To the editor:
Virtually every family in British Columbia will access social services during their lifetime.
Young families search for day care. Parents struggle to support a child with developmental disabilities.
Victims of domestic abuse, violence or sexual abuse leave home, deal with police and justice system, and protect their children.
Teenagers find themselves living on the street, coping with homelessness, poverty, addiction or mental health issues.
New Canadians struggle to find their way in new communities. Our parents and grandparents search for affordable, appropriate accommodation and supports as they age.
Social services address all of these issues.
The needs are increasing while resources grow tighter with inflation and population growth, straining service providers.
The services trying to address some of our most pressing social issues cross ministerial silos, bridge across government, non-profit and corporate sectors, and lack a common vision, or measurements of success.
Services are often confusing to the outside eye and some fall through the cracks.
Government has stated there is little new money for these services, so it is timely that 28 social service agencies across the province are calling for a new approach.
Board Voice, a pan-provincial organization made up of social service agency volunteer boards, is calling for a province-wide discussion to begin creating a “social policy framework” that would define a vision of better lives for our children, our parents, ourselves, and the community we live, work and play in.
This social policy framework has the potential to provide measurements of success based on outcome, expectations for ministries to ensure collaborative and co-ordinated policies and services, and the creation of new regulations and policies.
It could highlight the critical services for those who need it most; and educate the community about how services and supports work for them.
Identifying the needs of our children, our aging parents, new immigrants and victims of violence defines us and help us improve our quality of life. We need to take words into actions now.
There is a better way. Help us create it.
Michael Davis, chair
Board Voice Society of BC
