well-being of Earth. As a result social work interventions consider the whole person and the whole context. The achievement of one’s fullest potential (whether individual, community or Earth) requires environments in which each member can achieve their fullest potential. In this context, fulfillment and self-transcendence refer to the ability to be motivated by interests that include self in community -- the wellbeing of all.
We believe that increased awareness, acceptance, integration and competency in spiritually sensitive approaches to social work will facilitate effective practice. Our holistic agenda is one of inclusivity, anti-oppression and respect. We value diverse and dynamic spiritually sensitive social work, and the CSSSW strives to promote collaboration with other professions.
INCLUSIVE
The CSSSW welcomes scholars, practitioners and students from social work and other professions, who value the importance of spirituality. The CSSSW celebrates diversity and is committed to breaking down barriers and promoting social inclusion for the spiritual development of all. The CSSSW promotes the facilitation and nurturance of spiritual interventions across a broad spectrum of social work and interprofessional practice, education and research. We are committed to creating space for traditional, diverse, and unique epistemologies and heuristics within our global context.
OUR GOALS
To provide members with knowledge and information that enables them to more effectively attend to spirituality in their professional and personal lives.
- To regularly provide opportunities for members, and representatives from other disciplines and professions to meet to discuss research and issues relevant to more effective practice, policy development, and research in the area of spirituality.
- To foster collaboration and develop strong partnerships that enable more effective social work practice through the dissemination of research and research mobilization and to support research initiatives on spirituality especially research that engages practitioners and students.
- To support pedagogical practices which are transformative, and expand the notion of pluralism and to include discussions of competing worldviews. All such discussions would be predicated upon respect for the dignity and worth of all human beings.
- To support religious and spiritual pluralism which we see as an engagement and participation in diversity.
The CSSSW sees value in multiple perspectives, beliefs, religions, and spiritualities that are respectful and inclusive of all persons. Spirituality involves ways of being and knowing which change across the lifespan. Spirituality is defined and experienced uniquely by each human being, and can be expressed within a wide spectrum of beliefs, narratives, rituals and practices. Spirituality commonly involves aspects of life and ways of being which provide a sense of connection, meaning and purpose. Common themes pertaining to spirituality include identity, sense of self, faith, hope, peace, wonder, awe, mystery, meaning, transformation and transcendence. Spirituality can be expressed in many ways including religion, symbols, metaphors, rituals and ceremonies. Many individuals recognize an interconnectedness of all aspects of life. Spirituality is complex and multidimensional and the CSSSW believes it should be defined contextually.
The Canadian Society for Spirituality and Social Work is committed to being inclusive.
CSSSW acknowledges there are numerous and diverse ways of knowing, being and practicing spirituality, which range from expressions of spirituality independent of specific belief systems, to those intertwined with religious beliefs and/or cultures. Some of these activities/traditions may overlap, and others are independent of each other. The aim in CSSSW is to provide opportunities for diverse, respectful, and safer expressions of spirituality.
CSSSW acknowledges there are numerous and diverse ways of knowing, being and practicing spirituality, which range from expressions of spirituality independent of specific belief systems, to those intertwined with religious beliefs and/or cultures. Some of these activities/traditions may overlap, and others are independent of each other. The aim in CSSSW is to provide opportunities for diverse, respectful, and safer expressions of spirituality.
