From the Executive Director - August 2025

I am pleased to share the first edition of From the Executive Director as part of our redesigned Federation communications. This initiative will share news and information about the work we are undertaking, the issues we are hearing about and the opportunities we are exploring. As mentioned at Stronger Together, our Kelowna conference, the Federation has some work to do. Sharing regular and timely leadership updates is part of that work.

The Federation team has jumped into other important projects. Our new website has launched. The new site is modern and designed with our members in mind. It is now easier than ever to find the information, resources and updates you need. It is fully integrated with the Federation's members' service system. From event registrations to member communications, everything now works together seamlessly, saving you time and making your online experience smoother than ever before.

Our advocacy and government relations planning is taking shape. Thank you to everyone for participating and sharing your insight and experiences. The information we have collected so far is helping us to build a thoughtful and coordinated approach to advocacy. Given urgency around contract timelines and ministry reviews, we are pulling working groups together around the following areas:  

• $10/Day Child Care Funding Model
• Specialized Homes and Support Services  
• Children and Youth with Support Needs
• Kinship Care

We also continue to participate as a key member on the Social Services Sector Roundtable and its working groups in the effort to share experience and help support policy and procedure updates related to service delivery, specifically contracting.  

Other working groups will take shape soon. This work is ongoing, and each table may look a little different, but the ultimate goal is targeted action that will lead to improvements and solutions that can help shape a stronger, more sustainable sector. If you are interested in participating in any of these tables, please reach out to Caleigh Garland, our director of member services and partnerships.

Our advocacy approach is grounded in building and maintaining strong relationships. Meeting regularly with our government partners is another important aspect of our work; sharing updates from these meetings will be a key feature of the ED Update.

Caleigh and I met with senior government staff in July, including Keith Godin, Kelly Durand, Abbie Pittman, Fiznik Perniqi and SDPR DM Alison Bond. While initially planned as introductory meetings, my first as ED, our conversations quickly shifted to specific challenges and how the Federation can support the Ministries in their work. SHSS was specifically mentioned to MCFD staff, but there was also an opportunity to share challenges and issues related to contracting more broadly. Overall, the meetings were positive, but there is still much work to be done, and challenges persist, particularly in the current fiscal era.

Warm regards,
Amy Mullis
Executive Director, The Federation of Community Social Services of BC