Jan. 31 Biweekly Update: Social Services Key Insights

SOCIAL SERVICES NEWS

News, updates, and stories about social care in BC

Unveiling the latest developments in social services

January 31, 2025

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Representative for Children and Youth

Too Many Left Behind: Ensuring Children and Youth with Disabilities Thrive

The Representative for Children and Youth (RCY) has released a new report, “Too Many Left Behind: Ensuring Children and Youth with Disabilities Thrive,” which highlights significant gaps in services and supports for young people with disabilities in BC. Based on extensive engagement with families, service providers, and disability organizations—as well as a survey of over 1,100 families—the report reveals that up to 70% of children and youth with disabilities are not receiving adequate support. It calls for an “all-of-government” approach to a “Child Well-Being Strategy,” equitable access to services, cross-ministerial collaboration, and improved data collection. To discuss these findings, RCY will host two webinars in February:

📅 Feb 5 | 10 AM to 11 AM: tinyurl.com/bpa2dkpc
📅 Feb 12 | 7 PM to 8 PM: tinyurl.com/bdfvkj7p
🔗 Read the full report: tinyurl.com/utphkd75

Table of Contents

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

Health

BC’s provincial health officer champions kindness on 5-year anniversary of province’s 1st COVID case | CBC News

On the fifth anniversary of BC’s first confirmed COVID-19 case, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry reflects on the collective trauma endured during the pandemic and emphasizes the need for kindness as communities face new challenges like economic struggles and housing issues. Henry, who led BC’s COVID-19 response, acknowledges the difficulties of balancing public health measures with public sentiment, facing both praise and criticism for her decisions. While she believes the province is better prepared for future pandemics, she worries that public resistance to health restrictions may hinder future responses. She also criticized a recent Alberta report that questions vaccine effectiveness, calling it misleading and contrary to scientific consensus.

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Register now!

2025 Social Policy Forum

This event is sold out! Due to high demand, registration is now closed. However, we have started a waitlist for those still interested in attending. If a spot becomes available, we will reach out to waitlisted individuals in the order they signed up. Join the waitlist here.

Thank you for your interest!

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.

Contact info@fcssbc.ca for details.

Communities

Coroner’s inquest calls for ‘total reset’ of Community Living BC | The Tyee

A coroner’s inquest into the 2018 death of Florence Girard, a woman with Down syndrome who starved to death under the care of a government-funded home share provider, has called for a complete overhaul of Community Living BC (CLBC). The jury issued 13 recommendations, emphasizing improved training, wages, and oversight for caregivers, as well as reducing bureaucracy to direct more funding toward client services. Girard’s death highlighted systemic failures, including inadequate oversight, lack of proper care, and the precarious working conditions of home-share providers. Advocates, including Down Syndrome BC’s president Tamara Taggart, stress the urgency of implementing reforms to prevent similar tragedies. CLBC has acknowledged its failures and pledged improvements, but critics remain skeptical, citing past inaction on oversight concerns.

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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!

Drug crisis

Raids on medical cannabis dispensaries threaten drug-testing services | The Tyee

The province’s Community Safety Unit raided two Medical Cannabis Dispensary locations in Vancouver, seizing unregulated cannabis and cash and threatening drug-testing services funded by these dispensaries. Operated by the Vancouver Dispensary Society, the stores generate revenue for Get Your Drugs Tested, a free drug-checking service that has analyzed over 77,000 samples since 2020. Founder Dana Larsen, a longtime drug policy advocate, criticized the raids, arguing they target an essential harm-reduction initiative amid BC’s toxic drug crisis. With no legal cannabis stores in the Downtown Eastside, Larsen emphasized the dispensaries serve an underserved community, particularly those using high-potency edibles as an opioid alternative. Despite financial losses from repeated raids, he remains committed to keeping the service operational, believing it is morally and historically justified.

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Housing

BC Housing responding to ‘attempted security breach’ | CTVNews

BC Housing has temporarily suspended online applications for its housing registry due to an attempted security breach. The registry, which connects individuals with affordable housing providers, has been offline since Monday as a precautionary measure. BC Housing is working to restore the service and expects to provide an update by February 3. It remains unclear whether any personal information was compromised. In the meantime, applicants can seek assistance by calling 1-800-257-7756.

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Homelessness

Fair approach to shelter beds needed throughout BC: City of Chilliwack | Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

The City of Chilliwack is urging the provincial government to distribute shelter beds more equitably across BC, as its shelters are at full capacity while people in need continue to be sent there from other regions. Mayor Ken Popove highlighted instances where hospitals in the Fraser Health and Coastal Health regions discharged individuals with complex care needs and sent them to Chilliwack despite a lack of available beds. With the highest number of shelter beds per capita in the Lower Mainland, Chilliwack currently has 212 year-round beds, plus additional winter spaces, yet the demand continues to exceed capacity. The city is calling on BC Housing and the provincial government to ensure shelter and support services are more evenly distributed so individuals can receive care in their home communities. Additionally, Chilliwack is advocating for expanded access to detox, sobering, and stabilizing beds provincewide to prevent services from being concentrated in just a few communities.

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Mental health

Nelson struggles with mental health care as BC receives failing grades in accessibility, support | Castanet

Nelson’s struggle with mental health care reflects a broader crisis across British Columbia, which has received failing grades in accessibility for the second consecutive year. The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) reports that BC improved slightly from an “F” to a “D” but still lacks sufficient resources, leaving many without adequate care. Nelson, in particular, lacks a dedicated complex care facility and accessible detox services, forcing those in crisis to travel to Castlegar. Experts highlight that unregulated counselling services further exacerbate the issue, allowing unqualified individuals to practice. Advocates stress the need for government support, including regulation and publicly funded mental health care, to address growing demand and ensure qualified professionals provide effective treatment.

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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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