2024-2025 Year in Review: Dean’s message

In social work research, teaching, and practice, we often say that we work both for and with individuals, families, and communities to address systemic challenges, promote health and well-being, and foster the conditions for them to thrive. 

For social workers and academics, these prepositions, “for” and “with,” carry important distinctions. Our work is not only in service to others; it is informed by, and often pursued in partnership with, the very communities we serve. This approach is at the heart of community-engaged scholarship and practice, which you will see reflected throughout the stories and achievements highlighted in this Year in Review. 

The ethos of working “for and with” communities is evident in the many initiatives and partnerships featured in this report. Our progress this year demonstrates the value of collaboration and the power of innovation that emerges when we engage communities as true partners in our work.  

In the current environment, it is also important to recognize that as our Faculty and the broader field of social work become more diverse and representative, our capacity to conduct meaningful, impactful research grows. When those who are shaping research and practice have similar lived experiences, strengths, and aspirations as the communities we serve, our work becomes more innovative, relevant, and impactful. We ask better questions, develop more responsive interventions, and are ultimately better equipped to advance social justice, which has never been more important.  

I invite you to explore the following pages to see how our community-engaged scholarship and practice, with its focus on equity, diversity, inclusion, and truth and reconciliation, is making a tangible difference both locally and globally.  

In the upcoming year, I am looking forward to building on this work. A particular highlight of the past year has been our collective effort to develop the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work’s 2025-2030 Academic Plan, and this will be launched in the fall.   

Our accomplishments over this past year are proof of concept for the goals we have set for the next five. FIFSW’s 2024-2025 Year in Review is a harbinger of the great things to come. If this is our starting point, I’m excited to think of how much more we can accomplish together. 

Sincerely, 

Charmaine C. Williams 
Dean and Professor 
Sandra Rotman Chair in Social Work 
Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work 
University of Toronto