Girl Guides of Canada partnered with Ipsos to ask teens, ages 12 to 18, about their summer work in 2018. They found that girls experience a gender pay gap in their summer work. The results showed that girls are paid almost $3.00 per hour less than boys when comparing full-time MORE
Dylan Cohen, Fostering Change Campaign Organizer, worked with Spotlight: Child Welfare to discuss the best practices for journalists interviewing youth, parents and others with lived experience in the child welfare system. He developed tip sheets drawing on existing literature, his own experiences with media, and interviews with youth and parents MORE
At the federal level, Bill C-92 proposes major changes in the federal system of indigenous child welfare. At the same time, reform is needed at the provincial level to achieve better outcomes for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous children and to protect the rights of all children involved in child welfare. MORE
Verena Tan, coordinator of the criminal justice program at the Canadian Friends Service Committee, spoke on the CBC Sunday Edition last week to discuss their 2018 report on what happens to the children of incarcerated parents. A one-year survey of Canadian case law found an absence of any cases that MORE
In a recent post, Marc Lee, Senior Economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternative’s BC office, argues “There is a compelling case for the BC government to fund the #AllOnBoard campaign ask as part of their poverty reduction strategy.” The campaign calls for (1) free transit for those under MORE
The BC Association of Social Workers is urging people to sign their petition asking the Minister of Children and Family Development to immediately rescind the order to expand educational qualifications for child protection social workers. It expresses concern that hiring people with non-social work degrees “weakens the profession of social work within MORE
Parent Advocacy Network is currently running a #BuildSchoolsRight campaign. Many communities in BC desperately need new schools—to replace old schools that are seismically unsafe and contain health hazards like asbestos and lead, and to replace portables in communities that are rapidly outgrowing their existing schools. However, communities overjoyed to finally receive MORE
McCreary Centre Society released the 2018 BC Adolescent Health Survey. The Survey is the most reliable, comprehensive survey of youth aged 12–19 in British Columbia. The survey was first conducted in 1992 and has been completed every five years since. In 2018, over 38,000 young people aged 12–19 in 58 of MORE
Ready to Rent BC Association and Aunt Leah’s Place partnered on the Landlord Risk Mitigation Funds Report in 2018. They built the landlord mitigation fund toolkit to introduce a new program option to agencies and advocates dedicated to removing barriers to housing. Based on what they learned from this project, they are MORE
Lord Strathcona Elementary parents and concerned community members are calling on Mayor Kennedy Stewart and City Council (Vancouver) to “reject the proposed cuts to the Food4Schools Program, restore full funding for the program, and identify permanent funding.” Add your voice to the call here.
The Children’s Play Policy Forum believes that play is a powerful builder of happy, healthy, capable children. Researchers have found that “play builds resilience and is a significant part of the solution to the crisis in childhood…” And, the benefits of play extend beyond the child “to families, communities and society.” MORE
The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness is seeking presenters for the 2019 National Conference on Ending Homelessness in Edmonton, Alberta – November 4-6, 2019. They are inviting proposal submissions on a range of topics including Youth Homelessness. Apply online here.
The Parent Advocacy Network (PAN) has launched #BuildSchoolsRight, a quick and easy email tool to tell BC’s government leaders that it’s time to update the school design policy for new schools, as new schools are on average 30% smaller and lack important learning and community spaces. Take a minute to MORE
Last week BC’s provincial heath officer (PHO), released the report, Taking the Pulse of the Population: An Update on the Health of British Columbians. One of the four areas highlighted for more attention is early childhood development. The report recommends that government increase support for programs and policies that focus MORE
The Power of Play first aired on CBC-TV on January 20th. This must-watch documentary explores the importance of play to childhood development and to good mental health for adults. If you missed it, you can watch it online here.