Q: how does one pronounce “OSSWA”?

A: we won’t judge how you say it, but it’s “Awe-Swa!”

The mission statement of the Ontario Social Service Worker Association – to be the voluntary professional association for social service work in Ontario and Canada. We are the voice that empowers, supports, recognizes and advocates for social service work.

The Ontario Social Service Worker Association works to serve social service workers, social service work students, faculty of social service work educational programs, social service work graduates and agencies that employ or have interest in social service workers.

The Ontario Social Service Worker Association also works to improve the experiences and lives of individuals, dyads, families, groups, organizations and communities. We do this by working to improve access to social services for all which may benefit by receiving social service work services.

The values statement of the Ontario Social Service Worker Association – we believe that access to social services are a universal human right. We believe in the intrinsic worth of all peoples. We are committed to advocating for change through our collective voice. We honour the principles of democracy and social justice, in effort of benefiting all of society. We believe in the promotion of excellence in social service work, to enhance social services and the wellbeing of individuals, dyads, groups, families and communities.

Article 25 (1)
Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of themselves and of their family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond their control.” (UDHR, 1948)

The Associations Strategic Plan 2021-2026

The association has four overarching themes to our plan.

The association has four overarching themes to our plan.

Take a look at how the association empowers the profession of social service work.

Our empowerment initiatives

Our support initiatives

The association supports social service workers, graduates, students, faculty of social service work programs and employers of social service workers. Take a look at how we intend to further support the profession.

Our support initiatives

The association recognizes and advocates for the profession of social service work in Ontario and Canada.

The association recognizes and advocates for the profession of social service work in Ontario and Canada.

Take a look at how we do this important work below.

Our recognition initiatives
Our advocacy initiatives