Carleton Professors Publish First Book on the History of Social Work in Canada

(Ottawa) –Carleton professors, Therese Jennissen and Colleen Lundy, recently published the first comprehensive history of social work in Canada, entitled “One Hundred Years of Social Work: A History of the Profession in English Canada, 1900–2000.”

The book discusses the long-standing struggle of the Canadian Association of Social Workers and individual social workers to reconcile advancement of professional status with the promotion social action.

Organized chronologically, it provides a critical and compelling look at internal struggles and debates in the profession over the course of a century.

The book illustrates contradictions inherent in social work: the tensions existing in a profession which promotes social justice but still wants to be recognized in the established order.

“This book is essential reading for anyone interested in Canadian social policy,” says James Struthers, professor of the Canadian Studies Department at Trent University. “Through meticulous research, the authors provide the first comprehensive history of social work professionalization in Canada.”

Nearly a decade ago, the authors embarked on the project, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research council, because they were aware there was no such resource. Drawing on extensive research, the impressive work is based on original sources Jennissen and Lundy located by combing through secondary literature and the provincial, university and professional association archives, including two archives in the United States.

They provide strong evidence of an enduring profession that continues to advocate for a just society and a responsive social welfare state.

“This is a book of very sound scholarship,” says Alvin Finkel, author of “Social Policy and Practice in Canada: A History.” Because the book is thoroughly documented, it will serve for many years to come as the standard book in the social work field to trace and analyze the history of social workers in the 20^th century. But the writing is jargon-free and the book should serve equally well as an important work for anyone studying the evolution of social policy in Canada or the evolution of professions in the country.”

Background:
Prof. Jennissen teaches at Carleton’s School of Social Work in social policy and history. In addition to contemporary Canadian and international social policy issues, her areas of interest include social welfare, women and social policy, as well as health and safety in the workplace.

Prior to Carleton, Jennissen worked as a researcher in the political and social affairs branch of the Research Department at the Library of Parliament and the Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies.

She has published work on gender dimensions of occupational health and safety in the workplace, workers compensation in Canada, and women and social policy. With Colleen Lundy, she has published on the impact of economic transformations on women in Cuba and Russia.

Colleen Lundy is a social work professor at Carleton. Her book “Social Work and Social Justice: A Structural Approach to Practice” makes an important contribution to the understanding of social work from a social justice/human rights perspective. She is the editor of “Canadian Social Work” and the Canadian North America representative on the International Federation of Social Workers Human Rights Commission.

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For more information:
Therese Jennissen
Professor, Social Work
613-520-2600, ext. 4390
therese_jennissen@carleton.ca

Colleen Lundy
Professor, Social Work
613-520-2600, ext. 4399
colleen_lundy@carleton.ca

Amy Guest
Media Relations Officer
613-520-2600, ext. 8718
Amy_Guest@carleton.ca