Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) serves as the regulatory body for the profession of social work in Alberta. Its regulatory obligations are legislated by under the Health Professions Act (HPA) that came into force for social work on April 1, 2003. The HPA has requirements for mandatory registration, continuing competency activities, the practice of restricted activities and a specialty register for clinical social workers. It provides control of title and a broadly defined scope of practice. The HPA applies to 30 professions and comes into force in stages as the schedules and regulations for each respective profession are approved.

Under the HPA mandated objectives of the ACSW are:

· to serve and protect the public interest

· to provide direction and to regulate the profession

· to establish, maintain and enforce standards for registration, continuing competence and standards of practice

· to establish, maintain and enforce a code of ethics

· to approve educational programs for registration purposes

The ACSW also represents the social work profession in Alberta. It supports membership activities that promote skilled and ethical social work practice such as annual conferences and regional events. Under its auspices, ACSW members are able to meet around areas of interest such as children’s issues, gerontology, health and private practice.

To complement its legislated obligations, the ACSW advocates for policies, programs and services that serve the public interest. Over the years, ACSW has established relationships with numerous external organizations involved in advancing social justice initiatives.

The ACSW is a member of the Canadian Association of Social Workers and the Association of Social Work Boards.

The ACSW is governed by a Council comprised of ten members elected by its membership, four public members appointed by the government, the chair of the Aboriginal Social Work Committee and the chairs of the regulatory committees (Registration, Professional Social Work Education, Clinical, and Competence). Council committees include the Executive Committee, the Communications Committee, the Aboriginal Social Work Committee and the Nominations and Recruitment Committee.

The ACSW maintains an office in Edmonton, Alberta with three social work staff and eight administrative staff.

The ACSW can be reached at: #550, 10707 - 100 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5J 3M1.

Telephone: (780) 421-1167 FAX: (780) 421-1168 TOLL FREE: 1-800-661-3089

E-MAIL: acsw@acsw.ab.ca

Contact: Rod Adachi, Executive Director

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Alberta Network for Mental Health (Fellowship)

http://www.anmhf.ca/

The Network is a semi-autonomous organization that represents the interests of mental health consumers around the province of Alberta. In one form or another, the Network has existed for ten years. We have an elected board with an elected, and an alternate, member from each of seven regions around the province.

The Network has a newsletter - Thinking Allowed - that reaches our 1600 members, approximately half of whom are mental health consumers in Alberta; the rest are family members and professionals. The newsletter comes out four to six times a year. We have a small lending library in our Edmonton office. Currently, sixteen volunteers and two paid coordinators support our Edmonton office. We provide presentations and/or workshops, help communities start support groups, and can utilize the Alberta Mental Health Board video (telehealth-mental health service), across rural and urban Alberta.

Carmela Hutchison, President (403) 816-7301

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ALBERTA PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION

The Alberta Psychiatric Association is a non-profit society that both represents the interests of psychiatrists and advocates on issues regarding mental illness and mental health in the Province of Alberta. There is an executive body consisting of the president, president-elect, secretary-treasurer and past president. Other executive positions include provincial representatives to Canadian Psychiatric Association committees, a scientific program committee, and psychiatrist-in-training representatives from the two medical schools. There are no employees: all executive positions are volunteer.

The Association is autonomous but has close ties with the Canadian Psychiatric Association and the Alberta Medical Association. There is an Alberta Medical Association Section of Psychiatry that is separate from the APA but shares the same executive and handles issues such as fee negotiations.

The Association had a total membership of 238 out of approximately 300 psychiatrists and residents in the province. The membership consists of practicing psychiatrists, retired psychiatrists and psychiatrists in training. The Annual Meeting is held in March in Banff with nearly a full day of scientific presentations. Prizes are awarded for best papers presented by psychiatrists in training. This meeting is generally well attended.

The Association is committed to the provision of high quality mental health care for Albertans. The Scientific Assembly is an opportunity for psychiatrists to learn about the latest treatments and to exchange ideas. There is participation at the political level on mental health issues. We have had meetings in the past with the Minister of Health and with the Alberta Mental Health Board. We have recently endorsed a position paper advocating the divestment of mental health services from the Board to the regional health authorities. We see the need for a strong Mental Health Board that has the power to protect mental health funding and to ensure that regional health authorities comply with best practices in mental health care.

Contact: Kathy A. Stirling, Administrative Director/Conference Manager
Phone: (403) 269-2000; Fax: (403) 266-0787

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Alberta Association of Services for Children and Families

The AASCF is a membership organization of agencies and individuals that provide services to children and families in Alberta. Our mission is to create a network of agencies for information sharing, social policy development and advocating on behalf of service providers and to develop professional practices for service excellence. See our website at www.aascf.com .

Suite 258, Bonnie Doon Mall

8330 - 82 Avenue

Edmonton, AB T6C 4E3

Tel: (780) 428-3660

Fax: (780) 428-3844

Email: rbarraclough@aascf.com

Website: www.aascf.com

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Web Site: www.cmha.ab.ca

The Canadian Mental Health Association in Alberta

The Canadian Mental Health Association is one of the oldest volunteer organizations in Canada. We believe in social justice, individual and collective responsibility, self-determination, maximum community integration and access to appropriate and adequate resources and supports that will enable individuals, groups and communities to increase control over and enhance their mental health.

The Alberta Division of the Canadian Mental Health Association serves to link the Regional offices in Alberta with the National office, operating at arm's length while maintaining some overall responsibilities to ensure good governance and alliance with CMHA values. The Division office provides leadership in provincial relations, policy direction, advocacy and promotion of mental health, as well as some provincial administrative functions and supports for the Regional offices and their service delivery programs.

The structure of CMHA allows sharing and cooperation on a nationwide basis while the "grass roots" emphasis enables the organization to be responsive to local and community needs.

At the local level throughout Alberta the Organization sponsors direct services such as housing, suicide prevention training, community outreach, social-recreation, education, crisis intervention and advocacy and social support.

For more detailed information visit our web site at www.cmha.ab.ca.

Tom Shand, Executive Director (780) 482-6576

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College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta

Web Site: www.CRPNA.ab.ca

What is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN)? Psychiatric Nursing, as a distinct profession, provides service to individuals whose primary care needs relate to mental and developmental health. Psychiatric nursing focuses on the influence of psychosocial forces on health while committed to the promotion, restoration, and maintenance of optimal health.

Registered Psychiatric Nurses are prepared in a holistic health care approach that incorporates both the mind and body, that is to say that health is far more than the absence of disease, in that there can be no health without mental health.

The basis of psychiatric nursing is a caring, therapeutic relationship. Caring includes empathy, acknowledgement of the uniqueness of the individual, a non-judgmental attitude, respect for the rights, beliefs, and values of others; and a willingness to share, learn and grow. The core skills and knowledge of psychiatric nursing are developed from the nursing, psychobiological, and physical sciences.

RPNs possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills as they need to continually exercise sound judgement in making decisions and solving problems in meeting clinical challenges and the health care needs of patients, clients, their families and the community.

Many RPNs are involved in crisis intervention on a daily basis no matter what the practice area may be, from a psychiatric unit to a medical unit.

What is the Regulatory Role of the CRPNA?

The primary role of the CRPNA is to protect the public. This responsibility is mandated to the College by the Alberta government in regards to Registered Psychiatric Nurses and Registered Mental Deficiency Nurses. As a self governing profession, we work within the parameters of the Health Professions Act and the Psychiatric Nurses Regulations to ensure the services provided by CRPNA members benefit the citizens of the province and are not a risk to their safety. The CRPNA carries out it's role by establishing Standards of Practice and a Code of Ethics and by ensuring new members meet the minimum requirements for safe practice. The CRPNA is required to ensure existing members maintain their competence in practice and remain safe practitioners. This is currently monitored by requiring members to complete the Continuing Competence Program annually and to work a minimum of 1400 hours within the Scope of Practice of their profession within a five year period immediately prior to submitting an application for renewal of their registration. The Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics are enforced through a conduct process put in place by the CRPNA based on guidelines set out in the Health Professions Act.

The governing body of a College is the Council. The Council manages and conducts the activities of the College, exercises the rights, powers and privileges and carries out the duties of the College in the name of and on behalf of the College and carries out the powers and duties of the Council under the Health Professions and the Bylaws.

Barbara Lowe – Executive Director (780) 434-7666

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The Society of Alberta Occupational Therapists was formed in 2003 to provide membership services and promote occupational therapy to Albertans as occupational therapists chose to separate professional services from the regulatory body, the Alberta Association of Registered Occupational Therapists (now the Alberta College of Occupational Therapists [ACOT]). SAOT is a voluntary, non-regulatory body that provides networking and education opportunities for its members as well as advocating for occupational therapy to government, insurers, and the public.

For more information, visit www.saot.ca.

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The Organization for Bipolar Affective Disorders Society (OBAD)

Our mission is to help people affected directly or indirectly by Bipolar Disorder, Depression, and Anxiety live better lives. We are partners with the Alberta Mental Health ommunity to educate the public about Mood Disorders and through public forums, presentations and educational materials.

Website: www.obad.ca

OBAD provides meetings in Calgary/Edmonton for individuals who are affected directly or indirectly by a mood disorder. We also produce educational materials available through us directly.

For family members, consumers and professionals who need more information:

OBAD
The Organization For Bipolar Affective Disorders Society
Kaj Korvela, Executive Director
1019 - 7th Ave SW
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
T2P 1A8

Phone:
(403) 263-7408
Toll Free 1-866-263-7408

Email: obad@shaw.ca

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The Psychologists’ Association of Alberta is a voluntary organization whose mission is to advance the science-based profession of psychology and to promote the well-being and potential of all Albertans.

For more information, visit http://www.psychologistsassociation.ab.ca

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The Schizophrenia Society of Alberta (SSA) is a non-profit organization established in 1980. Our major focus is on personal and organizational advocacy, education, self-help, and research in the area of schizophrenia. We are affiliated with nine other provincial societies and the Schizophrenia Society of Canada.

Our mission is to improve the quality of life for those affected by schizophrenia and psychosis through education, support programs, public policy and research.

For more information, visit www.schizophrenia.ab.ca