Episode 63 — Rebuilding the bridge: Truth, accountability, and care in Ontario’s social work and social service work
From Afropolitan Dialogues by Meres J. Weche
November 23, 2025 · 1h 8m · Episode 63
About this episode
The episode discusses how regulation and equity efforts in Ontario's social work enhance accountability and trust within communities.
This episode features Christina Van Sickle, MSW, RSW (Director of Professional Practice, OCSWSSW), Nicole Bonnie (Council Vice President, OCSWSSW), and Nikki Healey, MSW, RSW (Professional Practice Associate, OCSWSSW) in a discussion on how regulation, standards, and equity efforts support safe and accountable social work in Ontario. The conversation outlines how tools like the Online Public Register, the Continuing Competence Program, and an equity-informed complaints process help protect the public, while also addressing representation, cultural humility, and the roots of mistrust within Black and Afro-Caribbean communities. The guests highlight how ongoing education, transparent oversight, and strengthened community engagement contribute to rebuilding trust and improving the quality of care across the province.
People in this episode
Host: Meres J. Weche
Guests: Christina Van Sickle, Nicole Bonnie, Nikki Healey
Topics covered
- social work
- accountability
- equity
- community engagement
- trust rebuilding
- cultural humility
Keywords
- social service
- public register
- competence program
- complaints process
- education
- oversight
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: OCSWSSW
Places: Ontario, Black and Afro-Caribbean communities
More episodes of Afropolitan Dialogues
- Episode 66 — Windrush in Canada: Wendy Vincent on preserving the stories that shaped Black Commonwealth life · May 12, 2026 · 53 min
- Episode 65 — An abandoned crisis: Canada's Secretary of State on Sudan's fourth year of war · April 20, 2026 · 22 min
- Episode 64 — Allison Edwards-Crewe: Triple threat, fully embodied · December 20, 2025 · 50 min
- Episode 62 — Soul, storytelling, and Divine Brown’s UnCovered journey · November 14, 2025 · 48 min
- Episode 61 — Caribbean Flamingo: Reequal Smith on dance, resilience, and cultural reclamation · September 5, 2025 · 35 min
- Episode 60 — Full circle: d’bi.young anitafrika on 20 years of the Sankofa Trilogy · August 29, 2025 · 36 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Afropolitan Dialogues podcast page.