Social Work

We're here to support you and your family with care and compassion during your time  in hospital or at any of our clinics. Our team offers emotional, practical and culturally safe support through counselling, education, advocacy and helpful referrals.

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How we help

If you are a BC Women's patient in one of our supported programs, you can connect with a social wor​ker for help with mental health, emotional or social concerns. To learn which programs offer this support, please see the "Programs we support" section.

 

‎We're here to support you with:

  • Health concerns
  • Understanding complex or overwhelming information
  • Working through difficult emotions, including grief and loss

We help you cope by offering:

  • Counselling
  • Advocacy and support in navigating the system
  • Help with safety planning
  • Information, resources and education

Our social workers are an important part of your health care team.

 

Pregnancy, childbirth and parenting can be joyful and exciting, but they can also feel scary or overwhelming at times.

Getting a medical diagnosis - or managing medical or mental health condition - can create a lot of stress for you and your family.

Your physical and mental health, financial situation, relationships and other life factors can all affect how well you're able to cope and thrive.

Our social workers are here to listen and support you with any concerns you want to talk about.

You may want to connect with us about:

  • Questions or worries about a treatment plan
  • A medically high-risk pregnancy
  • Previous pregnancy loss or other significant losses
  • A baby admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
  • A traumatic birth experience
  • Miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death
  • Substance use concerns
  • Mental health challenges
  • Social isolation
  • Relationship stress or intimate partner/family violence
  • The need for resources as a new immigrant, refugee or undocumented person
  • Questions about supports available in your home community
  • Financial stress
  • The wellbeing of children
  • Adoption planning

 
 

All social workers at BC Women’s have professional training from accredited universities, with bachelor's or master's degrees in social work. They are also registered with the BC College of Social Workers.

Our goal is to work with you to help:

  • Reduce stress
  • Recognize and build on your strengths
  • Support your safety and well-being

We are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-oppressive practices and Indigenous cultural safety.

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Resources

 
 

 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

The organizations and programs listed here can help you find services in your area that meet your needs:

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Programs we support

Social work services are available in each of the following specialized programs.

 

‎The Maternal Newborn Program provides complete maternity care for pregnant and postpartum patients and their families. We also support patients and families who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death or a traumatic birth.

Resources:
 

 

The Maternity Ambulatory Program provides specialized pregnancy and prenatal care. This includes prenatal diagnostic services and care for people who need closer monitoring and extra support during pregnancy.

Clinic/service areas

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) provides specialized medical and surgical care for newborns who need extra support after birth. Babies may come to the NICU for reasons such as being born early, having a low birth weight, difficulty breathing difficulty, or an infection.

 
Championing lifelong care

We provide lifelong for women* and children living with HIV or reproductive infectious diseases**. Our team is committed to culturally safe, trauma-informed and equity-focused care. We work to educate health care providers, inform policy, and empower patients through interdisciplinary care, advocacy and research.

*For this purpose, "women" includes people who are anatomically female, as well as people who identify as women regardless of anatomy or sex assigned at birth.

**"Reproductive infectious disease" refers to infections that affect the reproductive tract, infections in pregnancy, congenital infections, and any infections that impact the health and wellbeing of women.

Learn more: Oak Tree Clinic.

 

 

The Families in Recovery (FIR) Program is the first of its kind in Canada. It provides specialized support for people who are pregnant or newly parenting while navigating substance-use and mental-health challenges.

Learn more: Families in Recovery (FIR).

 

 

‎The Complex Chronic Diseases Program (CCDP) provides team-based care for people living with complex, long-term health conditions. Our specialists work together to support patients with comprehensive, coordinated care.

 

 

‎Reproductive Mental Health Services support individuals and families who are experiencing mental health challenges before, during and after pregnancy and birth.

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