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Community Social Services: Weekly Bulletin Aug. 1, 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 1, 2024

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Table of contents

  • Toxic Drugs
  • Reconciliation Book Club
  • Health & Mental Health
  • Training Opportunities
  • Reconciliation
  • Save the Date!
  • Children & Youth
  • Career Opportunities
  • Communities & Families
  • S2PM
  • Homelessness & Housing
  • FSGV
  • Good News

Toxic Drugs

BC Coroners Service Drug Toxicity Death Update Through June 2024 | BC Gov News

In the first half of 2024, at least 1,158 individuals in British Columbia have died due to unregulated drug toxicity, according to preliminary data from the BC Coroners Service. Despite a 9% decrease in deaths compared to the same period in 2023, approximately six people still die each day from toxic drugs. The majority of these deaths occurred among individuals aged 30 to 49, with males comprising 72% of the fatalities and an increasing percentage of females accounting for 28%. Fentanyl was detected in 82% of the expedited toxicological tests. The highest death rates were reported in the Northern Interior, North Vancouver Island, Vancouver, and Central Vancouver Island. Vancouver alone accounted for over one-fifth of the deaths, followed by Surrey and Greater Victoria. Unregulated drug toxicity is the leading cause of death for those aged 10 to 59 in British Columbia, surpassing homicides, suicides, accidents, and natural diseases combined. Since the declaration of a public health emergency in April 2016, more than 14,948 lives have been lost to unregulated toxic drugs.

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

Mental-health Crisis Team Launches in Prince George | BC Gov News

Prince George will soon have access to a new Peer Assisted Care Team (PACT) to address mental-health and substance-use crises. This community-led initiative provides immediate, compassionate support from professionals and individuals with lived experience. PACTs are trained to de-escalate crises, offering trauma-informed and culturally safe support while reducing the burden on police and emergency services. Operated by the Prince George Native Friendship Centre with support from the Canadian Mental Health Association, the team will serve residents aged 13 and older starting July 28, 2024. The program aligns with the Province’s Safer Communities Action Plan and B.C.’s Pathway to Hope, aiming to create healthier communities by enhancing mental-health and addiction care.

Related:

Training Opportunities

Reconciliation

Residential School Survivor Suing Catholic Priest for Defamation | APTN News

Sphenia Jones, a Haida Elder and residential school survivor, is suing Fr. Marcin Mironiuk, an Edmonton priest, for defamation over comments made during a 2021 mass service. Jones alleges that Mironiuk called evidence of unmarked graves at residential schools “lies” and “manipulation,” deeply affecting her mental health. The statement of claim, filed on July 14, 2023, also includes the Oblate Fathers of Assumption Province. Mironiuk’s sermon, broadcast on YouTube, prompted an apology from the provincial superior and Mironiuk’s indefinite leave. Jones rejected an out-of-court settlement, seeking $12 million in damages to highlight survivors’ experiences and hold alleged deniers accountable. Despite Mironiuk’s subsequent apology, Jones remains unconvinced. Her lawsuit aims to validate the pain of residential school survivors, and if successful, she plans a healing journey retracing her steps to the residential school.

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

The Voices of Youth at Climate Talks | Canada’s National Observer

At the United Nations 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28), a member of the ClimaTalk delegation, an NGO with a global reach, shared her experience of empowering youth in climate policy. ClimaTalk simplifies complex UN processes, translates jargon, and provides platforms for youth voices, alongside maintaining a database of youth in climate litigation and relevant academic courses. Her role involved reporting on negotiations and interviewing young changemakers. Despite some disillusionment with the COP process, she felt the significance of amplifying youth voices and stressed the need for greater youth and Indigenous representation. Her journey into sustainability began with a personal connection to Taiwan’s landscapes, evolving through various roles in climate action advocacy. She highlighted systemic barriers to progress, the urgency of climate impacts, and the inspiration from collective efforts toward positive change. She urged young people to unite, take risks, and learn by doing and called on older generations to support youth movements by providing platforms and mentorship.

Related:

Career Opportunities

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

Communities & Families

Canadian Seniors Are Getting a Top-up to Old Age Benefits. How Much? | Global News

Canadian seniors are receiving a slight increase in their Old Age Security (OAS) benefits to help counteract the rising cost of living, with retirement becoming less affordable for many. As of July, OAS benefits have increased by 2.8% from the previous year due to inflation adjustments. For the period from July to September, benefits are up by 0.7%. Specifically, seniors aged 65 to 74 can receive a maximum monthly amount of $718.33, while those aged 75 and older can receive up to $790.16. Additionally, the Guaranteed Income Supplement and other non-taxable benefits are available to low-income seniors and their spouses. These adjustments reflect ongoing reviews based on the Consumer Price Index to ensure benefits align with cost-of-living increases.

Related:

S2PM

Support to Practice Management

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

Canada Invests in Over 2600 Affordable Homes Across BC | CMHC

The Canadian federal government has announced an investment of over $145 million through the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) to build and repair more than 2,600 affordable homes across British Columbia, including 1,082 new homes and repairs to 1,579 existing ones. The announcement, made by Minister Harjit Sajjan in Victoria, highlighted the funding’s role in addressing the housing crisis and included specific support for projects like the Woodlands at Dawson Heights, which received $4.25 million to build 85 homes for seniors. This initiative is part of the broader National Housing Strategy, which aims to support vulnerable populations and expand affordable housing options through significant financial commitments and streamlined processes for proven housing providers.

Related:

FSGV

FSGV Benefit Wayfinder 2024

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!

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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