What Will It Take to Standardize Consideration of the Natural Environment in Social Work in Saskatchewan?

Abstract

Abstract Social workers in Saskatchewan adhere to the Canadian Association of Social Workers’ (CASW) (2005a) “Code of Ethics,” which espouses social justice and client welfare (well-being). The natural environment has demonstrated implications for both well-being and social justice. Taking into consideration the current environmental crisis, scholars argue for social work to shift its anthropocentric and Eurocentric perspectives for the sake of client well-being, social justice, and the health of the more-than-human world, but the profession has been slow to act. There are recognizable gaps between considerable literature on the urgency of mobilizing the social work profession to prioritize the natural environment and the uneven ways in which this has translated in policy, education, and practice in Saskatchewan. The goals of this study were to understand the gaps that exist between the literature and social work policy, education, and practice in Saskatchewan, and to make recommendations for addressing these gaps. This study used a policy sciences framework and drew on counter-hegemonic and Val Plumwood’s critical ecofeminist theoretical perspectives to explore the research question: “What will it take for the natural environment to become a standardized consideration for social work practice in Saskatchewan?” Data informing the research findings include an analysis of trends and underlying contextual conditions and semi-structured interviews with seven social workers.