What’s next: Dalhousie Social Work Clinic

Now entering its 5^th year, the Dalhousie Social Work Clinic is a busy spot at their new, more accessible location on Quinpool Road.  Dr. Jeff Karabanow says the new location is a great, new space for interaction between the students and clientele. .

“The students are seeing a lot of clients, working together on case management and advocacy. Our students are learning different dynamics about practice they say they wouldn’t have gained elsewhere, and developing deep ties with community organizations,” he says.

The first of its kind in North America, the clinic has served more than 450 clients since it opened, and the numbers are growing. It currently manages more than 250 active client files and over 80 Dal and other students have participated, from Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, OT, psychology Nutrition, and Management.  They partner together as they will after graduation in their careers, to advocate on clients’ behalf to help them solve justice, employment, health, housing, transportation and other challenges.

“It’s amazing how this has rolled out, we’re constantly getting referrals — we’re at a stage now where we’ve really found our niche in the area of service delivery,” he says. “I love the fact that the clinic is a great platform for students to get a meaningful, anti-oppressive lens on their scope of practice, regardless of discipline.”

He says much of the credit for the Clinic’s success should go to the School of Social Work, Dalhousie and the Faculty of Health. “Dal, the School, and the Faculty supported us every step of the way. There were times when we weren’t sure if we could even keep the Clinic going, but thanks to the support of the School, Faculty and Dal, we are sustainable.”

Find out more:

Read: Dr. Karabanow’s latest book, Homeless Youth and the Search for Stability

Bridging the Gaps: The Dalhouse Social Work Clinic (2018 Dal News article)