The UDM Department of Social Work and University of Windsor School of Social Work co-sponsored a Bi-National Symposium on Social Welfare, April 4. The event included presentations by guest speakers and students.

At the symposium, from left: Monsignor Frank Kumontis, adjunct professor of Social Work; Aloha VanCamp, associate professor of Social Work; Charles Marske, dean, College of Liberal Arts & Education; Linda Burghardt; Brent Angell, director, University of Windsor School of Social Work; Robert Weaver, University of Windsor School of Social Work. 

Keynote speaker, Linda Burghardt, National Association of Social Workers-Michigan (NASW-MI Government) addressed "The 2008 Political Issues for Social Workers in Michigan." She brought attention to the opportunities that social workers have for making an impact on Michigan legislation. She encouraged students to get involved in the political process.

"Be an advisor to the candidates," says Burghardt. "Let them know what's happening to the social worker and client population."

Burghardt identified four categories of political issues and illustrated how social workers interact with legislators to determine the policies that touch their livelihoods. Burghardt highlighted specific proposals, bills and actions that concern aging, mental health parity, health care and child welfare. In each section, she showed how social workers can lend their voices and expertise to propose the best possible legislation for their profession.

"Your knowledge and experience is very valuable to the legislators so please feel free to get involved in the process," urges Burghardt.

University of Windsor School of Social Work's Dr. Robert Weaver compared the United States' and Canada's similar yet different social welfare systems in his presentation, "Moving Forward or Falling Back?: A comparison of the Canadian and American Immigrant Safety Nets." He spoke of the welfare status associated with the two neighboring countries and the emphasis they place on a free market.

Weaver recalled the historical components of each country's immigration laws and how they evolved into today's welfare reform system in the U.S. and Canada's Ontario Works system. Weaver's final remarks focused on resolving the issue of the working poor as immigrants in both countries continue to make up a higher proportion of this economic social class.

He described the working poor as people who work 40 to 70 hours a week yet still live below the poverty line. Weaver offers a solution to be addressed at the local level. He recommends raising minimum wage or providing easier access to the earned income tax credit in America or the Canada child tax credit in Canada.