Anita Kante has always wanted to contribute and make a difference – she’s always worked in social work or in similar fields, such as counselling, Housing First, the YMCA’s social programs, and as a Social Worker II in acute care. After 5 years in acute care, she moved into a brand new position as a Social Worker II Consultant in Transition Services. Her role quickly evolved past what that designation would allow. Within about a year of work and determined self-advocacy, she now works as a Social Worker III, mentoring other social workers, influencing systemic changes, and advocating for the profession. During this time she experienced immense professional growth that really exposed her to the possibilities of the social work profession and what they bring to healthcare at a macro operational level.
What experiences do you feel have most influenced you in your career journey?
Looking back during my time in acute care I never realized that there were other opportunities beyond those hospital walls until I took the leap into a position outside of my comfort zone. Once I left acute care, I had the privilege of working under a Director who not only mentored and coached me, but taught me to be a strategic thinker and a creative problem solver. She also believed in me as a social worker and what our profession brought to the table. I have so much gratitude for the support and guidance I’ve had along this professional journey – it has been a significant contributor to my success.
In addition to mentorship, how did your education contribute to your growth?
At first, pursuing my master’s may have seemed like merely obtaining a "piece of paper," but it proved to be a crucial step for me. It wasn’t until after I had graduated that I started to make connections between my daily practice and my formal education. It became obvious that my world view had magnified significantly, and suddenly the larger systems and macro-level practice made sense.
How did you grow your professional network?
Strong professional partnerships take time to build and often require strategic collaboration to prove your value as an asset. But it is this effort that has supported my network to grow beyond healthcare to various government partners and community organizations. Fostering trust in professional relationships and networking with others who share the same vision is vital. I always find myself seeking out partnerships with those that have a similar worldview and approach to practice. I have high expectations of myself, I work hard, and I work fast so I tend to gravitate towards others who are similar.
Your passion for empowering others is evident. How do you see your future in the field of social work?
I am always dreaming big, because why not? The worst that can happen is rejection, but then you recalibrate, pivot, and try again. My professional goal is to keep challenging myself to rethink and reframe and keep growing. When I feel stagnant, I find myself seeking new opportunities to challenge myself. When the system is in chaos, I take a strategic approach and think about ways to leverage the chaos. And as always, any opportunity to mentor and coach other social workers is incredibly rewarding and always gives me a gentle reminder of why I went into the social work profession.
Any advice for other Social Workers or Allied Health professionals looking to advance their career at AHS?
Do not limit yourself to the first position you get. It’s not really advertised that there is life beyond front-line social work, so stay curious, ask questions, and observe. If you meet another social worker working in a unique position, ask them about their career journey, and also network with them – you just never know when your paths may cross again. Social workers are chameleons, we can adapt quite quickly and excel in a variety of different roles. We quickly pivot in system pressures, and I think it’s underappreciated how much we need to know about, well… everything! I firmly believe that social workers can be leaders in healthcare but we must advocate for ourselves and use our voice to open the doors of opportunity ourselves.
