Included in the list of programs that have been part of UQAT’s academic heritage since its creation in 1983, social work has always been associated with the University’s identity. Driven by a desire for even greater autonomy and development, the School of Social Work, launched in 2022, will enable the ongoing development of training programs and research in social work, according to the needs raised by the community.

Cycle 1 and 2 teaching combines theory and practice, thanks to faculty members with solid field experience. Social work programs are offered at the Rouyn-Noranda and Val-d’Or campuses, as well as at the Mont-Laurier center. A number of projects related to teaching, research and community services are developed in collaboration with local partners at the regional, national and international levels, notably in France, Belgium, Switzerland and Chile.

The placement rate for graduates of UQAT’s bachelor’s and DEC-BAC programs in social work is around 98%. Nearly all social workers working in Abitibi-Témiscamingue received their training at UQAT.

School of Social Work Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation 

The School of Social Work does not make any explicit commitment to Truth and Reconciliation

TRC Call to Action # 1

We call upon the federal, provincial, territorial, and Aboriginal governments to commit to reducing the number of Aboriginal children in care by: 

1. Monitoring and assessing neglect investigations
2. Providing adequate resources to enable Aboriginal communities and child-welfare organizations to keep Aboriginal families together where it is safe to do so, and to keep children in culturally appropriate environments, regardless of where they reside.
3. Ensuring that social workers and others who conduct child-welfare investigations are properly educated and trained about the history and impacts of residential schools.
4. Ensuring that social workers and others who conduct child-welfare investigations are properly educated and trained about the potential for Aboriginal communities and families to provide more appropriate solutions to family healing.
5. Requiring that all child-welfare decision makers consider the impact of the residential school experience on children and their caregivers.

Mandatory Course: None offered.

Baccalauréat en travail social | UQAT

NOTE:

UQAT offers a certificate “Certificat en intervention enfance-famille en contexte autochtone (4561)” within the Indigenous Studies Department. It offers a large variety of classes on relevant Indigenous approaches to social work and intervention work with Indigenous youth and families. It does not, however, lead to a Social Work Order license. 

Faculty of Social Work Commitment to Call to Action 1: 3, 4 and 5: 0 out of 3 = 0%

3	History and impact of residential schools (theory)
	No. Not explicitly addressed
4	Potential for Aboriginal communities and families to provide more appropriate solutions to family healing (practice)
	No. Not explicitly addressed
5	All child welfare decision makers consider the impact of the residential school experience on children and their caregivers
	No. Not explicitly addressed

Compliance with CASWE/ACFTS Statement of Complicity and Commitment to Change

At the May 27th, 2017 Board meeting, the Board of Directors of CASWE-ACFTS committed to ensuring that social work education in Canada contributes to transforming Canada’s colonial reality and approved a “Statement of Complicity and Commitment to Change”. “This is an important step in engaging social work education in the reconciliation process and supporting the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action” affirms CASWE-ACFTS President, Dr. Susan Cadel. Of the 12 actions articulated in the “Statement of Complicity and Commitment to Change, the following two are directed at Schools of Social Work

7	Will encourage institutional members to post a territorial acknowledgement on their School’s website and post a link to the CAUT guide to territorial acknowledgement on the CASWE-ACFTS website to assist Schools with this task
	Located elsewhere on UQAT – Home Page The Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue recognizes that it is part of Nitakinan, anicinape aki. It recognizes that Nitakinan is the cradle of Indigenous languages, cultures and identities. Moreover, this territory is an important place for the transmission of knowledge, exchange and healing.Today, the territory on which UQAT is located is home to many nations, from both territorial and urban communities. UQAT emphasizes that its authorities and activities are also welcomed in the heart of other First Nations territories.UQAT is aware that it is part of a system born of colonization. The educational institution has long been used for assimilation purposes, notably through the imposition of residential schools. The negative effects continue to be felt to this day.In light of these acknowledgements, and in order to support the full affirmation of First Peoples, UQAT is committed to taking concrete action, notably through education and research.  Reconnaissance territoriale | UQAT
8	Will encourage and support Canadian schools of social work in revising mission statements, governance processes, curriculum, and pedagogy in ways that both advance the TRC recommendations and the overall indigenization of social work education
	Not explicitly addressed.

NOTE: All content has been submitted to the respective faculty for validation to ensure accuracy and currency as of the time of posting. The Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue School of Social Work DID NOT RESPOND to multiple Indigenous Watchdog inquiries. Managing Editor: Douglas Sinclair: Publisher, Indigenous Watchdog Lead Researcher: Julia Dubé