News

Department of Social Development and Welfare Commemorates Social Work Month with Impactful initiatives

Published

6 months ago

March 26, 2025

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands 26^th March 2025 – The Department of Social Development and Welfare, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Religious Affairs, and Transportation, celebrated Social Work Month under the theme “Compassion + Action” through a series of impactful events. A key highlight was the rededication and blessing ceremony on March 20, 2025, at St. Monica’s Anglican Church in Providenciales. The ceremony featured a moving performance by Clement Howell High School students, a Social Work Litany led by Acting Permanent Secretary Ms.

Keisha Taylor, and a Child Safeguarding Pinning Ceremony. Notable attendees included Her Excellency Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, Deputy Governor Anya Williams, Hon. Shaun Malcolm, Hon. Rachel Taylor, Hon. Otis Morris, Chief Justice Mabel Agyemang, Reverend Desiree Johnson, DPS Keisha Taylor, and Ms. Giselle Armbrister (Social Work Intern). During the event, 26 social workers were officially pinned as Child Safeguarding Ambassadors.

Social workers also participated in a virtual Trauma-Informed Self-Care workshop on March 20, led by UK-based expert Le’Siran Edwards. This session explored self-care as a holistic approach that acknowledges the effects of trauma while promoting healing, resilience, and well-being. Strategies included creating safe spaces, fostering self-awareness, and adopting recovery-focused practices.

From March 20-22, social workers convened for a retreat in the scenic twin islands, focusing on team-building, training, and community service. Among the key sessions was Family and Children Risk Assessment, presented by Dr. Samantha Phippard, Service Development Lead at Hampshire Council, UK. Dr. Phippard introduced techniques for evaluating risks and protective factors within family systems that affect children’s safety, well-being, and development. Using the “War Plan and Parable of Resilience,” she illustrated the significance of reinforcing undamaged areas of bullet-riddled planes, reflecting the hidden protective factors that support resilience within family assessments.

Another standout session, Empowering Ourselves to Find Balance, was led by Social Work Therapist Candace Washington, founder of The Production Wellness House and Restorative Mind Therapeutic Wellness. She emphasized the necessity of balancing personal needs with community and family responsibilities. Her “Rest-Reset-Restore” approach inspired participants to practice self-care, prioritize well-being, and sustain resilience.

The retreat’s highlight was an exhilarating 3.5-hour scavenger hunt, where five teams of social workers—Resource Rangers, Change Makers, Mission Possible, Advocacy Avengers, and Community Champions—competed in challenges blending physical obstacles and social work trivia. Participants engaged in tasks such as bicycle races and other demanding activities that tested their endurance, teamwork, and knowledge. The Resource Rangers emerged victorious, excelling in all challenges.

The retreat concluded with an Elderly Give Back initiative, during which social workers distributed care packages to the elderly community in Middle Caicos, underscoring the department’s dedication to uplifting and supporting this vital population.

Beyond professional development, the retreat underscored the transformative role social workers play in individual lives and the broader community. It provided social workers with a chance to recharge, enhance their skills, and reflect on their pivotal contributions to social change and resilience.

For more information about the Department of Social Development and our programs, please visit our website:

www.gov.tc/dsd or email us at infodsd@gov.tc.

Contact numbers:

Providenciales: 1-649-338-4008