Health Sciences Association celebrates Community Social Service Workers
Appreciation Day

VANCOUVER , Nov. 5 /CNW/ - November 6 marks the second annual Community Social Service Workers Appreciation Day, an event to acknowledge and celebrate the vital role that these workers play in making communities better places to live.

Community social service workers represented by the Health Sciences Association work in child development centres, transition houses, infant development programs, community counselling centres, agencies for youths at risk, and various other crucial community service organizations.

HSA President Reid Johnson thanked community social service workers for their commitment to helping the most vulnerable people in our communities.

"HSA salutes community social service workers. We celebrate with them as we recognize their daily contribution to the lives of families across BC," he said.

"When parents of a medically fragile infant needs help, when a youth at risk needs guidance and resources, when a woman is struggling to leave a violent domestic situation, community social service workers are there to help. This is some of the hardest work in the province, provided by some of the hardest working people."

Community Social Service Workers Appreciation Day was initiated by the National Union of Public and General Employees, of which HSA is a component.

Numerous cities and towns have joined in the occasion by formally recognizing the day. The list includes Victoria BC, Edmonton Alberta, and a long list of Ontario communities -- Ajax, Atikokan, Aurora, Barrie, Belleville, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Clarington, Cochrane, Cornwall, Elliot Lake , Hearst, Markham, Midland, Milton, Newmarket, North Bay, Port Hope, Scugog, Stratford, Thunder Bay, Timmins, Wasaga Beach and Whitchurch-Stouffville.

HSA joins NUPGE in urging British Columbians to take time to reflect on the contribution these workers make to so many communities and to offer their thanks and appreciation.

The idea for the day originated at a 2007 NUPGE conference of community social service workers. It was envisaged as a day to focus attention on the importance of the sector to the well-being of the country and to acknowledge the contributions that these workers make.

A celebration poster is available from HSA's website at www.hsabc.org. A website devoted to community social service workers is also available, including resources to help organize appreciation day events. Everything from posters, media releases, sample resolutions, videos, news, and research is readily available at cssworkerscare.ca.

The Health Sciences Association represents 16,000 health science professionals, registered psychiatric nurses and community social services providers who work throughout British Columbia.

For further information: Miriam Sobrino, [phone], www.hsabc.org