With a passion for Social justice
In Partnership with Dominican University and Chicago Sister Cities International Social Services Subcommittee Program
INTRODUCTION
We are global neighbors in a world that is increasingly interconnected by travel and technology yet fragmented by cultural divisions. Simultaneously, social service professionals in all parts of the world face professional challenges due to common societal, economic, political, and environmental upheavals. Issues such as substance abuse, child abuse, domestic violence, and human rights violations have no boundaries between countries. Therefore, best practices and policies that address these types of universal social challenges should also have no boundaries. Since its inception in 1996, ISWEP’s purpose has been to address this challenge.
MISSION STATEMENT
The International Social Worker Exchange Partnership promotes culturally-sensitive social work best practices through creating professional, international learning opportunities and coordinating multicultural immersion programs which build, strengthen and sustain global partnerships between multi-sector practitioners and organizations.
The International Social Worker Exchange Partnership serves as a conduit for mutual sharing of professional social service knowledge, skills, and identification of cultural determinants to enhance social services in a global community. Specifically, ISWEP:
Coordinates with the Chicago Sister City International Program, professional exchanges in which practitioners, community-based social workers, administrators, supervisors, academics from different parts of the world come together.
Shares best practices and policy experiences in a “cultural discourse”.
Increases an international exchange of theoretical and conceptual knowledge.
Educates and promotes global collaboration overcoming cultural divisions.
Increases social service awareness and multifaceted cultural expertise.
GUIDELINES FOR PROFESSIONAL EXCHANGES
Professional Social Worker Exchanges are annual events occurring between one or more of Chicago’s Sister Cities. Each year, the Exchanges alternate between partnered cities with the hosting city setting the theme based on the particular needs or interests of the hosting city. Visiting delegations are usually limited to 8 professional social service workers.
In partnership with Chicago Sister City programming, selection of partner cities is prioritized to Chicago’s Sister City network with cities who have a developed social work community with institutional support, e.g., local government and/or universities.
The Exchanges are designed to immerse the participants in the professional and social culture of the hosting city. Participants spend 10 hour days in formal and informal meetings with social work colleagues, local officials and organizational representatives. Typically the Exchanges occur over an 8 to 10 day period and conclude with the host city organizing a Conference open to all of its local social service professionals. The Conference includes a keynote speaker followed by the visiting delegates organizing a presentation on their collective observations, noting similarities and contrasts in each city’s “best practices” and policies.
For each Exchange Program, application information is distributed to local professionals and final delegates are selected by the ISWEP Steering Committee. Delegate selection is based on several factors including:
1) Applicants ability to contribute professionally to the specific theme of the Exchange Program;
2) Applicants fit with ISWEP's goal of achieving diversity among the delegates; and
3) Applicants ability and willingness to join ISWEP, attend quarterly meetings, participate on ISWEP committees and host visiting professionals as appropriate. A three year commitment is expected.
The host city typically assists with land costs for the visiting delegates including local transportation, housing and meals. Selected delegates are responsible for their own round trip air fare.
Latest News:
In July 2015, ISWEP hosted its first Exchange with Chicago’s Sister City Casablanca, Morocco. A delegation of 8 Moroccan social service workers participated in a one week program from July 26-31, 2015. The theme was “Engaging the Disengaged Youth”. The ISWEP and Sister Cities Casablanca Planning Committees coordinated the Program for participants. In September of 2015, ISWEP sent a delegation of 8 social workers to Hamburg, Germany as part of the week long Tri-City Exchange which included 8 social workers from Birmingham, England.
In Spring 2016, ISWEP recruited social workers for the Birmingham, England delegation which took place in July 2016. Also in the Spring 2016, a newly formed subcommittee of the Sister Cities International began meeting with social workers and social service professionals to discuss recruitment of the planning committee and delegates for the Casablanca, Morocco exchange which took place in the fall of 2016. The delegates had an amazing time connecting with new and old colleagues, discussing social issues, engaging at site visits and experiencing Moroccan culture. The Birmingham Exchange of 2016 was a another wonderful celebration, as it recognized the 20th anniversary of the social work exchanges in Birmingham.
Chicago continued this anniversary celebration in 2017 when it served as the host city. The largest multi-city delegation and symposium Chicago has hosted!
2018 was a busy year for ISWEP as exchanges took place in both Casablanca and Hamburg. Hamburg hosted an 8 city exchange for their jubilee year with the largest exchange of delegates to date!
In 2019 Chicago delegates will be invited to join colleagues in Birmingham and Chicago looks to again welcome Durban to the exchange programming. Chicago also anticipates hosting Casablanca delegates later this year.
ISWEP continues to explore social work Petah Tikva,Israel, Galway, Ireland, Lucerene, Switerland, and Bogota, Columbia, to explore the social work systems in these Sister Cities and their interests in future Exchanges.
International Social Worker Exchange Partnership (ISWEP) History of exchange
1996 — Hamburg Hosted the first 12 Chicago Delegates
1997 — Chicago hosted the first 12 Hamburg delegates
1998 — Hamburg hosted Chicago
1999 — Chicago hosted Hamburg and welcomed Birmingham which created the Tri-City Exchange
2000 — Birmingham hosted Chicago and Hamburg (Tri-City)
2001 — Hamburg hosted Birmingham and Chicago (Tri-City), AND Chicago hosted Durban
2002 — Chicago hosted Birmingham and Hamburg (Tri-City), AND Chicago was welcomed by Durban
2003 — Hamburg, Chicago and Durban exchange
2004 — Birmingham hosted Chicago and Hamburg (Tri-City) AND Durban exchange
2005 — Chicago hosted Birmingham and Hamburg (Tri-City) which also included Durban
2006 — Durban, Hamburg (Delegates from Chicago, Birmingham, Prague & St. Petersburg
2007 — Chicago hosted Durban and Casablanca – Chicago hosted Mexico City, Birmingham
2008 — Chicago hosted Birmingham and Hamburg (Tri-City) AND worked with Youth Exchange with Morocco (through the State Department)
2009 — Hamburg hosted Birmingham and Chicago (Tri-City)
2010 — Birmingham hosted Chicago and Hamburg (Tri-City)
2011 — Chicago hosted Birmingham and Hamburg (Tri-City)
2012 — Hamburg hosted Birmingham and Chicago (Tri-City)
2013 — Birmingham hosted Chicago and Hamburg (Tri-City)
2014 — Chicago hosted Birmingham and Hamburg (Tri-City)
2015 — Hamburg hosted Birmingham and Chicago (Tri-City) AND Chicago hosted and welcomed
Casablanca as a new partnership
2016 — Birmingham hosted Chicago and Hamburg (Tri-City) AND Casablanca hosted and welcomed Chicago to continue the partnership!
2017 — Chicago hosted our 20th Anniversary of Exchanges with 6 Sister Cities which have developed a social services subcommittee including Birmingham, Casablanca, Durban, Hamburg, Osaka, Paris, and Shanghai
2018 — Hamburg hosted the Jubilee Exchange with ISWEP and Chicago Sister Cities International with 8 Sister Cities of Hamburg including Birmingham, Casablanca, Chicago, Dares Salaam, Dresden, Prague and Shanghai. AND Casablanca hosted Chicago thereafter!
2019 — Chicago hosting and again welcoming Durban collaboration. Birmingham hosted Chicago and Hamburg
2020 — Chicago was anticipated as a host city. In the midst of the global pandemic, Chicago hosted the first ever virtual exchange as a 3-day hybrid model with print materials shared electronically, live Zoom sessions for the collective. Small break out sessions with the core delegation group followed for candid dialogue on selected themes. A final symposium occurred on the third day with over 100 participants with social workers collectively presenting and sharing insights from the exchange week.
2021- Hamburg hosted a virtual conference
2022- Hamburg hosted a virtual ‘Twillight Sessions’ discussion. See home page for details.
2023- Birmingham hosted a virtual exchange. See home page for details.
2024- Chicago hosting first in-person exchange since the pandemic. Home page will be updated with conference flyer regarding attendance of international delegates and conference details. Conference will be open to Chicago area social workers to attend.
Contact us!
info@ISWEP.com.
Please see the application section for details and email your application, resume and personal statement to info@isewp.com to explore future collaborations and opportunities.