This year, BCASW is proud to honour Robert F. Kissner.
Robert Kissner, M.A. PhD, RSW is a specialist in stress and trauma with an interest in innovative ways to facilitate resilience and emotional recovery. He has experience in clinical practice, agency administration, teaching, research, and as a social innovator and entrepreneur. He served an impressive sixteen years on the BCASW board as Vice-President, and President and was BC provincial representative to CASW.
In 1979, Robert founded the Focus Foundation of BC, www.focusbc.org an addictions and education agency working with adolescents with complex needs and youth who are unsuccessful in the public school system. As an entrepreneur in health and wellness, he established a company providing research-based solutions for health issues such as depression, abuse, trauma and medically unexplained symptoms.
Robert taught a wide range of subjects for the University of Chicago, Simon Fraser University, Trinity Western University, University College of the Fraser Valley and Douglas College, including courses in social work, education, criminology, and sociology. He has traveled extensively, lecturing and writing on developmental approaches, working with youth, addictions, stress and emotions. Bob is a frequent speaker in forums such as social work conferences, the United Kingdom European Symposium on Addictive Disorders, the International Council on Alcohol and Addictions, the Society for Research on Adolescence, the American Association of Orthopsychiatry, the Royal Society of Medicine and The Royal College of General Practitioners in London, UK.
Robert Kissner will be honoured by his fellow social workers, at the BCASW Fall Conference, November 2-3, 2012 at the Coast Plaza Hotel & Suites, Vancouver BC.