Building equitable, culturally safe & trauma-informed health care: mending a broken system

Abstract

This practicum report provides a description and critical analysis of my experience as a Master of Social Work (MSW) student during my field practicum placement with the Public Health Observatory (PHO), with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA). The purpose of this practicum was to gain graduate-level experience and knowledge about the integration of knowledge and skills relevant to macro social work practice in areas focused on health equity, cultural safety, and the promotion of trauma-informed principles in a healthcare setting. This report will explore the literature on macro social work practice, health equity, cultural safety, narrative (storytelling) approaches, and trauma-informed care. The literature review also examines what is required to move from reflection to reflexivity. Finally, this field practicum report describes my experience engaging with these overarching themes in an effort to understand how healthcare systems can be transformed — a transformation that must include a critical, self-reflexive, and revolutionary dialogue about the direction we envision for health care in Saskatchewan.