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Community Social Services: Weekly Bulletin Aug. 15, 2024

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SOCIAL SERVICES NEWS

News, updates, and stories about social care in BC

Unveiling the latest developments in social services

August 15, 2024

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Table of contents

  • Report
  • Homelessness & Housing
  • Reconciliation Book Club
  • Communities & Families
  • Training Opportunities
  • Health & Mental Health
  • Social Policy Forum 2025
  • Reconciliation
  • Career Opportunities
  • Children & Youth
  • FSGV
  • Toxic Drugs
  • Good News

Report

Rights in Focus: Lived Realities in B.C. – Baseline Project | B.C. Human Rights

This report highlights significant inequities and injustices affecting B.C. residents, providing a crucial tool to understand the current state of human rights in our province and a kind of baseline to monitor change over time. Download it now or see the executive summary on the website: https://baseline.bchumanrights.ca/in-focus/

Homelessness & Housing

B.C. Communities Push Back on Government Housing Legislation Without Key Infrastructure | Global News

B.C. communities, including West Vancouver and Langley Township, are pushing back against provincial housing legislation that mandates increased density near transit stations. While West Vancouver has reluctantly passed the required bylaw, Mayor Mark Sager and other local officials argue that the province is overstepping its jurisdiction traditionally held by municipalities. They also express concerns about the lack of essential infrastructure support from the province, which they believe is necessary to accommodate the increased density. This tension highlights broader challenges aligning local and provincial priorities, particularly addressing affordable housing and infrastructure needs across diverse municipalities.

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/

Communities & Families

Rental Protection Fund Safeguards 68 Affordable Rental Homes in Victoria | B.C. Gov News

The Rental Protection Fund has facilitated the purchase of two properties in Victoria, safeguarding 68 affordable rental homes for residents. The Greater Victoria Housing Society (GVHS), with the support of approximately $12.6 million from the Fund, acquired the properties at 430 Michigan St. and 1500 Chambers St., ensuring these units remain affordable and secure. This initiative is part of a broader effort by the B.C. government to protect and expand affordable housing, providing long-term stability for renters in a challenging market. GVHS will also invest in improvements to maintain the quality and sustainability of these homes.

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Training Opportunities

Health & Mental Health

Helping Students Express Their Feelings about the Climate Crisis | Canada’s National Observer

Alex Van Duyvendyk, a 34-year-old emergency physician from Kelowna, is facing a challenging battle with the British Columbia health-care system as she seeks approval for a life-saving heart surgery not covered by the Medical Services Plan (MSP). Despite undergoing two previous major surgeries, Van Duyvendyk now requires a specialized procedure only available in Seattle, which costs $120,000. Although she applied for financial relief from MSP, she has yet to receive a response, leaving her family at risk of covering the entire cost. With the support of friends, family, and the Okanagan community, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched, already raising $49,000 of the $50,000 goal. The surgery is scheduled for Friday, and without it, Van Duyvendyk faces the possibility of needing a heart transplant.

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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.

Reconciliation

Indigenous Mother Grieves Son Who Died in B.C.’s Care | City News

Valentino Baker, a five-week-old Indigenous newborn, tragically died while under the care of British Columbia’s Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD). His mother, Chyanna Baker, who had been sober since her pregnancy, was visited by social workers shortly after Valentino’s birth due to suspected drug use. Despite agreeing to a drug test, Chyanna claims the ministry refused and placed Valentino with a friend under a safety plan. Days later, he was hospitalized and died, leaving the parents without answers. Concerns have been raised about the MCFD’s handling of Indigenous families, with critics pointing to systemic biases and a crisis in the child welfare system. Chyanna and her lawyer are seeking justice and questioning the safety measures and cultural awareness of the MCFD.

Related:

Career Opportunities

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

Children & Youth

‘Should Not Affect the Kids’: Penticton Youth Soccer Coach Worried for Future after Blowup on Board of Directors | Castanet

The Penticton youth soccer club, Pinnacles FC, faces potential suspension due to legal issues and the resignation of its entire board of directors, leaving head coach Manuel Borba as the sole employee. Borba, deeply concerned about the impact on the 1,400-1,500 children who may be affected, is striving to ensure the kids can still play in the fall season despite the turmoil. He emphasizes that the ongoing investigations and adult conflicts within the club should not hinder the children’s ability to participate in soccer. Borba is currently awaiting a response from BC Soccer and COYSA while parents work to transition to a special Annual General Meeting.

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FSGV

FSGV Benefit Wayfinder 2024 | The Federation

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!

Toxic Drugs

Retiring Prince George RCMP Boss Says Decriminalization Was Hardest Issue to Navigate | Global News

Shaun Wright, the retiring RCMP superintendent of Prince George, B.C., reflects on his five-year tenure, highlighting the decriminalization of drugs as the most challenging issue he faced. Wright describes the policy as a major public policy failure that has negatively impacted the city, contributing to the decline of its downtown area. Despite his critical stance, Wright emphasizes that his role was to ensure community safety rather than create policies. The B.C. government recently reversed parts of its decriminalization pilot project by banning drug use in public spaces, a move amidst ongoing debates over the province’s handling of the toxic drug crisis.

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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