printing machine | photo by bank phrom

📰 FCSSBC: May 7, 2024 Social Services Update

/in /by

SOCIAL SERVICES NEWS

News, updates, and stories about social care in BC

Unfold the recent happenings and advancements in social services

May 7, 2024

Subscribe HERE

APPLICATIONS EXTENDED

The Youth Education Bursary assists young people who are, or have been, in care and want to pursue a career in the field of Human Social Services. Since 2009, we’ve awarded $296,925 in bursaries to 217 recipients to help students with the financial costs of tuition, books, and supplies for post-secondary study. Donations from FCSSBC members and the public are welcome! Bursary applications are open until May 31, 2024.

The FCSSBC Youth Education Bursary

Table of contents

  • Reconciliation
  • FCSSBC: June 2024 current and emerging issues conference & AGM
  • Seniors
  • Update session
  • Families
  • Webinar
  • Housing
  • Happening this week
  • Homelessness
  • Children
  • Women
  • Health
  • Good news

Reconciliation

Indigenous groups in B.C. renew calls for justice for MMIWG on annual Red Dress Day | Global News

Indigenous groups and leaders are demanding justice and accountability for missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and members of the LGBTQ community. Indigenous women account for a disproportionate amount of femicide and missing women in Canada compared to non-Indigenous women. Red Dress Day is a national day of awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Several events and walks are being held to honour Red Dress Day, including a Red Dress Day walk, a film screening of ”Adaawk” in Penticton, and a Red Dress Fashion Festival in Kamloops. The festival aims to empower Indigenous women and bring awareness to the issue of violence against them.

Related:

Conference

June 2024: Current & Emerging Issues Conference and AGM

Our June conference is designed to tackle the pressing issues that matter most to our members. Based on feedback from our members, we’ve tailored the agenda to cover current trends and emerging topics. The Federation AGM* on the final morning ensures we discuss these crucial issues and address organizational matters vital to our collective mission.

Thursday, June 13, 2024: Conference & Networking Reception

Friday, June 14, 2024: Federation AGM*

Click here for more info and to register: https://fcssbc.ca/conferences/june-conference-agm/

*AGM is for members only.

Seniors

Searching for solutions to home care cost problems in B.C. | Castanet

The neglect of community care, especially for older people, is a significant medical issue that must be addressed. The current system of public home support and even publicly subsidized home support is often out of reach for seniors, leading to more frequent hospitalization or long-term care. Caring for people at home can save money and improve the quality of care. However, the additional funding for home and community care is being absorbed by increased bureaucracy and administrative overhead rather than providing additional patient care. To improve the delivery of home care, home care providers must embrace technology that allows providers to be allocated efficiently and effectively and keeps those providers accountable to their patients. The compensation for home care providers must also be increased to ensure they are adequately compensated for their care.

Related:

Update session

Update session: Representative for Children and Youth | FCSSBC

The Office of the Representative for Children and Youth invites you to an update session in follow-up to the engagement session that has informed a systemic review of the child welfare system in British Columbia.

Session date:

Monday, May 13, 2024

9 am to 10:30 am PDT via Zoom

Email the RCY at rsvp@rcybc.ca to register!

(A Zoom link and agenda will be sent to registered participants in advance of the session.)

Families

Parents of gifted children decry pause in learning program | Victoria Times Colonist

Avery Hopkins, a 12-year-old girl assessed as profoundly gifted, planned to apply to a specialized program for exceptional students known as UTP. However, UTP announced that it had paused the 2024-2025 school year admissions process while pending an external review. This decision has left families scrambling, and a group of parents has retained counsel to fight for their kids’ access to specialized education. A petition signed by 1,600 UTP program parents, students, and alumnae is asking the Vancouver School Board to restart the admissions process. The pause in enrolment removes the only publicly funded option for kids who need an accelerated learning environment, which will affect less-resourced parents. The review report is expected at the end of June, and no decision about the future of the program has been made.

Related:

Webinar

How to create a culture of recognition and acknowledge contributions | FCSSBC and CMHA

This is an invitation to a one-hour workshop on “How to Create a Culture of Recognition and Acknowledge Contributions.” The workshop will explore the importance of recognition and rewards in creating a psychologically safe workplace. Attendees will learn about different recognition strategies, both formal and informal, and how to make them more impactful with a personal touch. The workshop will also discuss the role of managers in implementing recognition practices. The workshop is a collaborative environment where attendees can share their experiences and learn from others. It is scheduled for May 14th or May 30th from 12 pm to 1 pm and is brought to you by The Federation of Community Social Services of BC and the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Housing

Parent-child housing co-ownership most likely in B.C.: StatsCan | CTV News

A new report from Statistics Canada has revealed that British Columbians born in the 1990s are more likely to co-own a home with their parents than anywhere else in the country. The report found that 20.3% of residential properties owned by British Columbians born in the 1990s are co-owned with their parents. Co-ownership is a growing trend amid sky-high real estate costs. Rising housing costs, as well as growing social isolation during the pandemic, have made interest in co-housing grow. Immigrant parents are more likely to co-own properties with their adult children.

Related:

Happening this week

Board of Directors Names New Chief Executive Officer: CSSEA | FCSSBC

Sandra Case has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of CSSEA following an extensive search led by a sub-committee of the Board of Directors. Sandra brings three decades of experience in leadership, HR/LR expertise, employer bargaining and strategic planning to this role. The Board was impressed by her legal acumen, existing knowledge of the sector, and successful track record of working with multiple stakeholders in various complex environments. Sandra will assume her new role on June 10. She will work closely with the Board, government, staff, and other partners to strengthen sectoral relations and support members in providing care for the most vulnerable in British Columbia.

Related:

Homelessness

Mustard Seed to restrict access to dayroom for the homeless starting this summer | Castanet

Starting July 31st, the Mustard Seed shelter in Kamloops will restrict access to its drop-in dayroom to only its clients. The decision was made due to safety and sobriety concerns, as the public access to the dayroom has resulted in increased overdoses and other incidents at the shelter. The Mustard Seed’s goal of lifting people out of poverty and homelessness has also been compromised by public access. The organization will continue to offer services such as counselling and advocacy to the public, but health and wellness services will only be accessible through the designated entrance. The Mustard Seed has been caring for individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty since 1984.

Related:

Children

Inside the bold B.C. campaign to crush child sextortion | CBC News

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection has reported a significant increase in cases of sextortion, with more than 6,000 reports of sexual extortion being made in the last 18 months and reports increasing by 150% in the previous six months. Teenage boys are the most significant victim group. The exploiters mostly target boys aged between 15 and 17 and pressure them to share intimate images online. Children are often targeted by predators who message them online about seemingly harmless things before luring them into a private chat or onto another platform. The CCCP is working on educating young people and contacting them to prevent online exploitation. They offer workshops to BC students that show them how to recognize red flags indicating potential predators. The group urges young people to monitor warning signs such as love-bombing, fake compatibility, and strangers offering compliments. The facilitators emphasize the importance of not trusting strangers online, especially when interactions show red flags. The article highlights the importance of educating teenagers about the risks associated with sharing explicit images and communicating with strangers online. It also emphasizes the need for parents to have an open conversation with their children and monitor their online activities.

Related:

Women

Abortion website created by B.C. woman to give Canadians a choice | St. Albert News

Kate Wahl, a PhD student at the University of British Columbia, has created ‘It’s My Choice,’ a new interactive website that helps Canadians navigate abortion options and make a decision that best fits their values and circumstances. The website provides evidence-based and Canadian-specific information about abortion options, including the abortion pill and procedure. It also offers personalized recommendations and supports conversations with healthcare providers. The entire website is anonymous, and there are features to protect people’s privacy. The tool is culturally inclusive and available in French, Mandarin, and Punjabi.

Related:

Health

Firefighter mental health a priority, wildfire service says | CBC News

The British Columbia Wildfire Service and other agencies are now providing mental health support to firefighters year-round after noticing a rise in anxiety levels before and after fire season. The wildfire service launched an online training program in the spring of 2023 to help firefighters manage stress and anxiety. The province has also contracted a confidential employee hotline to offer immediate and ongoing counselling. The move follows a task force recommendation for mental health and resilience resources after last year’s record-breaking wildfire season. While anxiety levels have been high among firefighters, the wildfire service has been proactive in ensuring that mental health care and attention are given to those in high-stress careers.

Related:

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 included 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 that’s relevant to our sector; the inclusion of a story is not an endorsement.

Subscribe HERE