Re-imagining the Role of Human Service Workers

Re-imagining the Role of Human Service Workers: Staff Experiences of a Social Change Initiative

The need for change in the field is evident given the continued marginalization of people with intellectual disabilities. This 2017 Case Study of a Change Initiative at an Edmonton agency serving people with intellectual disabilities illustrates the challenges and benefits around an intentional initiative to engage staff and create greater social inclusion outcomes for the people being served. 

“The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of human services staff about their engagement in an organisationally inspired initiative intended to change the focus of their everyday practices to better facilitate the social inclusion of persons with intellectual disabilities. The specific emphasis was how human services staff initially experienced the change initiative and its accompanying processes.”