The Value of Life
How Tara turned her pain into purpose “I needed to figure out how to live with it. It doesn’t mean that the hurt is gone and that I don’t think…
Stories from
Community Support Worker
CSW Training in Action at ‘HEAT’ Emergency Homeless Shelters
Each year, harsh winter temperatures make the lives of Vancouver’s homeless population even more difficult. Sleeping on the streets in the winter can be potentially life-threatening and with temperatures dropping…
Different Career Opportunities for Community Support Workers: Adult Protective Services
If you pursue a community support worker (CSW) diploma, you’ll be eligible for a variety of meaningful, rewarding careers. One option for those trained in community support work is devoting…
Working as a Community Support Worker
There once was a time when I visited a radio station and asked the program director what she looked for in new employees. The message she’d given to all the…
Finished the Community Support Worker Program
After eight months in school, it’s finally over. It felt surreal being back in class for our last day. It felt like so much time had passed since I last…
Second Part of My Community Support Worker Practicum
Hello everyone! Thank you for continuing to follow my journey as a Community Support Worker student. If there are any specific questions you may have about what I’ve written about…
The CSW’s Role in Treating Dual Diagnosis
In Canada, dual diagnosis refers to an individual who is affected by both a developmental disability and a mental illness. Diagnosing a mental health illness in a person who also…
Types of Conflict Seen as a Community Support Worker
I’ve identified three types of conflict that CSWs will encounter in the field. Conflict between support workers and the individuals they support, conflict between a support worker and a supervisor/another…
First Week of Community Support Worker Practicum
First full week of practicum (CPE) = First full week of challenges Finally! The wait is over. After seven months in the Community Support Worker program we are able to…
A Day in the Life of a Community Support Worker
If you want to work with others, help patients achieve a better quality of life, and enjoy fulfilling work at a rewarding job, then community support work might be the…
The Job Interview
In some ways, everything we learn in school is in preparation of one potentially life-changing event. The courses we are taking, the practicum experiences all lead to one event, and…
What is Person Centered Thinking?
Unfortunately, in order for change to take place, horrifying, dehumanizing behaviour must be shown and broadcasted publicly so everyone can see how ugly we treat people in our society and…
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