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Community social services: weekly bulletin July 11, 2024

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SOCIAL SERVICES NEWS

News, updates, and stories about social care in BC

Unveiling the latest developments in social services

July 11, 2024

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Table of contents

  • Communities & families
  • Reconciliation book club
  • Health & mental health
  • Training opportunities
  • Reconciliation
  • Save the date!
  • Children & youth
  • Career opportunities
  • Toxic drugs
  • S2PM
  • Homelessness & housing
  • Good news

Communities & families

Richmond long-term care home reaches milestone | BC Gov News

The Government of Richmond has posted a request for proposals (RFP) for a construction manager for the new Richmond Lions Manor-Fentiman campus of care. The campus of care will provide 144 long-term care beds, 14 hospice beds, and various support services. The construction manager is expected to be chosen by fall 2024, with construction anticipated to begin in 2026. The capital cost of the project is estimated to be $177.7 million and will be fully funded by the Province. Vancouver Coastal Health will build, own, and operate the new facility. The project aims to ensure seniors have access to a continuum of services, including a place to age with dignity and comfort. Additionally, the government has invested approximately $2 billion to expand and improve quality care for seniors in British Columbia over the past five years.

Resources:

Reconciliation book club

Telling Truth: Seven Conversations about Indigenous Life in Canada

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 August 28, 2024. The book we will be discussing is “Telling Truth: Seven Conversations about Indigenous Life in Canada” by Michelle Good. Don’t miss this chance to be part of the discussion. Sign up for the book club here: https://fcssbc.ca/bookclub/

Health & mental health

Merritt, B.C., mayor says he’ll bill province over ER closures | CBC News

The mayor of Merritt, B.C., is frustrated by the frequent closures of the Nicola Valley Hospital’s emergency room (ER) due to staffing shortages. He plans to bill the province for the costs incurred by the municipality and fire department during these closures. Several hospitals in rural BC experienced temporary closures over the weekend due to similar issues. The mayor is calling for more support and resources for rural communities, as the persistent shortages are putting significant strain on local healthcare services.

Related:

Training opportunities

Reconciliation

Cost of Canada’s Indigenous child-welfare deal $48B: source | CTV News

The head of the Assembly of First Nations has informed chiefs of a draft deal with Ottawa on child welfare reforms worth $47.8 billion, more than double the initial promise. The closed-door session at the AFN’s annual general assembly revealed the proposed deal, leading to concerns about the secrecy of the agreement. The federal government had originally promised $20 billion for long-term reforms to the child welfare system, but the proposed deal now tops that amount. The negotiations are still ongoing, and a vote on the matter is scheduled for later this year.

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 Laurel Point Inn, 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.

Children & youth

B.C. inquest into death of Cree teen concludes | CTV News

The review after the death of a Cree teen at a group home in Abbotsford, B.C., found a failure to document suicide assessments and significant delays in writing a treatment plan. Despite addressing the concerning behaviours, important documentation was missing from the treatment plan. Changes have been made since the teen’s death, including ongoing training for workers and the introduction of a more standardized form for suicide risk assessment. Additionally, a new short-term stabilization program is being piloted in B.C. next year to provide support for youth with complex needs. The importance of a child’s need to belong to their family, community, and culture was emphasized, with the recognition that 70% of children in care in B.C. are Indigenous. The coroner’s jury can make recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths in the future, but they cannot make findings of fault.

Related:

Career opportunities

The Federation actively works to help our members recruit and retain skilled staff. Click here to check the current opportunities.

Toxic drugs

Fraser Health offers free drug testing at FVDED in the Park | Global News

Fraser Health is offering free drug testing at the FVDED in the Park music festival in Surrey to keep people safe. The service helps check drugs for fentanyl and other substances and is available at a tent outside the festival. The goal is to provide information to help people make informed choices due to the highly toxic unregulated market of substances. The festival has sold out its two-day event, featuring international artists like Swedish House Mafia, DEADMAU5, and Kaskade. Drug testing facilities are also available at other locations, such as Safepoint in Surrey, Purpose Society in New Westminster, and RainCity Housing in Coquitlam.

Related:

S2PM

Support to practice management | The Federation

Building on the learning and feedback through delivering Support to Practice Supervision (S2PS) to over 16 cohorts, the Federation, through facilitators Chris Burt and Gord Cote, is now offering the next iteration of management practice workshops. Support to Practice Management (S2PM) is for new or mid-level managers. The selected content is designed to provide participants with a roadmap for navigating the complexities of organizations while building practical skills for enhancing the capacity of their organizations’ workforce. Specific content includes management theory and models, the context for administrative supervision, the influence of organizational culture, leadership, the value of coaching, and working through conflict.

Homelessness & housing

Affordable homes, health, social services coming to Downtown Eastside | Nation Talk

Plans for a community building in the Downtown Eastside (DTES) of Vancouver are moving forward, with an expanded development that includes supportive and affordable housing connected to health and social services. The project, located at 301 E Hastings St., will provide housing for up to 200 people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and will offer community health services on the first floor. The partnership between various ministries and organizations aims to address the housing and health needs of the DTES community. The Government is making a significant housing investment to deliver more homes for people in B.C., including supportive housing units. The redevelopment project aligns to ensure dignified housing options for people living in the DTES and throughout the province.

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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