Updates to the Community Social Services Training Fund

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In February, The Federation opened applications for the Community Social Services Training Fund (CSSTF) and since then, dozens of organizations have signed up to get support for organizational training or individual education and certification for their employees. I am now excited to announce two important changes to the Community Social Services Training Fund for the 2021-22 fiscal year that will further increase your organization’s access to these important training funds and the number of employees that can benefit.

Apply for Both Funding Streams

As of April 2021, organizations can apply for both the Support for Organizational Training Grant and the Support for Certification/Education Individual Grant in the same fiscal year. You no longer need to choose between the two options—if there is a need, organizations can submit an application for both funding streams. Learn more about the two funding streams and how to apply here.

Certification for Multiple Individuals

Also as of April 2021, community social services organizations may now apply for Support for Certification/Education Individual Grant funding up to a total of $15,000 on behalf of as many as 10 employees ($1,500 per employee) so that multiple staff members can participate in various formal and/or continuing education.

This will enable organizations across the province to support even more individuals in achieving certification or course completion with accredited bodies or institutions. (Please note: The course, institution, and certification for each employee will need to be identified as part of the application.) Learn more and start an application!

Eligibility & Contact Info

This funding supports and enables broad and inclusive training and development efforts that can address a range of foundational knowledge and core skill needs. If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to visit the Training Fund page to learn more about the two different grant streams that are available, the increased amounts, eligible certification programs, and training topics. Please note:

  • All training must take place before May 31, 2022.
  • Must be a community social services organization in order to be eligible.
  • Each recipient must be an employee of the applicant organization.
  • Grantees will be reimbursed the approved amount upon receipt of Proof Of Purchase.
  • If training is not completed, applicant organizations will be required to reimburse training funds in full.

For questions about the training fund or the application process, please contact Sheldon Martin, the Community Social Service Training Fund Coordinator, at sheldon@fcssbc.ca.

Thank You

This funding has been provided by The Province of British Columbia as part of an initiative to respond to the training and development needs of those who work with some of BC’s most vulnerable people. (You can learn more about these other initiatives here.)

This is the largest investment of dedicated training funding that our sector has seen in a very, very long time and we are very thankful for this opportunity and for the work of our sector partners at the Social Service Sector Roundtable in making this very important initiative possible.

As always, don’t hesitate to contact me with your questions, concerns, or ideas related to the Roundtable’s work, recruitment and retention, or the sector’s training and professional development needs.

Rick FitzZaland
Federation Executive Director