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Community Social Services: Weekly Bulletin Sep. 12, 2024

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SOCIAL SERVICES NEWS

News, updates, and stories about social care in BC

Unveiling the latest developments in social services

September 12, 2024

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Table of contents

  • National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
  • Reconciliation Book Club
  • Children & Youth
  • Opportunities
  • Homelessness & Housing
  • Social Policy Forum 2025
  • Communities & Families
  • Career Opportunities
  • Health & Mental Health
  • FSGV
  • Toxic Drugs
  • Reconciliation
  • Good News

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | Canada

September 30 marks National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The day honours survivors of residential schools and the children who never returned home. It is an opportunity to reflect on Canada’s tragic and painful history and the indelible mark the residential school system has left on families and communities across this country. It is also an opportunity to listen, learn, and participate in an important component of the reconciliation process.

Resources:

Reconciliation Book Club

Bone Black

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/

Children & Youth

BC Announces 914 More Spaces for Surrey Elementary Students | CTV News

The Government of BC has announced plans to address overcrowded schools in Surrey by adding dozens of new classrooms and creating hundreds of additional spaces for elementary students. Education Minister Rachna Singh detailed the plans, which include 14-classroom prefabricated additions at Forsyth Road and George Greenaway Elementary schools, accommodating 340 and 350 students, respectively. Additionally, the City Central Learning Centre will be converted into a new elementary school, providing 225 more spaces. With over 85,000 students in Surrey and the school district reporting an influx of 2,000 new students, overcrowding has led some high schools to implement extended schedules. The government emphasized its commitment to expanding student space while local officials continue to seek creative solutions for the growing population.

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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

‘Social Housing’ Is Leaving Low-Income People Out in the Cold | The Tyee

The term “social housing” in British Columbia is increasingly failing to meet the needs of low-income individuals. Historically, it was intended to provide affordable housing. However, current definitions and practices allow for a significant portion of social housing units to be rented at rates still too high for many low-income residents. For example, 70% of social housing units in Vancouver are rented at the “low end of the market,” which remains unaffordable for those on social assistance or minimum wage. Despite some progress, such as the Downtown Eastside’s definition requiring one-third of units to be rented at $500 a month, broader policies and funding still fall short. To effectively address homelessness and affordability, government definitions and funding must prioritize true affordability, with more substantial investments needed to meet the housing needs of the most vulnerable populations.

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

Further Expansion of $10-a-day Child Care Will Benefit BC Families | BC Gov News

Starting October 1, 2024, child care providers in British Columbia can apply to join the $10 a Day ChildCareBC program, expanding low-cost child care options across the province. The initiative, which reduces monthly child care costs from $1,120 to $200 on average, aims to increase spaces from 15,000 to 20,000 by 2026. Priority will be given to larger, non-profit, Indigenous-led providers, focusing on underserved communities. This expansion aligns with the federal Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. Other provincial programs, like the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative and Affordable Child Care Benefit, offer additional savings for BC families.

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

Frustration Mounts over Repeated ER Closures Across BC Interior | Global News

Reopening Riverview Psychiatric Hospital is often proposed as a solution to British Columbia’s mental health crisis, especially after violent incidents, but experts argue that it’s not a viable option. Although some treatment beds remain in use at the site, most of the buildings are in disrepair. Former CEO Alex Berland and other experts note that the safety net for discharged patients remains insufficient, contributing to ongoing issues. While involuntary treatment numbers have increased since Riverview’s closure in 2012, the lack of supportive housing continues to be a critical problem. The site’s future remains uncertain, with negotiations between the government and the Kwikwetlem First Nation ongoing, making any redevelopment complex and expensive.

Related:

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

Following Backlash, BC Removes Harm Reduction Vending Machines | The Tyee

Following criticism from BC Conservative candidate Gwen O’Mahony, the BC government has closed harm reduction vending machines while it reviews low-barrier distribution models. O’Mahony claimed that the machines, which provide sterile drug use supplies and naloxone kits, “enabled addiction.” Experts and health authorities disagree, citing evidence that the kiosks save lives by providing anonymous access to critical supplies, reducing the risk of overdose, HIV, and hepatitis C. Critics of the closure argue that limiting harm reduction access during a drug overdose crisis, which claims more than six lives daily in BC, is reckless. The government has stated the review aims to improve connections to healthcare through in-person services, but experts warn the machines should remain operational during the review.

Related:

Reconciliation

Canada must Protect Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People | Amnesty International

Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in Canada face disproportionately high rates of violence, including femicide and disappearances, driven by systemic racism, colonial policies, and inequities in services such as transportation. Despite the 2019 Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People, little progress has been made, with the federal government criticized for delays in implementing a national action plan. Resource extraction projects and labour camps further exacerbate the risks faced by Indigenous defenders. Amnesty International calls for a time-bound, Indigenous-led strategy to address these issues and urges the establishment of a Red Dress Alert System to prevent further violence.

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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