BCASW is pleased to announce that Dr. Pamela Miller is awarded the BC CASW Distinguished Service Award for 2017. Pam is known as an insightful and effective leader, a strong advocate for the profession of social work, and a kind, generous, humble, and compassionate person. Her lengthy social work career focused on teaching and a scholarly interest in eLearning and use of information technology in practice, ethical decision making, community development, and leadership in human services.
A strong commitment to professional social work practice and the promotion of the profession led Pam to serve at the executive level in two provinces. Pam served as Vice President of the BCASW from 2008 to 2009, President from 2009 to 2011, and Past President from 2012 to 2016. Prior to moving to BC from Alberta in 2008, Pam served as an elected member of the Alberta College of Social Work Council from 2001 to 2003 and as President of the Alberta College of Social Work from 2004 to 2007. Pam's leadership skills and recognition among her peers led her to the role of Chair, Canadian Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work from 2009 to 2012.
During her time on the BCASW Board, Pam facilitated the Association's engagement in lobbying the Government of British Columbia to:
- Increase housing options for people with complex health care needs,
- Restore the BC office to combat trafficking in persons,
- Include the use of social workers through WorkSafeBC,
- Increase social assistance rates, and
- Heed recommendations made by the Representative for Children and Youth in BC.
Pam's contributions to practice are evident in the dozens of scholarly publications and delivery of professional development workshops. Her publications include an article describing the benefits of online chatting for single moms (2007), a book on ethical decision making in social work (2012), and an article on leadership in social work (2011).
Pam retired as a full professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Victoria in 2016.