Geraldine Poirier Baiani

New Brunswick Association of Social Workers

Term ends: February 2030

Please give a brief biography, including your education, licensure or certification level and employment history:

I am a Registered Social Worker, a BSW graduate from the Université de Moncton and of the Executive Management programs at Queens and the Niagara Institute. I started my career in Child Protection and worked in many programs as a front line Social Worker, Supervisor, Manager and Regional Director until I retires as Assistant Deputy Minister of the Department of Social Development, the largest employer of Social workers in the province. After a successful career I drew on my 35 years of experience to write about some of the achievements, programs and services I led while in government. Several articles on Family Group conferencing were published in journals between 2014 and 2020. I am presently on the NBASW-ATTSNB board and have been the ASWB Treasurer for the last 3 years., I represented the NBASW-ATTSNB on the Canadian Association of Social Workers Editorial Board and am now the New Brunswick representative on the CASW Board.

Give a synopsis of your regulatory and professional experience. Please emphasize your involvement with ASWB:

I attended all ASWB Education conferences since 2019 and have been at all the Delegate Assembly meetings during that time as a voting delegate or an ASWB Board member . I am currently the Board treasurer after having been elected in November 2022 in a special election to finish the previous treasurer’s term. I was re-elected in 2023 for a two year term.I served on the ASWB DEI&J committee and was a speaker at the 2022 Education conference. I was first involved on the Executive of the NBASW-ATTSNB board at the beginning of my career and worked on the committee that brought in the legislation that gave the Association control of the title and practice of Social Work. I also chaired the Re-opening of the Act committee in 2019 that rewrote the NBASW-ATTSNB Act which added diagnosis to the scope of practice. More recently I was instrumental in getting the Board and membership approval to proceed with the control of title and practice of Social Work technicians, legislative changes are being introduced in the House this Fall. I was elected as President of the Board in 2019, completed my four year term , served as Past president until June 2024. I am now the CASW representative.

Finally, make a brief statement on the major issues you see facing ASWB, and how you would address them:

The release of the Pass Rate data allowed the critics to say the exam was racist and unfair. ASWB has had to repeatedly explain that systemic and institutional racism are contributing to the pass rates but the exam itself is not racist. At the same time, NASW and CSWE have come out publicly against the licensing exam and there have been several legal/legislative challenges with a number of States eliminating certain categories of exams. ASWB continues to do a significant amount of research and is considering alternatives to the exam as a way to assess competency. The work on the Compact will be important. I want to be part of those conversations which will impact the future of our profession, coming up with solutions, reviewing consequences and evaluating options. As treasurer I continue to commit to being available for those conversations, and any other questions. I will put in the required time necessary and be sure to listen. I will be transparent and will bring my experience and knowledge to the table. I look forward to continuing in the capacity of Treasurer for one last term.