Turks and Caicos prepares for Social Work Month in March

#GrandTurk, Turks and Caicos Islands – February 26, 2020 —- The Department of Social Development, within the Ministry of Education, Youth, Culture, Social and Library Services, celebrate the month of March as Social Work month.

The theme is: “Social Workers: Generations Strong”. We pause to reflect on the significant contributions and positive changes through passion, dedication and tireless commitment social workers have made within the Turks and Caicos Islands since the inception of the Department in the 1980’s. As community ‘weavers’, they continue to push beyond their limits to knit the social fabric of our country. 

To add to the Department of Social Development’s many successes over the past year, there was an increase of social workers and the establishment of sub units in specialty areas including Probation, Child safeguarding, Adoptions, Children and families and Community outreach. Also, a number of Family Law Ordinances were passed and in force or coming into force, including the Children Care and Protection Ordinance, Status of Children Ordinance, Alternative Sentencing Ordinance, Adoption Ordinance, and the Guardianship, Access and Custody Ordinance.

Although Social Workers continue to experience many challenges, through it all, they persevere and ensure that the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands are provided with quality services in an effective and efficient manner.   

As we celebrate Social Work Month and our Social Workers, we extend a heartfelt thank you to the men and women who have paved the way for this noble profession. To our current Social Workers, we sound the alarm for your resilience, empathy and love for the job that you do and the people you serve. In the words of the Director of Social Development- Mrs. Tiffany Thomas Browne, “Hold your head up high and be proud to be a Social Worker. The society is better off having social workers around. Continue to take the high road, be encouraged, balance work life with family life and let your light shine bright like a diamond and remember we are not in it for the income, we are in it for the outcome.”

In commemorating this month, the Department will be hosting a series of events designed to spotlight the social work profession and to celebrate the valuable contributions Social Workers have made throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Department of Social Development will be hosting the following activities throughout the Islands:

• Give Back Day – Elderly visit & care packages
• Social Workers – ‘Who We Are & What We Do’ Door to Door Campaign / visit schools / social work students at community college. Ministry/ PS’s spend a day in the life of a social worker
• Dissemination of Pamphlets, Brochures, Handouts, Social Workers Recognition within the TCIG Service (Government Press Release)
• Radio Talk Shows – past & present Directors/ PSs- Whence we came- where we are now and where we are heading
• Purple Day – Social Workers/ Public & Private Sector support Social Workers in wearing the color purple