June 22, 1998
TURF WAR IN SOCIAL WORKDESTRUCTIVE FIGHT OVER FUNDS
Instead of pulling together to maintain services in difficult times, professionals in the field are waging a tug of war over shrinking resources, they said. "Potentially, a client can get better service from teamwork that's more collaborative and integrated," said Edmonton social worker Jan Wiedman during a break at the National Social Work Conference at the Sheraton Grande Hotel, 10235 101 St. "There's still a lot of turf fighting, but budgets breed that when (each agency) is hanging on for dear life for those dollars." About four years ago the funding crunch in social work became evident, said Jake Kuiken, president of the Alberta Association of Registered Social Workers. He said it was caused by the reduction and eventual end of the Canada Assistance Plan (CAP), a cost-sharing scheme in which the feds partly paid back the provinces and municipalities for money spent on social programs. Under CAP, there was a system for sharing information and working together, but that died with the end of the program, said Kuiken. "There is a turf war," he said. "They destroyed the Canada Assistance Plan - they had a vehicle for addressing those issues." John Mould, president of the Canadian Association of Social Workers, said funding cuts should force social work agencies to eliminate overlapping services and work together to help people with different needs. But the climate caused by tight budgets doesn't promote teamwork, he said. "It (cutbacks) says not all of you (agencies) are going to survive," Mould said. "The forces for survival don't encourage collaboration." He said funding cuts have forced social workers to define who they will and won't help, and some people can't get the services they need. Wiedman said this kind of belt-tightening may save money in the short-term but will cost more in the end because clients will be in worse shape when they finally get help. "Give them enough rope to hang themselves and maybe they'll get help," she said. Wiedman added there's a growing belief in Canada that individuals are responsible for their own well-being and society is not responsible for those in need. Almost 300 delegates are at the conference. It ends tomorrow. Next Story: SON OF CABINET MINISTER SEES CHARGES DISMISSED Previous Story: BAIL REVOKED FOR MAN CHARGED IN DEATH CRASH
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