There are a lot of benefits to being a member of The Federation of Community Social Services of BC. Everything we do supports our members and enables them to deliver high-quality services to children, youth, adults, and families across the province. Below are some of the key benefits of membership in The Federation.
Are you ready to become a Federation member? Learn about our different membership types and apply today.
Our group insurance/benefits packages are comprehensive, cost effective, and available to Federation full members. Through The Federation Association Benefit Plan (FABP) we offer employee health benefits designed specifically for the social services sector (including dental benefits, extended medical benefits, long-term disability, and RRSP plans) at a cost lower than any independent agency could secure on its own. The FABP is one of only three plans that are fully compliant with the BC social services collective agreements.
The Federation General Insurance Program (FGIP) offers a suite of products that can be tailored to each organization, providing flexible and competitive insurance packages. We believe that enabling organizations to be protected against risk and liabilities (and keeping them well-informed about how to mitigate these risks) is one important way that The Federation can support the sustainability of BC’s community social services sector.
The Federation and our provincial allies are a strong, collective voice that engages with the provincial government on behalf of children, youth, families, and the agencies that serve them. Through our head office in Victoria, The Federation offers our members direct access to the senior leadership and political decision makers across a number of provincial ministries. We also actively monitor provincial and national legislation, consult with the government on policy development, and provide research, data, and analysis to inform social policy directions.
Leadership 2020 is a Federation-run leadership development program for community agency staff, government employees, and allies. The 10-month program builds leadership knowledge, skills, and capacity amongst current and future leaders in BC’s social services sector. The Federation also offers a less intense online version of the program and a supported community of Leadership 2020 graduates continuing their leadership development through mentoring, co-learning, and networking.
Membership meetings and conferences are held three times a year and provide a forum for sharing information, identifying emerging issues, and networking with colleagues, partners, and allies. These events include a range of guest speakers and opportunities to connect in person with politicians, civil servants, and decision makers. Throughout the year, member agencies also keep in contact through scheduled regional meetings, working committees, cooperative projects, and policy consultations.
We provide timely, accurate information on current issues (e.g., Throne Speech and BC Budget analysis), tracking of news and current issues, and emerging research on social care best practices. Our access to senior leaders in the social development ministries enables us to gather and share insight and information on governance, legislation, policies, priorities, strategic shifts, and funding. We also maintain membership in various National and Provincial organizations which enables us to provide members information on important events, publications, and training opportunities.
The Federation is an Affinity Program partner with Pragmatic Conferencing, which grants Federation members and partners access to exclusive teleconferencing rates. The Federation has been very pleased with the level of customer service and the competitive rates we receive as a Pragmatic customer. We are very excited about the opportunity for our members and partners to build on this relationship in meeting their own communication needs. This brochure has the information required to set up your own teleconference account at discounted rates.
In 2014, The Federation signed an agreement with Realize Strategies Co-op giving members of both organizations access to some of the products and services of the other. This formalized a long-standing intention to work in partnership on issues impacting the community social services sector.
Federation members are able can access a variety of Realize Benefits, including access to Realize consultants (offering management consulting and recruitment services), group travel and home insurance, climate-smart certification and more!