Faculty

Dr. Leah Douglas (she/her) is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work & Human Services at University of the Fraser Valley, located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Stó:lō people. Leah is the Chair of the MSW Program and teaches graduate and undergraduate courses related to mental health and trauma-informed practice/practicum. As a Registered Clinical Social Worker (RCSW), she provides non-judgemental, anti-oppressive counselling to people with distress related to complex traumas. She is the Chair of the Eco-Social Work Community of Practice for the BC Association of Social Work (BCASW) and Co-Chair of the Green Social Work Education Caucus for the Canadian Association of Social Work Education (CASWE). She is the author of a book titled Trauma-informed conversations about mental health issues related to extreme weather and climate events: A guide for Canadian social workers (2025). In the last few years, Leah has presented her research related to eco-social work, social innovation, and Indigenous allyship in Switzerland, Norway, Austria, and across Canada.

Memberships, Awards, Grants, and Accreditations

• 2010 - Women’s Health Research Network Seed Grant 
• 2009 - UNAIDS Contract: Development of Options for Proposed Scope and Methodologies for Research on the Impact of the Criminal Laws in the Context of HIV (Team) 
• 2006 - Fraser Health Mental Health & Addiction Prevention Grant (Team) 
• 2006 - BC Mental Health & Addictions Research Network Scholarship 

Member (in good standing) of the British Columbia Association of Social Workers(BCASW) and the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) Designated RSW with the Board of Registration for Social Workers (BRSW) 

Community and Committee Work

• Associate of the International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice (2009 – present)  
• Research Advisor for UFV Aid to Small University Applications (2009 – present)  
• Professional Studies Learning Exchange Committee (2009 – present)
• Reviewer for McGraw Hill: Interpersonal Communication: The  Whole Story (2009)
• Special Guest Editor, Perspectives Journal (2007)
• Chair, Addiction Committee, BC Association of Social Workers (2006-2007) 

Douglas, L. (2009). Opportunities and Barriers to Working with Drug Users in a Hospital Setting. Social Work In-service session, Surrey Memorial Hospital: Surrey BC. 

Douglas, L. & Secord, S. (2006). Stages of change, Ambivalence, and Youth: Opportunities for Relationships in Health Care Settings. Psychiatry In-service session, Surrey Memorial Hospital: Surrey BC. 

Secord, S. & Douglas, L. (2006). Harm reduction in an acute care hospital: One-size-does-not fit-all. Poster presented at the International Harm Reduction Conference: Vancouver, BC. 

Malowaniec, L. (2004/05). Domestic Violence: the Nursing Role. Eight session series presented to St. Paul’s Hospital Maternity and student RNs: Vancouver, BC. 

Malowaniec, L. (2003). Mentoring and the Canadian Health Network: Opportunities for Change. Presented at the Canadian Health Network @ Health Canada Information and Content Specialist Forum: Ottawa, ON. 

Douglas, L. (2007). Deconstructing the Anti-Drug Strategy. Perspectives, 29(4), 4-5. 

Douglas, L. (2007). “Re: National Anti-Drug Strategy”. Media release available at http://www.bcasw.org/Content/News and Media/News Archive.asp?ItemID=39934 

Douglas, L. (2007). “Federal Government has Ethical Obligation to Provide a Permanent Exemption for Safe Injection Site”, say Social Workers. Media release available at 
http://www.bcasw.org/Content/News and Media/News Archive.asp?ItemID=39730 

Douglas, L. (2007). Support, Respect and Compassion: Sex workers need access to safe, non-judgmental services. Perspectives, 29(1), 8-11. 

Douglas, L. (2007). Housing First: Harm reduction housing offers hope and promise for the ‘hard to house’. Perspectives, 29(1), 14-15. 

Douglas, L. (2007). Editorial: Well accepted or hotly contentious, harm reduction stimulates debate. Perspectives, 29(1), 7. 

Petty, M & Douglas, L. (2007). Elderly, Alcoholic and Alone: Can I protect my client from her harmful behaviours? Perspectives, 29(1), 20. 

Wolinksy, T & Douglas, L. (2007). When Abstinence Isn’t an Option: Harm reduction is rooted in reality for substance using pregnant women. Perspectives, 29(1), 12-13. 

Malowaniec, L. (2004). Determining Community Attitudes and Concerns with respect to the Establishment of Safer Injection Facilities in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Doctoral Dissertation, McGill University, Montréal, QC. 

Malowaniec, L. & Rowe, W. (2003). Safer injection sites: implications for social workers. Chapter in Responding to the oppression of addiction: Canadian social work responses. Haworth Press. 

Malowaniec, L. & Rowe, W. (2003). Safer Injection Rooms: Community And Social Implications for Canadians. Canadian Social Work.