A forest engulfed in flames at night, with glowing embers and smoke filling the sky. The silhouetted trees are illuminated by the orange glow of the wildfire, creating a dramatic and intense scene. Photo by: Matt HowardMatt Howard

Jan. 24 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 24, 2025

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Table of contents

  • Communities
  • 2025 Social Policy Forum
  • Drug crisis
  • Opportunities brought to you by the Federation
  • Mental health
  • Housing
  • Health
  • Homelessness
  • Good news

Communities

Indigenous communities in BC and California promote cultural burns for disaster mitigation | CBC News

Indigenous communities in British Columbia and California are promoting the revival of cultural burning, a traditional fire management practice that reduces wildfire risks, supports ecosystem health, and sustains cultural traditions. This technique, distinct from prescribed burns by government agencies, eliminates excess fuel to prevent intense wildfires, encourages the regrowth of native species, and enhances food and material sources for local Indigenous populations. Despite historical bans—California prohibited the practice in 1850 and only recently eased regulations in 2022—Indigenous leaders like Jeremiah Louis and Leah Mata-Fragua advocate for its broader adoption, citing its success in saving homes and promoting sustainable land stewardship. With increasing wildfire devastation, such as the recent destruction in Los Angeles and the 2021 White Rock Lake fire, there is growing recognition of the value of Indigenous knowledge in disaster mitigation, reflected in policy shifts in BC and calls for greater integration of cultural burns into wildfire prevention strategies.

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Register now!

2025 Social Policy Forum

Join us in Victoria, BC, from February 12–14, 2025, for the Social Policy Forum to connect with leaders, explore key social policy topics, and help shape the future of our communities.

Member rate: $329 | Non-member: $449

Learn more and register here. Act fast! There are only a few tickets remaining!

Contact info@fcssbc.ca for details.

Drug crisis

BC Supreme Court certifies Canada-wide class-action lawsuit against opioid makers | CBC News

The BC Supreme Court has certified a Canada-wide class-action lawsuit led by British Columbia against opioid manufacturers and distributors, marking a major step in litigation to recover health-care costs related to the opioid crisis. Attorney General Niki Sharma stated that the lawsuit aims to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for their alleged deceptive marketing practices, which contributed to addiction and overdose rates. The court upheld the constitutionality of BC’s law, allowing it to represent other Canadian governments, nearly all of which plan to participate. Federal Mental Health Minister Ya’ara Saks expressed support for the lawsuit, which began in 2018 and continues to challenge pharmaceutical companies’ attempts to impede proceedings. The opioid crisis declared a public health emergency in BC in 2016, has caused over 49,000 deaths nationwide since then.

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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!

Mental health

The healing power of pets | Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital

January 2025 highlights the therapeutic benefits of pets in supporting mental health, emphasizing their impact on youth. Pets provide companionship, reduce stress, combat loneliness, and foster routines, offering stability and emotional support. For youth, animal-assisted therapy enhances emotional expression, empathy, and anxiety reduction, showing promise in improving social skills and well-being. Alternatives to ownership, such as volunteering at shelters, fostering, or engaging with therapy animals, allow people to experience these benefits. Sharing personal stories about pets’ positive impacts can inspire others to explore similar avenues. Accessible mental health resources and specialized veterinary care further support both individuals and their pets in achieving overall well-being.

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Housing

Access to housing a key issue for BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner | CFJC Today Kamloops

Housing has emerged as a critical issue for BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner, with Kasari Govender emphasizing the growing challenges many British Columbians face in accessing safe, affordable housing. Speaking in Kamloops on January 22, Govender highlighted the urgent need for both low-barrier supportive housing for vulnerable populations and affordable housing options for working individuals. Despite efforts by the City of Kamloops to increase housing stock, the province’s targets remain out of reach, leaving diverse groups—including seniors, people with disabilities, and the working poor—struggling to secure suitable housing.

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Health

Advocate tells BC inquest that home-share providers are burnt out, need better pay | Vernon Matters

Cary Chiu, BC’s advocate for service quality, testified at a coroner’s inquest into the 2018 death of Florence Girard, a 54-year-old woman with Down syndrome who starved to death in a caretaker’s home. Chiu highlighted the burnout and crisis mode often experienced by home-share providers caring for adults with developmental disabilities, urging better pay to maintain the program’s integrity and improve the quality of care. Girard’s death occurred while living with Astrid Dahl under a program funded by Community Living BC and managed by the non-profit Kinsight Community Society.

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Homelessness

New project proposed to start conversations, solutions on rural homelessness | Castanet

Selkirk College’s Selkirk Innovates is proposing a three-year project, “Stories to Solutions,” to address rural homelessness in the West Kootenay region by collecting and analyzing stories from diverse perspectives, including local governments, residents, people experiencing homelessness, business owners, and service providers. Using participatory narrative inquiry (PNI), the project aims to foster collaboration, identify actionable solutions, and strengthen regional capacity while addressing the complexities of rural homelessness. Faculty researcher Jayme Jones emphasized that storytelling helps uncover patterns, reduce stigma, and inform evidence-based decision-making. Building on the momentum of a prior project, which concludes in 2025, “Stories to Solutions” seeks to continue fostering community-supported solutions. Selkirk Innovates has asked the Regional District of Central Kootenay to partner in this initiative, with a decision pending future board discussions. If funded, the project would launch in September.

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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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