SOCIAL SERVICES NEWS
News, updates, and stories about social care in BC
Unveiling the latest developments in social services
September 19, 2024
Table of contents
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Reconciliation Book Club
- UBCM 2024
- Report
- Opportunities
- Homelessness & Housing
- Social Policy Forum 2025
- Communities & Families
- Career Opportunities
- Health & Mental Health
- FSGV
- Reconciliation
- Children & Youth
- Good News
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.
Resources:
Reconciliation Book Club
The Federation’s Reconciliation Book Club, designed to be inclusive and accessible for all staff in member organizations, is a key resource for increasing knowledge of reconciliation issues. Book Club members meet regularly to discuss a new book, and Federation staff ensure that the discussions are enriched with supplementary materials, including discussion questions, additional readings, and author and publisher information.
We invite you to join us for the next meeting of the Reconciliation Book Club on October 23, 2024. The book we will be discussing is “Bone Black” by Carol Rose GoldenEagle. Don’t miss this chance to be part of the discussion. Sign up for the book club here: https://fcssbc.ca/bookclub/
UBCM 2024
The Union of BC Municipalities’ annual convention is taking place through this week in downtown Vancouver, attended by over 2,000 participants, including the Federation’s executive director Kishone Roy and director of policy Diamond Isinger. Highlights and hot topics so far have included housing and pressures of rising homelessness on communities, involuntary care, toxic drugs and harm reduction, public safety, and more. A detailed overview email will be sent to members directly at the conclusion of the conference.
Report
We are proud to have been a part of the Community-Led Collaboration Project!
Today, we’re excited to share that the project report focusing on Campbell River, Gold River, and surrounding communities is complete! Over the past two years, we have proudly partnered with various organizations in these regions to create an inclusive, culturally safe, community-centred, and accessible approach to enhancing the network of services and supports for children and youth with disabilities in BC.
Through this collaborative effort, we have listened to the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of families, youth, and service providers regarding the changes they wish to see in their communities.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to this vital project, including:
– Inclusion BC
– BC Complex Kids Society
– BCAAFC
– Gold River Children’s Health Hub
– Laichwiltach Family Life Society
– Rivercity Inclusion
– BC Association of Child Development and Intervention
We invite you to share this report widely, as it serves as a catalyst for the meaningful change necessary to better support children and youth with disabilities in BC.
To learn more about our community development approach to engagement and to download a copy of the report, please visit: https://inclusionbc.org/clcp-campbell-river/
Opportunities
The Federation actively works to help our members stay up to date with what is happening across the community social services sector. Check our calendar for training opportunities, webinars, and events.
Homelessness & Housing
The BC provincial government has granted 21 municipalities additional time, some until 2030, to update zoning bylaws and infrastructure in line with Bill 44, aimed at increasing housing availability. However, requests for extensions by seven other communities were denied, including the Mount Waddington Regional District and the Township of Langley, which must comply by mid-December. Bill 44 is a major part of the government’s efforts to address the housing affordability crisis, though some local leaders, like Richmond’s mayor, have criticized it as a significant overreach into municipal planning. Despite some opposition, 91% of local governments have adopted the new legislation.
Related:
Save the date!
Social Policy Forum 2025
Our 2025 Social Policy Forum will occur on February 12, 13 and 14. We are excited to host this event again at The Inn at Laurel Point, Victoria. The Social Policy Forum is an opportunity for members, sector partners, and government colleagues to connect and explore the pressing social policy issues our organizations – and, more importantly, our communities – face today. Participants will learn more, discuss the impacts and consequences of social policy, and explore approaches that will move us forward in finding solutions and better ways to support our most vulnerable citizens. Please watch for more information, including hotel booking details.
Communities & Families
The BC government has allocated $400,000 to fund the implementation of temporary car-free zones around schools during peak hours to improve student safety. The initiative, led by Green Communities Canada and the Society for Children and Youth of BC, aims to reduce traffic congestion around schools, ensuring safer walking and cycling routes for children. Part of the National Active School Streets Initiative, this program will support up to 10 communities in BC. Municipalities interested in applying can find more information on Green Communities Canada’s website.
Related:
Career Opportunities
The Federation actively works to help our members recruit and retain skilled staff. Click here to check the current opportunities.
Health & Mental Health
At the 2024 Union of British Columbia Municipalities Convention, BC Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth outlined the government’s response to the opioid crisis, emphasizing collaboration between public safety and mental health services. Despite recent steps like increasing treatment beds and advocating for stricter port controls to prevent opioid imports, many community leaders and panellists expressed frustration, criticizing the government’s efforts as insufficient. Fort St. John’s Chief Administrative Officer Milo Macdonald and others pointed to the challenges of enforcing decriminalization and the strain on emergency services. While some praised new measures like involuntary care, others emphasized the need for more comprehensive solutions to address rising crime and the burnout of first responders. Public health experts noted that overdose deaths have stabilized, but the crisis continues to fuel property crime and social tensions across the province.
Related:
FSGV
The Federation, in collaboration with Family Services of Greater Vancouver, is offering a FREE virtual workshop to help frontline staff improve their support for clients with financial struggles using Prosper Canada’s Benefits Wayfinder. This training will equip participants with essential knowledge and skills to assist clients in discovering and applying for benefits and will include effective, trauma-informed money conversation techniques. The workshop is available on September 25 and November 5, 2024, from 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm and is limited to 30 participants per session. Additional dates will be added, and a waitlist is available by contacting Katherine Lim at info@fcssbc.ca. Register today and share this opportunity with your colleagues!
Reconciliation
The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) and the Province of British Columbia have signed the “Rising to the Challenge Accord,” a new agreement aimed at transforming child and family well-being for First Nations in BC. This accord builds on prior agreements like the 2002 Tsawwassen Accord and the 2017 Reconciliation Charter and reaffirms both parties’ commitment to self-determination and reducing the number of Indigenous children in care. It outlines a collaborative framework to reform outdated laws and policies, emphasizing culturally appropriate approaches and systemic change to address the impacts of colonialism. The accord supports the application of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and aims to ensure that First Nations children and families are healthy, safe, and connected to essential resources.
Related:
Children & Youth
The Nuu-chah-nulth Warrior Family Society in Port Alberni is implementing the Icelandic Prevention Model to address youth substance use through a program called “Strengthening the Circle: Supporting Healthy Pathways for Nuu-chah-nulth Youth.” Funded by a $125,000 grant over 18 months from Canada’s Public Health Agency, the initiative focuses on long-term, community-driven solutions rather than short-term fixes. Drawing from the Icelandic model, which successfully reduced youth substance use through community engagement and holistic support, the program aims to connect Nuu-chah-nulth youth to their culture and roots. Led by coordinators like Leonard Nookemis and Dr. Ricardo Manmohan, the effort involves traditional activities and creating safe spaces for young men and two-spirited people, emphasizing long-term development and cultural reconnection.
Related:
Good News
If you have any feel-good, weird, fascinating or amusing stories you’d like to see included in this section, send them our way to giovani@fcssbc.ca!
Note
The articles in Federation newsletters are for informational purposes and do not relate to the Federation’s advocacy work. We want our membership to stay informed of news relevant to our sector; the inclusion of a story is not an endorsement.
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