The Inspiring Social Worker of the Year Award was established in memory of Paul Cheng to recognize social workers in British Columbia (BC) whose professional dedication has inspired others to care and contribute to social justice. Paul Cheng was a social worker who immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong and dedicated himself to serving refugees, new immigrants, youth in care, street-involved youth, people with addictions, and many others in Hong Kong and Canada for over forty years. It is widely recognized that Paul’s deep caring, enduring social justice ethics, strong professional practice, and tireless personal efforts touched and inspired many people in the social work and larger community.
This year’s Inspiring Social Worker of the Year recipient is Tara Ross. Tara’s commitment to social justice and high standard of care as a primary care social worker in rural BC and in providing mental health support to people experiencing moderate to severe mental health issues inspired her nomination for the award.
In the words of her nominee:
“she brings compassion and a social work lens to counselling treatment of mental health illness. Tara validates her client’s experiences of social injustices as traumatic, and supports clients to externalise, rather to continue to internalise, racism, trans/homo phobia, feelings of inadequacy, and low self worth that are at the core of mental health issues for so many people who have been socially oppressed and marginalised. She works with clients and community partners to address issues of exclusion from housing, employment, and social groups that people with mental health and substance use issues face.
“…Tara has inspired many other Social Workers to hold high professional standards while remaining client-centered and true to our code of ethics. She always maintains positive relationships with her allied profession colleagues and is sought-after as an employee and mentor. She is a walking encyclopedia of knowledge around community systems and supports, and yet is always humble and seeking to further her education and skills. She continually strives for best practice.”
Biography
Tara Ross
Tara Ross has been a registered social worker for 5 years and previously worked in the education sector supporting students with disabilities.
She earned her Bachelor of Science, Psychology (Honours) degree from the University of Toronto in 2000 and a Post Graduate Bachelor of Education in 2002 from the University of Western Ontario. Tara started her career working in special education and eventually expanded into working in accessibility and counselling services in the University sector.
Tara graduated with her MSW in 2017 from Flinders University in Australia and then repatriated back to Canada after 10 years overseas. In fall of 2018, she started working as a Primary Care Social Worker in the East Kootenay Region. Tara was excited to be part of establishing this novel area of social work practise in a rural area of BC. The partnership between Ktunaxa First Nation, East Kootenay Division of Family Practise and Interior Health Authority was the first of its kind in British Columbia.
In spring 2022, Tara took a new role as a community mental health clinician supporting people with moderate to severe mental health and substance use issues. In her current role, she brings compassion and a social work lens to counselling treatment of mental health illness. She works with clients and community partners to address issues of exclusion from housing, employment, and social groups that people with mental health and substance use issues face.
Tara lives in Kimberley with her husband, two children, and two cats. She loves to cook plant-based food, and spend time outdoors biking, hiking, and skiing.
