Last chance to register for the June Conference in Penticton
When you renewed your membership in March, we asked you to share information about the kinds of services you deliver. This information helps us coordinate our advocacy efforts, helps us target communications and requests for information, and it also helps us plan our three annual conferences.
The Federation’s next conference is just two weeks away and we’re incredibly excited about the diverse line-up of speakers that will be joining us. Each was chosen with intention and, all together, they will cover many of our members’ diverse interests, key issues, and services areas.
Caregivers, wages, recruitment, retention…
We are pleased to welcome BC’s Senior’s Advocate to speak about the work her office is doing to improve supports to older adults and caregivers. Senior’s services are facing challenges around recruitment and retention, wages, as well as capacity and sustainability—issues that are also being faced by those providing services for young people in care and for adults living with disabilities. This session will be of value to members supporting older adults and those facing similar issues in other service areas.
Youth in care, childcare, residential review…
The Federation is constantly engaged in improving the system of care for young people in care and that’s why are honoured to welcome MCFD Minister Katrine Conroy. She will speak about MCFD efforts to support young people, share information about BC’s new universal childcare program, and explain how her ministry is trying to work alongside and with First Nations and Indigenous communities across BC. Joining the Minister will be Assistant Deputy Minister Carolyn Kamper and Catherine Talbott, Executive Director of Strategic Initiates, to give a specific update on residential review.
Mental health, integrated services, and more…
Mental health supports are certainly top of mind for a lot of us and we have heard from many members interested in learning more about The Foundry service centres. Steve Mathias and Pamela Liversidge will be joined by Tanya Behardien, Executive Director of Big Sky (formerly PDCRS) to talk about the promise and potential of this model of practice. Rounding out this exciting and informative line-up of speakers will be updates from BC Housing and the BC’s Office of the Ombudsperson. Next week, I will share more details about our plans to celebrate National Indigenous Persons Day and other conference events.
Annual General Meeting
Following the conference will be The Federation’s Annual General Meeting. Among other things, I will provide an update on The Federation’s strategic plan and share with you the outcomes of the February Social Policy Forum and our next steps. The AGM will also see members elect a new President, Vice-President, and Regional Directors and include recognition of the outgoing board members who have served this organization so well over the past few years.
I hope to see you all in Penticton and I look forward to catching up at the networking reception hosted by Schmunk, Gatt, Smith & Associates on Thursday evening.
And don’t forget—online registration for the conference closes on Friday, June 8th so book your spot now!
Rick FitzZaland
Federation Executive Director