Announcing the Apprentice Circle

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For as long as I have held this role, The Federation has always understood the value of trying new things. It’s how we approach many of our programs and services—our conferences, or member engagement, our research, and our leadership development program: Leadership 2020. This open-minded, innovative approach to our work ...Read More

The Federation’s 2018 Annual Report

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The past year was a very eventful and very significant one for The Federation. We began the year preparing for an important provincial election—partnering with Federation members on a series of editorials, creating a ‘get out the vote’ campaign with our partners, and meeting with parties and candidates. Then, in what ...Read More

Introducing the Reconciliation Book Club

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Next week at our June Conference in Penticton, we will be honouring National Aboriginal Day with the launch of The Federation’s Reconciliation Book Club! Many of our members have expressed that reading works by Indigenous authors has been one of the best ways to enhance their knowledge and inspire the courage to ...Read More

Editorial on BC’s residential resources for youth in care

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This week, Bernard Richard shared his worries about what he describes as a “lack of appropriate ministry oversight” when it comes to staffed residential resources. In response, Minister Conroy has ordered a review of more than 800 children living in contracted agency homes in BC. The ...Read More

May Projects & Issues Update

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Over the past few months, The Federation board members, staff team, and I have been focused on a number of ongoing projects and initiatives. We have been meeting with government colleagues and funders, bringing forward concerns, collaborating with sector colleagues, and tracking issues that affect our members and our sector. ...Read More

The CSS Health & Safety Handbook

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Following three years of work, The Federation and our partners at the Community Social Services Employers’ Association of BC (CSSEA), WorkSafeBC, and the Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA), are pleased to jointly launch the Community Social Services Health & Safety Handbook. The Handbook is a fir ...Read More

Updated MCFD Caregiver Screening Policy

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In December 2014, MCFD implemented a new caregiver screening policy. Since then, a number of Federation members faced challenges implementing the new requirements and, over the past three years, we have been working closely with MCFD to provide feedback from community organizations and to help the ministry identi ...Read More

The benefits of partnerships: Federation Insurance Products

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The Federation believes that in order to be strong and sustainable, BC’s community social services sector must have access to high quality and affordable insurance products. That’s one big reason why our member agencies have access to a suite of comprehensive and reliable insurance programs and ...Read More

Award for Excellence Nominations 

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Last week, I spoke about the Federation’s Youth Education Bursary and the way that it serves to welcome young people into our sector and our work. Today, I want to talk about our Award for Excellence and the related purpose it serves—recognizing and thanking the people who have stayed in the sector and committed their c ...Read More

BC’s new Employer Health Tax

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One of the big changes revealed in the BC budget speech a few weeks ago was the announcement of a new progressive tax that will replace MSP premiums in our province. The BC Employers Health Tax, as it will be called, is slated to come into effect in January 2019. We know there are already many questions about how this tax wi ...Read More