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Jan. 07 Biweekly Update: Social Services Key Insights

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SOCIAL SERVICES NEWS

News, updates, and stories about social care in BC

Unveiling the latest developments in social services

January 07, 2025

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Table of Contents

  • Women
  • 2025 Social Policy Forum
  • Reconciliation
  • Opportunities Brought to You by the Federation
  • Children
  • Seniors
  • Good News

Women

BC funds winter shelter for women in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside | Vancouver Sun

The Union Gospel Mission (UGM), with $405,000 in funding from BC Housing, has opened a temporary women’s shelter in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside to address the critical need for safe spaces as homelessness rises. Operating nightly from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. at 616 East Cordova Street until the end of March, the shelter offers 20 cots, meals, hygiene services, and referrals to addiction recovery, mental health, and housing resources. With over 1,000 women currently homeless in Metro Vancouver and 26% of the homeless population identifying as female, UGM spokesperson Sarah Chew highlighted the heightened risks of violence faced by unhoused women and the urgent need for more shelters designated for them.

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2025 Social Policy Forum

Last Chance to Save: Early Bird Registration Ends Soon!

Join us in Victoria, BC, from February 12-14, 2025, for the Social Policy Forum, hosted in partnership with the Federation of Community Social Services of BC, BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC), and Board Voice. This year’s forum will bring together members from these organizations, government officials, and sector partners to explore critical social policy topics, including decolonization and anti-racism, cybersecurity, the health of the social services sector, and advocacy strategies.

Featured speakers include Dr. Jennifer Charlesworth, BC’s Representative for Children and Youth; Karla Verschoor, Executive Director of Inclusion BC; Shane Simpson, Board Chair of Community Living BC; Dr. Paul Kershaw and the Gen Squeeze team; Richard Watt from Total Support Solutions; and Suncha Satney, a Workplace Psychological Health and Safety Consultant with CSSHSA.

Early Bird registration is now open for members at $279 until January 13, 2025. Afterward, the regular fee is $329 for members and $449 for non-members. Special accommodation rates starting at $164 per night are available at the Inn at Laurel Point until January 13, 2025.

Secure your spot today to take advantage of Early Bird rates, and don’t miss this opportunity to engage with leaders in social policy and shape the future of our communities.

Register Now

For more information, contact us at info@fcssbc.ca.

Reconciliation

‘Our women are still disappearing up here,’ says MMIWG2S+ advocate as new cell towers come online | Indigenous Watchdog

Gladys Radek, an advocate for missing and murdered Indigenous women, acknowledges the installation of new Rogers cell towers along British Columbia’s “Highway of Tears” as a safety improvement but criticizes it as primarily benefiting resource companies rather than addressing the crisis of violence in the region. Radek, whose niece Tamara Lynn Chipman disappeared in 2005, highlights the persistent disappearance of Indigenous women, men, and youth in the area, calling for greater government action on the recommendations from the 2006 Highway of Tears Symposium and the National Inquiry into MMIWG. She urges more resources for youth and families and plans a “walk for justice” to Ottawa in June 2025 to demand accountability, aligning with the 20th anniversary of her niece’s disappearance.

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Opportunities Brought to You by the Federation

The Federation is dedicated to supporting our members and strengthening the broader community social services sector. We offer a range of ways to stay informed, build connections, and grow your skills.

Stay informed about the latest in the sector by exploring our calendar of training sessions, webinars, and events designed to help you succeed.
Get connected and expand your professional network through opportunities created specifically for community social services professionals.
Looking for a new career? Explore current job postings and find your next opportunity in the community social services sector.

Visit our website today to discover all the ways we can support you!

Children

BC considering AEDs in schools following student calls | City News

The BC government is considering mandating the installation of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in schools following advocacy by Point Grey Secondary students, led by Tobias Zhang, who was inspired to act after losing a friend to cardiac arrest during a basketball tryout. Education Minister Lisa Beare expressed support for the initiative, highlighting AEDs as essential safety tools and announcing plans to identify gaps in AED availability across schools. While some schools cited costs and equality concerns in rejecting AED donations, medical experts argue that cardiac arrest can strike at any age, underscoring the urgency of the initiative. In addition to exploring AED implementation, the government will introduce mandatory CPR training for Grade 10 students in September, a measure spurred by calls from families affected by cardiac-related tragedies. Zhang views these developments as meaningful progress toward preventing future deaths in schools.

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Seniors

Penticton care home grateful for donations towards 152 seniors’ gifts | Castanet

Haven Hill Care Centre in Penticton expressed heartfelt gratitude for the generosity of local community partners, including three Starbucks locations and London Drugs at Cherry Lane Mall, which made the holiday season special for over 152 residents. Through their donations and efforts, each senior received a Christmas gift, bringing joy during a challenging time of rising costs, especially for those on fixed incomes. Recreation manager Isabelle Carignan praised the kindness and teamwork involved in shopping, wrapping, and delivering the gifts, ensuring a bright and cheerful holiday for all.

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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 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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