Social Work Services
PCN Social Workers are professional problem solvers.
The PCN Social Work Service is available to support individuals presenting/dealing with abuse, neglect, self-neglect, unsafe environments, financial hardships, housing issues, social isolation, change in health conditions and/or difficulty navigating health and social services. PCN Social Workers are professional problem solvers who can help patients manage a variety of emotional and social concerns that impact their health and wellbeing. The team can work with individuals of all language backgrounds with support from Provincial Language Services.
Our Allied Health professionals can offer services in a variety of languages and have access to interpreter services in over 150 languages.
Eligibility
- Patient is attached to a Burnaby Family Physician or Nurse Practitioner
- All ages are welcome
- Patients not active with another Community Social Worker
Please speak with your Burnaby-based Primary Care Provider to see if you are eligible for this service.
Meet Our Social Workers
Rosa Chang, BSW, MSW, RSW
PCN Social Worker
Primary Neighbourhood: Hastings-Brentwood
Other Language: Korean
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Qualifications: Registered Social Worker with Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work
Experience: Rosa has over 10 years of experience with diverse populations:
Substance Use Clinician: Tri-Cities MHSU Older Adults program, FH
Key Social Worker: Key Worker Program, children & youth with neurological disabilities, BC Centre for Abilities
Counsellor: Settlement & Employment Program, refugees & immigrants, SUCCESS & RMCS
Fun Fact: Rosa was an art instructor in Korea and has two degrees in design and art. She loves writing.
Nami Kim, BA, BSW, MSW, RSW
PCN Social Worker
Primary Neighbourhood: Metrotown
Other Language: Korean
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Qualifications: Registered social worker with Bachelor’s in political science and social work and Master’s in social work
Experience: Nami has several years of experiences in working in mental health, substance use, homelessness, and family violence areas, providing client-centered, strength-based, anti-oppressive, and trauma informed approaches.
Fun Fact: Grew up in South Korea and immigrated to Vancouver in 2009. Enjoys camping, hiking, and paddle boarding.
Mehdi Kurtagich, BSW
PCN Social Worker, Community Outreach
Primary Neighbourhood: Metrotown
Other Language: Croatian
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Qualifications: Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Counselling Psychology (in progress)
Experience: Medhi is an experienced registered social worker who started his early career as volunteer assisting refugees with Red Cross during the civil war in Croatia and Bosnia. Upon arriving in Vancouver 1995 as a refugee, he continued volunteering with the Red Cross in variety of capacities for several more years while he went back to school and worked full time.
Mehdi’s community mental health social service work experience includes working with Triage Shelters and as outreach in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Some of his other experiences include working at Long-Term Care (LTC) centres with seniors and their families including working a as a liaison between LTC and Vancouver Coastal Health, and working at Federal Correctional Institution in Regional Psychiatric Hospital (Pacific Region), where some of his duties included counselling and discharge planning with clients and facilitating CBT-psychosis groups. While in Correction facilities, Mehdi was CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management) primary responder and certified as trained the trainer as instructor for Suicide and Self Injury Intervention Training Workshops.
Fun Fact: Mehdi enjoys learning new sports and new activities that he never had the opportunity to try. Some years ago, Mehdi joined a Dragon Boat team and ended up winning the gold medal in a mixed teams at the False Creek race. After his 40 birthday, Mehdi decided to try running and has been running ever since, completing a half-marathon (Vancouver Scotiabank) and several 10K Under Armor race. Most recently he had an opportunity to be a Head Soccer coach for South Burnaby Metro Club. He loves to explore new things including outdoors and talking to his colleagues about history, music, books, and travel.
Carmen Christiansen, RSW, BSW
PCN Social Worker
(ON LEAVE)
Primary Neighbourhood: Hastings-Brentwood
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Qualifications: Registered Social Worker with a Bachelor of Social Work degree
Experience: Carmen worked as a Family Worker with women and children fleeing abuse in the Downtown East Side; as a Child Case Worker at the Maples Adolescent Treatment Centre; and, as a Child Protection Social Worker at the Ministry of Children and Family Development. Before working at Fraser Health she worked with individuals with developmental disabilities at the Community Living British Columbia.
Fun Fact: Carmen has lived in Miyazaki City, Japan and Asuncion, Paraguay
Jessica Walker, BSW, MSW, RSW
PCN Social Worker
(ON LEAVE)
Primary Neighbourhood: All of Burnaby
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Qualifications: Registered Social Worker with a Master of Social Work
Experience: Jessica comes to Primary Care after an extensive history working in acute and emergency care in Fraser Health and has expertise supporting clients that have experienced recent trauma and violence. Jessica previously also worked in the fields of housing, addictions, spiritual care, and street outreach.
Fun Fact: Jessica is a member of the LGBTQ2SA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Two Spirit, Asexual) Community and is passionate about supporting clients from an anti-oppressive social justice framework. Jessica uses both She/Her and They/Them pronouns and identifies as Queer.