brighter tomorrows - Family Services Greater Vancouver

Fall 2014 | Volume 2 | Number 2
brighter tomorrows
The newsletter of Family Services of Greater Vancouver
Directions Youth Services | Variety - The Children’s Charity | Setting Sail
Message from Caroline Bonesky, CEO
We focused on the particular issue that would of bring
them to us and today, we’re finding that the surrounding
social conditions that people are living in are playing
much larger role in how we actually work with our
clients.
That theme of complexity of life and the stress that
our clients are experiencing is changing how we think
about what we do as an organization. It’s no longer
about what we can do as Family Services; it’s what
Family Services do as part of a larger community of
service providers. We simply cannot create every single
resource that a client needs. What we do need to is
build strong trust relationships with other service
providers that we can leverage for our clients.
Calum Scott, director, Directions Youth Services Centre,
Caroline Bonesky in the new Directions site, then under
construction.
Today, when guests enter and exit the newly renovated
lobby at our East Broadway office, they pass under
the words, “Creating brighter tomorrows.” These three
words are at the core of the work we do every day, even
as we face times of change and increasing complexity both in the work of the agency and in the social service
sector as a whole.
Since the spring, over fifty percent of our staff has been
affected by a move and/or renovations. Directions
Youth Services moved into a new, purpose-built building
located in its original location on Burrard Street (see
story page XX).
Our outdated Kingsway office closed and programs
and staff moved into the newly renovated fourth floor
of our East Broadway office. For clients, the move
means better access to transit and the elevator means
accessibility for people with physical challenges and for
families with strollers and multiple children.
Our WorkBC Employment Services Centre (City Centre)
has acquired a bigger space to better serve our growing
number of clients. The new offices are now under
renovation and the move will happen later this fall.
The changes in our physical workspaces reflect the
increasing complexity in the work itself. For many years,
as a social service agency, we focused on clients and the
services that we were able to offer them either through
our contracts with government or programs that our
donors support.
A good example is Directions Youth Services. One of the
many partnerships we have is with the Kettle Friendship
Society with whom we work to provide safe and
affordable housing for homeless youth.
It’s a different way about thinking about the work and
it works – eleven youth have already been placed into
permanent housing.
It also shows in our client satisfaction survey results:
94 per cent of our clients said they would recommend
our services to others, and 93 per cent report an overall
satisfaction with the service they received.
Family Services is only as good as its people: our
staff, who put their hearts and souls and minds into
their work every single day in sometimes very trying
conditions, sometimes in quite joyous conditions; our
practicum students who contributed more than 6,200
service hours, the hundreds of volunteers who devote
their time and energy and make it happen for our
clients; and our dedicated board who provide direction,
leadership and commitment.
Together, we work to create brighter tomorrows.
In this issue ...
Save the date ...
Brighter Tomorrows
Luncheon
Message from Caroline Bonesky page 2
Cooking up change
page 4
Love breathing dragons
page 5
Board member profile
Frank Bassett February 26, 2015 | 12-2 pm
Four Seasons Hotel | Vancouver, BC
Featuring Keynote Speaker
Olympic Hero and Author,
pages 6 | 7
Recent Donors and
Board Members
page 8
Sowing the seeds of hope
page 9
Agency news page 10
A place to rest my head
page 11
Helping Santa
page 12
Silken Laumann
Tickets: $100 and can be ordered
online at www.fsgv.ca
Brighter Tomorrows
is published two times a year by the Communications
Department at Family Services of Greater Vancouver.
Please send us your questions, comments and story
ideas to Theresa Gebrail at [email protected].
On the cover: “Cyborg” The image on the cover of the
newsletter, a detail of the mural in the Media Room
at Directions Youth Services Centre, was designed
and created by Shaun Hayes-Holgate, senior concept
artist at Electronic Arts, with input from the youth of
Directions. The rainbow colours on the eye was the idea
from a youth and represents the LGBTQ community. The
mural took 18 days, 21 youth, 9 staff and 17 Electronic
Arts volunteers to produce.
We’d to thank everyone at Electronic Arts Canada for
their ongoing support of Directions Youth Services
Centre.
If you do not wish to receive this newsletter or other
mailings from us, please contact Aneela Masih at
[email protected] or call 604-731-4951 x4025.
To find out more about Family Services of Greater
Vancouver or to make a donation, please contact us at:
Family Services of Greater Vancouver
201-1638 East Broadway
Vancouver, B.C. V5N 1W1
T: 604-731-4951
F: 604-733-7009
E: [email protected]
www.fsgv.ca
Family Services of Greater Vancouver
@VanFamServices
2|3
Donor Profile:
Variety - The Children’s Charity
Variety - The Children’s Charity was founded on the
bonds of friendship: in 1927, a group of men from the
entertainment business started a social club with
no other purpose than fellowship. That changed
dramatically when a baby was found abandoned at the
Sheridan Theater in Pittsburg and the members decided
to oversee her upbringing and education.
Today, that spirit of friendship and caring for children is
still very much evident in the long term relationship that
has been developed over the years between Variety and
Family Services of Greater Vancouver.
“The really unique thing about Variety, even back when
they donated the first Sunshine Coach in 1982, is that
they were willing to help children that have barriers
across the whole spectrum and that’s why they’ve been
important for us,” says Caroline Bonesky, CEO of Family
Services.
“They were one of the early adopters of understanding
all the dimensions in development for children and had
a broad view of how supporting that looks like.”
“We have so much respect for the work of Family
Services,” says Bernice Scholten, executive director of
Variety.
“Our Hearts Fund committee (their granting committee)
was so moved and touched by what they saw and
heard about the impact and need for support. We’re
so fortunate to be able to support an organization like
yours that has just a tremendous reputation in ensuring
that these children were identified and given the
support they need.”
Variety provides support within three priorities: Variety
Cares (medical care and services), Variety Freedom
(mobility, communication and therapies), and Variety
Future (life-enriching education and experiences).
They help children in every community in B.C. and
raise funds through events such as the Variety Market
& Auction, The Variety Show of Hearts Telethon and
Variety Children’s Radiothons.
Since 1982, Variety has donated seven Sunshine
Coaches to Family Services. “In those days we used to go
around and pick up moms and babies and bring them to
parenting programs,” says Caroline. The Sunshine Coach
donated in 1994 is still being used by Family Services’
PRIYD program.
More recently, donations from Variety have supported
two child-focussed programs: Respect, Safety and
Violence Prevention (RSVP) and Children Affected by
Family Violence (CABFV).
RSVP is an innovative school-based program that
fosters the development of healthy relationship skills
for vulnerable students and aims to reduce the risk
of children and youth becoming involved in abusive
relationships.
CABFV provides specialized counselling for children and
youth exposed to domestic violence to help them cope
with this traumatic life experience.
“Due to very limited resources, vulnerable children are
unable to access the therapeutic services offered by
these programs without Variety’s helping hand,” says
Kareen Hudson, manager of RSVP.
“Both programs provide a critical opportunity for
children to safely and effectively process emotional and
behavioural issues, while helping build inner strength,
resilience, and a more positive outlook on their future.”
Frances Soon, therapist and the co-ordinator of CABFV
agrees: “Families who have been struggling for years
with issues around family violence need to be served as
soon as possible when they have gained the strength
to reach out for help. Waitlists can be disheartening for
clients.”
“Families are so grateful for the assistance that they
receive though our program. Thank you to Variety for
their support.”
For more information on Variety - The Children’s Charity,
visit their website at www.variety.bc.ca
CIBC Wood Gundy donates $40,000 to
Family Services
L-R, Joanne Hausch, Past Board Chair, Family Services, Jeff
Watchorn of CIBC Wood Gundy at Bentall Caring for Kids
Fund, Kareen Hudson, Manager, RSVP.
JP Morgan donates $30,000 to support
financial literacy program
L-R Tulia Castellanos, JP Morgan, Caroline Bonesky
4|5
Directions Youth Services moves into new space
“Without Directions I would have no safe place, food or
clothing.” Youth, Directions
June 26 marked the official opening of the new
Directions Youth Services Centre at its new/old location
on Burrard Street. Directions had been temporarily
housed at the old Kettle of Fish building on Pacific
Street while the new facility was being constructed on
Burrard Street.
“Directions offers non- judgmental understanding and
we respond to youth with respect and patience,” said
Calum Scott, director, Youth Services, in his address to
the audience.
“Youth who come to Directions are empowered to
discover what success means for them and our staff
offer client centered services that are rooted in
relationship.”
About 200 donors, volunteers, board members and
staff members attended the open house. They had the
opportunity to tour the new space and speak to staff
and youth about the work of Directions. The event also
featured the opening of the new Media Arts centre,
funded by EA (Electronic Arts) Canada.
“EA’s Outreach efforts are largely focused on supporting
youth and educational programs, in particular, art,
technology, science, and math,” says Frank Bassett,
senior director of facilities for EA. “To see engagement
and creativity flourish when youth discover the media
room inspires our staff and we are so pleased to play
a small part to help them overcome challenges and
recognize their true potential.”
Volunteers from Electronic Arts and Directions staff help
paint the murals on the wall of the Media Arts room.
and there’s a kennel that gives their pet a safe place
to rest while the youth access services - educational
scholarships from the SpencerCreo Foundation, a
voluntary safe care program with PLEA that provides
resources and case planning to sexually exploited youth,
and the media arts program.
Youth who are under the influence of substances are
allowed to be in the centre, as long as they are not a
harm to themselves or others.
Directions Youth Services is a unique facility. It’s the only
centre of its kind that serves young people 24 hours a
day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Outreach workers are on the streets, day and night,
connecting with young people they meet, establishing
relationships and offering information and services.
It serves youth up to the age of 25, most of whom are
in the middle of very difficult circumstances such as
transitioning from government care, to dealing with
addictions, to involvement in street life and many other
challenges.
Directions will be supporting ten youth under the age
of 19 who will be in our transitional housing program
and the Kettle Friendship Society, located in the same
building as Directions will have an additional 30 units for
youth.
At Directions, youth have access to basic needs like hot
meals, showers, lockers, and laundry facilities. Other
services include counseling, addictions support, housing
support, outreach and transitions to independence.
Services are also provided through partnerships that
include regular visits from medical health clinicians
from Three Bridges, veterinarian care through the SPCA
- many youth have pets that have become their family
Directions is funded through the Ministry of Children
and Family Development, Vancouver Coastal Health
Authority, The SMART Fund, the City of Vancouver, and
private donors and businesses. The new space has been
made possible with funding from BC Housing and the
Ministry of Children and Family Development, and with
the partnership of The Kettle Friendship Society.
Agency News
Family Services participates in
Summer Connect 2014
Staff were on hand at the event to answer questions about
the services provided at Directions.
Directions by the numbers
22,000
the number of visits to Directions over the past
year.
643
the number of youth who access the Centre
regularly.
11
the number of youth who have already moved
into permanent housing.
15
the number of youth Directions staff helped
get back to their home. community located
outside the Lower Mainland.
Half
the number of youth come from communities
outside the Lower Mainland.
67, 910
the number of pounds of food donated to
Directions.
10,000
the number of meals served.
Staff members Anton Saarinen and Larisa Hanssen
represented Family Services at Union Gospel Mission’s
Summer Connect 2014. The event raised awareness
of the youth services Family Services provide in the
community. Anton, who works at Youth Detox and
Larisa, who works at Safe House, connected with
various service providers to share their knowledge
about the services we provide to youth. The event
was held at the Union Gospel Mission on Princess and
Hastings.
Photo courtesy Union Gospel Mission.
FSEAP Re-accredited
The Family Services Employment Assistance Program
has been re-accredited by the Council of Accreditation
(COA). Because there were no out of compliance
ratings, the accreditation was expedited, an amazing
achievement.
In June, FSEAP staff hosted the accreditation surveyors
from COA. They conducted an onsite review to
determine whether FSEAP demonstrates conformance
to their standards. This is the industry recognized
standard that business customers look for when seeking
EAP providers.
At the completion of their work, the surveyors shared
their experience of FSEAP with the staff. They remarked
on how the attention to staff safety through the NVCI
training is embedded throughout the organization. The
surveyor team also spoke highly about the quality of the
work and the impact that FSEAP has on both the lives of
individual employees and overall corporate health.
COA’s program of quality improvement identifies
providers that have met high performance standards
and have made a commitment to their stakeholders to
deliver quality services.
6|7
Thank you to our most recent donors
At Family Services, we know that when people get the help they need, they are able to move forward with their
lives. Our donors help make this possible. With their support, we are able to reach out to more people in need and
by strengthening people and their families we build a stronger community. Please join us in thanking everyone who
donated $1,000 or more from January, 2014 to June, 2014.
Leadership Circle Gold
Vancouver Foundation
Leadership Circle Silver
Geoff Barker
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
CIBC Wood Gundy
CKNW Orphans’ Fund
Decoda Literacy Solutions Society
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Diamond Foundation
United Way of the Lower Mainland
Vancouver Police Union Charitable Foundation
Our Family Circle Gold
Electronic Arts (Canada), Inc.
Great Canadian Casinos Inc.
Kiwanis Club of Vancouver
Lawdell Services Ltd.
Marin Investments Limited
Our Family Circle Silver
Abbey of the Long Cedar Canoe Society
Anonymous (2)
Atlas Pots Ltd.
Burgoo Bistro
Brian DeMuy
Nancy Deshaw
Grant Thornton, LLP
H.E.L.P. For Street Youth of Canada Society
Joanne Hausch
Raymond Lam
Stephanie Langlois
Darwin LeMay
Joe McArthur
Methanex
A. Keith Mitchell
Phillips, Hager & North Investment Management Ltd.
Phoenix Truck and Crane Services
Richard Pozzebon
Rolfe, Benson LLP Chartered Accountants
Team TELUS Cares
Judy Taylor
United Food and Commercial Workers - Local 247
Vancity Greater Vancouver Community Foundation
To view our Annual Report and audited financial
statements, please visit www.fsgv.ca > About Us >
Accountability.
Family Services
of Greater Vancouver
Board of Directors
2014/15
At the Annual General Meeting held on September 24,
2014, Family Services recognized the contributions of
our valued board members.
Brian DeMuy has been appointed chair of the board,
with Werner Knittel and Sarah Boon taking on the role
as co-vice chairs for the coming year.
Joanne Hausch will remain on the board and will serve
as past chair for 2014/2015.
Family Services has been tremendously honoured by
the time, commitment, and contributions made by the
following retiring board members. We are grateful for
your service to Family Services. You will be missed!
John Irving, Director
Lisa Colls Simpson, Director
Lindsay Waddell, Director
Board of Directors, 2014/15
Brian DeMuy, Board Chair
Sarah Boon, Vice Chair
Werner Knittel, Vice Chair
Joanne A. Hausch, Past Chair
Robert Watts, Treasurer
Frank Bassett, Director
Sean Boyle, Director
Mandeep Dhaliwall, Director
Michael Davis, Director
Linda Dempster, Director
Brian Forward, Director
Richard Pozzebon, Director
Terry Rogers, Director
Lyle Viereck, Director
Robert Watts, Director
Our clients say it best
Throughout the year, Family Services conducts client
satisfaction surveys.
“The most recent survey results reinforce that our
clients experience respect, dignity, compassion and
dedication from the great staff that we hire to fulfill
our mission,” says CEO Caroline Bonesky. “It reminds
me what a privilege I have to represent these client
experiences in the broader public arena.”
This year, we received over 1500 responses to the
survey and here’s what they had to say about the
service they received:
Courtesy and respect - 95%
Level of support - 93%
Staff competence - 93%
Cleanliness of facilities - 92%
Ease of getting into service - 88%
Overall satisfaction of service - 93%
93% of clients reported experiencing a moderate
to great improvement in their life or behaviour as a
result of our services. Finally, 94% of our clients said
they would recommend our services to others.
Family Services welcomes
Carol Ellis as VP Finance
Carol Ellis has accepted
the role of VP Finance
at Family Services. Carol
comes to the role with
extensive and varied
experience in the not-forprofit sector. She brings
her knowledge and skills
gained at the VGH Foundation, Manitoba Museum, and
the Municipality of Victoria Beach (Winnipeg) to name a
few. Most recently, Carol held the position of Director of
Finance for the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation.
“The work that the agency does is far-reaching and I
always want to do my part to improve the community I
live in,” says Carol.
“I look forward to meeting the staff at all the sites, to
learn about the programs and to share how finance can
play a role in meeting their goals.”
Join us in wishing Carol a very warm welcome to Family
Services.
8|9
Family Services recognizes long service
employees
At the 86th Annual General Meeting of Family Services
of Greater Vancouver, twenty-one staff members were
honoured for their long service to the organization. This
year, Siu May Lui celebrated 25 years of working with
Family Services. This milestone was marked with a video
story of her time at Family Services. It can be viewed at
www.fsgv.ca.
Literacy New West
provides free books and builds community
A senior sings a Punjabi love song to children on Family Literacy Day
homework (!), and an Aboriginal Literacy Feast where
participants experience Aboriginal culture through
storytelling, drumming, crafts and traditional foods.
Chen, at student at Ecole John Robson Elementary in New
Westminster enjoys her new book.
Students at Ecole John Robson Elementary in New
Westminster were surprised with a free copy of Jenny
Nimmo’s Midnight for Charlie Bone. Paul Manville, who
is vice-principal at the school and librarian, read the first
chapter to the rapt students and then encouraged the
students to continue reading the book on their own.
“This is just one of the many activities that Literacy
New Westminster embraces,” says Dawn Livera, literacy
outreach co-ordinator.
Literacy New Westminster, funded by Decoda Literacy
Solutions, co-ordinated the donation and distribution
of the books. They work with a variety of publishers
to bring new books to children and to promote the
importance of literacy and the love of reading.
“These are books are publisher’s overstock and would
have otherwise been destroyed,” says Dawn. “It gives
the students a book of their own, one that they can
read and share with their sibling and friends. Quite
simply, if you don’t have a book at home, you don’t read.”
The Literacy New Westminster supports literacy, in all
the ways as literacy can be defined and as needed in
the community. For example, they offer a basic literacy
program for adults, financial literacy, a course for
parents who want to help their children with their math
Their most successful activity is the Family Bookshare.
Books, donated through First Book Canada, are available
at various locations throughout New Westminster.
People can take a book, leave a book, share a book and
most importantly, read a book. Over a 1,000 books have
been distributed.
The program also builds strong community bonds.
During Family Literacy Week, seniors, who participated
in a Family Services program, were invited to attend a
library story time where everyone sang “The more we
get together” in Mandarin.
“It was one of the largest story time sessions ever held
at the library,” says Dawn. “The children listened so
intently when one of the seniors sang a Punjabi love
song to them.”
For the students at Ecole John Robson, spending a rainy
afternoon enjoying a good book was a wonderful treat.
Chen, this year a grade four student at the school, when
asked about her favourite part of the book, said: “I love
all parts of it!”
10 | 11
Setting Sail:
WorkBC Employment
Services Centre (City Centre)
helps people find jobs
When Akram Karimi came to Canada some twenty
years ago and she saw the ships anchored in English
Bay, she knew she had found the industry to which she
would devote her career – transportation and logistics.
“I lived downtown and could see all the ships come
in and knew there must be a demand for it,” says the
native of Iran.
She decided to study transportation at Vancouver
Community College and had little difficulty in finding
employment in her field. However, when she was
laid off from a job (the company had gone through a
merger and eventually ceased operations) she’d held
for almost ten years, she decided to get help.
“I had not done a job search in ten years,” she says.
The labour market had changed. As a woman in her
early 50s, she was very aware that there was a lot of
competition for jobs. “Ten years ago, there was more
demand and less supply and now there is less demand
and more supply.”
But she was determined not to give up and set a goal
to find a new job in a month. She was referred to
WorkBC Employment Services Centre – Vancouver
(City Centre) (ESC) by the Employment Insurance
office. The ESC is funded by the Ministry of Social
Development and Innovation.
“We offer practical, applicable and useful tools that
serve clients not just for their current job search
needs, but for the future,” says Sylvia Metz, business
manager for the ESC. Some of the tools include job
search basics like resume and cover letter writing,
mock job interview workshops, internet access, phone,
fax, scanning, social media skills and even voice mail
services and the Meyer-Briggs Personality Assessment.
The ESC also works to address some of the unique
barriers individual job seekers might face. For example,
financial supports are available to job seekers
challenged by getting to job interviews. “We also have
a relationship with Working Gear, Dress for Success
and Army and Navy to provide interview appropriate
clothing,” says Sylvia.
Akram Karimi
Because the ESC is operated by Family Services of
Greater Vancouver, clients who need additional
support such as counselling, financial literacy courses,
housing or any service that Family Services provides,
can be referred to the appropriate program.
“We also have relationships with dentists and
optometrists if that’s what the client needs,” she adds.
For Akram, she benefitted from the enthusiasm
and energy of her case manager Gena Sze and
credits facilitator Tova Jamernik for helping her stay
motivated and optimistic during her job search. “Tova
recommended some great books for me that kept me
energized,” she says. Her reading list included Eckhart
Tolle, Malcolm Gladwell and Dale Carnegie.
“This is tax payer’s money well spent,” says Akram.
“You want to spend tax payer’s money in a way that
brings back a benefit to the whole society.”
“What people learn about themselves in our career
development program is a great understanding of who
they are and what motivates them,” notes Sylvia.
“They’re walking away with those basic job search
skills that they’re not going to have to come back
and re-learn. If they need to come back, it’s as an
independent job searcher.”
Akram was successful in achieving her goal of getting
a new job in a month – one which is rewarding and
fulfilling. For her, it was a matter of staying optimistic
and treating her job search as a full time job. “I was
the first one there in the morning and the last one to
leave,” she says laughing.
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