The Federation’s Community Chronicles: April 23, 2024 🌍

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SOCIAL SERVICES NEWS

News, updates, and stories about social care in BC

April 23, 2024

Registration is OPEN! June 2024 Current & Emerging Issues Conference

 

Our June conference focuses on current and emerging issues that our members have said they want to hear more about. The Federation AGM will also take place on the final morning of the conference.

Thursday, June 13, 2024: Conference & Networking Reception
Friday, June 14, 2024: Federation AGMClick here for more info and to register: https://fcssbc.ca/conferences/june-conference-agm/

Webinar

Justice After Exploitation: Supporting Youth Navigate the Justice System

In this free webinar led by Brenda Lochhead, a longtime victim support worker and community educator, we’ll share insights about the barriers facing youth as they navigate the justice system. Aimed at youth-serving front-line workers as well as folks in related sectors such as criminal justice, education, media, and healthcare, attendees will come away from this webinar with a better understanding of how we can all do more to uphold youth’s right to justice after exploitation.

 

MAY 15 

12:00 – 1:00 pm 

Zoom

Learn more and register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/justice-after-exploitation-supporting-youth-navigate-the-justice-system-tickets-881584060657?aff=oddtdtcreator

This webinar is made possible with the generous support of the Department of Justice Canada.

Health

Free monthly Naloxone kit training offered in Vernon, B.C.

The Interior Health is offering free one-hour presentations about Naloxone kits in Vernon. Participants will learn how to spot the signs of an overdose and how to administer Naloxone, and everyone who completes the class will take home one of these life-saving tools. The signs of an overdose were also discussed, and steps on what to do in case of an overdose were given. In 2023, 2,511 people in B.C. died as a result of an overdose – a new record for the province since the province declared the toxic drug crisis a public health emergency on April 14, 2016; over 14,000 deaths have been recorded as a result. | Global News

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Housing

City of Castlegar Asks Province to Reconsider Decision to Stop Funding Temporary Shelter

The B.C. Ministry of Housing has decided to discontinue funding temporary winter shelters as of April 30, 2024. This will result in the closure of the Out of the Cold temporary shelter and impact support services located at 1660 Columbia Ave. City of Castlegar Council has written a letter to Honourable Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing, asking the provincial government to reconsider its decision and continue funding to allow Castlegar’s shelter and support services to remain operational until a permanent shelter and outreach services are in place. Losing the shelter and outreach services would have devastating consequences for those who rely on its services, public safety, and the community at large. | Castlegar Source

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Community

‘Our goal is all the same’; BC Ministry of Housing working to make access hub model a reality for Kamloops

The city of Kamloops is working with the BC Housing Ministry to establish an access hub to provide support and services for the homeless population. The access hub model is being investigated in other cities as well, such as Nanaimo and Vancouver. The hub will be home to various social agencies that will offer foundational support to those suffering from homelessness and addiction to help them reconnect with their families and communities. The city is focused on ensuring the safety of both the homeless population and the community. The BC Housing Ministry intends to secure land on the North Shore and open the access hub before winter. | CFJC Today

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Women

Central Okanagan domestic violence unit receives $100K

The provincial government of British Columbia has provided $100,000 to the Central Okanagan Elizabeth Fry Society to support women and children suffering from domestic violence. The organization will use the money to fund its domestic violence unit, which includes community-based victim service workers, child protection workers, and police officers. The team provides coordinated responses when the risk of violence is high. The government has also provided funding to similar non-profits in Abbotsford, Surrey, and Vancouver. According to the BC Government, approximately one in every four women in British Columbia report surviving physical or sexual assault at the hands of an intimate partner. | Castanet

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Youth

Youth Are Calling for Free Public Transit Across BC

The Transit for Teens campaign in British Columbia advocates for free public transit for youth up to age 18 to improve access to education, reduce carbon emissions, and promote social inclusion. Backed by over 35 stakeholder groups, the campaign highlights the economic and environmental benefits of investing in public transit. Youth across the province share their experiences and emphasize the importance of barrier-free access to transportation for safety, well-being, and academic success. The campaign proposes fare-free transit as a solution to mobility poverty and calls for prioritizing public transportation over individual car usage to create a more sustainable future. | The Tyee

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Reconciliation

Indigenous healing lodges face chronic underfunding in Canada, critics say

Waseskun Healing Centre, an Indigenous-run facility near Montreal, focuses on healing rather than punishment for Indigenous men in federal custody. Despite successes like Waseskun, Indigenous-managed healing lodges are underfunded compared to those run by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC). Over-incarceration of Indigenous people remains a crisis, with Indigenous offenders facing disproportionate challenges in conventional prisons. Despite calls for more Indigenous-led healing centers, funding disparities persist, reflecting broader issues of discrimination and control. | The Free Press

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Register for our Non-Profit North event in May!

We’re excited to be co-hosting the Non-Profit North event with Vantage Point on May 9 at the Courtyard Marriott in Prince George — and we’re looking forward to seeing you there. Register on our website to join us in discussing the unique challenges of community social services in the North.

Drugs

Orca Lelum Youth Wellness Centre – BC’s first detox and treatment services for Indigenous youth coming to Vancouver Island

The Orca Lelum Youth Wellness Centre in Lantzville, Vancouver Island, will be the first detox center in British Columbia that will offer culturally relevant detox and treatment services, specifically for Indigenous youth. The center will provide 20 substance-use treatment beds that offer culturally informed care to Indigenous people aged 12 to 18 years. The center is supported by a $171-million investment in Indigenous-led treatment, recovery, and after-care services. The center is expected to be operating at full capacity in fall 2024. Indigenous people in B.C. are almost six times more likely to die from illicit drug poisoning than other people in the province. | Indigenous Child & Family Services Directors Our Children Our Way Society

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Disability

MPs debate concerns over national disability benefit

Disability advocates in B.C. were left disappointed by the federal announcement allocating $6.1 billion to the national disability benefit over six years. | CBC

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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 included 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 that’s relevant to our sector; the inclusion of a story is not an endorsement.