Select Standing Committee Submissions: Have Your Say About the Next BC Budget…

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Every year, the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services holds a public consultation on the next provincial budget. It is an opportunity for individuals and organizations to share their thoughts, ideas, and priorities regarding provincial services and funding decisions. The committee reviews everything they receive and then makes recommendations to the Legislative Assembly before the next budget.

Each year, The Federation makes a written submission and presents to the committee in person (or over Zoom). This year we are doing the same. And we are also encouraging Federation members to join us and amplify our message and recommendations.

You can fill out a survey and/or make a written submission. Either way, these consultations are an excellent opportunity for us to inform next year’s provincial budget and draw attention to the issues we are facing and the changes we want to see happen for and in BC’s community social services sector.

Our Recommendations

This year, the committee is asking for submissions to be limited to three recommendations. The Federation will be prioritizing the following.

  1. Continue to demonstrate a commitment to reconciliation and decolonization of social services by working to address funding inequities that exist for Indigenous, off-reserve service providers.
  2. Continue to demonstrate a commitment to reconciliation and decolonization by making new investments in services and supports for children in care—an area that hasn’t seen the same transformative investments as other MCFD services.
  3. Continue to invest in the strength and sustainability of BC’s social services sector by addressing the rising costs that organizations are facing and building a response to these pressures into base contract dollars.

Have Your Say

You can participate by providing written comments or by filling out the online survey between May 30th and June 24th. Consider using the same recommendations as above. Check out past submissions that The Federation has made and use the same language, arguments, or key messages.

Our job is to represent your interests, advocate on your behalf, and work to create a stronger and more sustainable community social services sector. But it can be just important for you, our members, to support and advocate for each other.

There have been many signs that this government is listening and paying attention to our sector and I believe that we must do our best to take advantage of opportunities like this.

So if you would like to have a conversation about how to prepare or what to say (or if you have questions about this process), please contact me or Rebecca. We would be more than happy to talk to you or pass on a draft copy of our submission prior to the consultation window.

Rick FitzZaland, Executive Director
rick@fcssbc.ca

Rebecca Ataya, Associate Executive Director
rebecca@fcssbc.ca

5/12/2022: Member Support and Information Recap

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This month’s Member Support and Information Exchange Meeting covered Supervision Training opportunities, child and family legislation reform, BC budget consultations, Family Resource Programs, and CYSN transformation.

Member Support and Information Exchange meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of every month.
Upcoming meetings are: June 9th: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Support to Practice Supervision Training

Federation’s Support to Practice June cohort includes a full-day in-person session in Vancouver, on June 7th. Registration is open at www.fcssbc.ca/training. Contact catherine@fcssbc.ca for details.

MCFD Engagement – Child & Family Services Reform

MCFD is planning sector and community engagement on transforming child and family service legislation. MCFD is facilitating a session specifically for Federation members on Tuesday, May 17th from, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM via Zoom. Contact michelle@fcssbc.ca for details.

Select Standing Committee of Finance and Government Services

Each year, The Federation makes a written submission and presentation, recommending priorities for the next provincial budget. This year, we’re also asking members to join us and amplify issues that are important to the sector.

You can fill out a survey and/or make a written submission. The Federation is drafting our submission and will send it to members when complete, should any members wish to borrow our language for their own submissions. If you haven’t written a submission before and/or you would like to discuss how-to, contact any Federation staff.

Family Resource Programs

The Federation is working with a group of family resource programs to develop a survey to specifically look at how the ECE wage enhancement may or may not be impacting family resource programs. If you have started a family resource program, connect with Rebecca to be added to the survey distribution list, rebecca@fcssbc.ca. The survey will be sent out sometime in June to members who have identified as providing family resource programs on their membership renewal forms.

Children and Youth with Support Needs (CYSN)

The Federation, The BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres, Inclusion BC and the BC Association for Child Development and Intervention were given funding to support community development work regarding CYSN implementation. We are planning an information session for members for the end of June to discuss what this engagement process will look like and how we will incorporate learnings from early implementation sites. The info session date is being confirmed and will be sent to members prior to the event.

  • Members expressed issues with the way MCFD drew the service boundaries and the effect this will have on access (travel issues). MCFD has suggested concerned organizations should contact their MCFD Director of Operations. The Federation is also tracking this feedback.
  • Members shared that their staff are concerned about what the RFP process will mean for smaller organizations and those with strong ties to the community; this could destabilize agencies and communities.

 

Projects & Issues Update: Child and Family Service Legislation, Procurement, Support to Practice, CYSN Framework

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The one thing I know about our members is that you are doing a lot of things all of the time. Things move incredibly quickly in this sector and a lot is happening all at once—contracts, recruiting, board meetings, fundraising, supervision, and program development. It is a lot to keep on top of. It often feels the same for us at The Federation.

Last week was an in-person strategic planning retreat for The Federation board of directors. Another round of regional meetings begins next week. Our June Conference and Annual General Meeting in Penticton is only a month away. We’re hiring Workplace Learning Coaches to support the sector and we’re meeting with ministers and government decision-makers on a weekly basis.

I can’t share everything we are working on or the details of each meeting I attend, but there are a few important items below that I want to inform you about and encourage you to take part in. And, as always, please reach out if you have questions, comments, or ideas about any of the work The Federation is undertaking or the issues you are facing and need assistance with.

Your board of directors and the entire Federation staff team are working hard to support you and engage with decision-makers around the important systemic changes that will strengthen our sector and improve service delivery. But we are also always here to respond to emerging issues and provide you with support and information.

Rick FitzZaland
Executive Director

Child and Family Community Service Act Reform

The BC government is currently reforming child and family service legislation to improve services for British Columbians and is beginning engagement with the Federation and Indigenous organizations. Our government colleagues want your ideas and insights about what should be prioritized, where you see current issues with the child and family service system, and what changes you think need to be made to transform the system of care.

An online engagement session is taking place over Zoom on May 17th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. All feedback and perspectives are welcome. You do not need to have any understanding of child and family service legislation, policy, or practices to participate. Participation information has been emailed to Federation members. Contact info@fcssbc.ca or michelle@fcssbc.ca if you would like it re-sent.

The goal of this initiative is not necessarily to make changes to the existing legislation, but rather to re-imagine what the system could look like and then create something new. As such, you are encouraged to provide ideas and feedback about what a supportive, safe, and prevention-focused system would look like to help inform this new legislation. (This will be the first of many engagement opportunities; contact michelle@fcssbc.ca if you cannot attend this date but want to be involved in the future.)

Social Services Sector Round Table

Earlier this week was the latest meeting of the Procurement Sub-Committee of the Social Services Sector Round Table. This particular working group has moved into a research and design phase and is currently designing and developing an engagement plan. We believe that this area of focus will be a lynchpin for the kind of systemic change we have been working toward for a long time. These meetings are something we look forward to and we are optimistic about the potential for more equitable, transparent and sustainable ways of managing procurement as well as government engagement with the sector.

Support to Practice Cohort 10

A new cohort of The Federation’s Support to Practice Supervision Training (offered in partnership with Community Action Initiative and CityU) has just been announced and is open for registration now.

This cohort-based series of workshops teaches supervisors and managers how to understand the spectrum of supervisory responsibilities and helps them develop specific supervisory skills that enhance direct services—ensuring your organizations are supporting your staff and meeting the unique needs and circumstances of your clients and communities.

The cohort will be running through May and June and registration is open now. You can learn more about the training and register to participate on The Federation website.

MCFD CYSN Framework Update

The Ministry of Children and Family Development has released the framework detailing upcoming changes to services for children and youth with support needs. You can learn more about the framework, the major components of the system (family connections centres, Disability Services, and Provincial Services) and what each major service component will look like here.

The BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres, The BC Association for Child Development and Intervention, The Federation, and Inclusion BC have come together to promote a collaborative, community-led approach to the implementation of the framework. Our collective goal is to support a process that harnesses the existing strength throughout the province, community by community, in order to ensure the best possible system of support for children and youth with support needs and their families. We will have more information available soon and we will share information and opportunities for engagement and involvement with you as they are established.

June Conference and AGM in Penticton

For many years, The Federation’s June conferences have been a popular networking event and an opportunity to engage with the issues that you, our members, have told us you want to hear more about. Our tagline Altogether Better holds special significance this year as we prepare to bring the membership together in person for the first time in 2 years for a full day of connection, learning, and celebration. (The Federation turns 40 in June!)

The morning will feature a keynote and Q&A with Dr. Bruce McIvor, lawyer and historian, and a partner at First Peoples Law LLP—a law firm dedicated to defending and advancing Indigenous Peoples’ inherent and constitutionally protected title, rights and Treaty rights. His work includes both litigation and negotiation and he is the author of the book Standoff: Why Reconciliation Fails Indigenous People and How to Fix It.

Bruce will discuss and answer questions about why reconciliation has and continues to fail Indigenous people, Canada’s Proposed UNDRIP Legislation, and the problems with allies and allyship. He will also cover approaches for intentionally incorporating Indigenous rights into diversity and inclusion work.

In the afternoon, an interview with Cathy Taylor, the Executive Director of the Ontario Nonprofit Network will explore and reflect on our sector’s experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, discuss key lessons and takeaways, and identify promising new practices. The conference will also include the always popular Networking Reception hosted by Schmunk Gatt Smith & Associates, friends and partners of The Federation since 1984.

You can learn more and register to attend here. See you in Penticton!