On Monday October 25, Fostering Change Community Organizers held eight meetings with provincial government ministers and their senior staff to brief them on issues facing youth who turn 19 and age out of government care. Over the course of the day, 20+ youth participated, meeting with ministers including Minister Dean, MORE
First Call responded to the draft recommendations in the BC Law Institute’s consultation paper reviewing parts of the Child, Family and Community Service Act (CFCSA). The BCLI paper proposed recommendations regarding changes to the definition of key terms in the Act, children and families’ rights to independent legal advice, incorporating MORE
First call have responded to the federal government’s pre-budget consultation. Their submission contains several recommendations to address the existing inequities affecting children and youth that have been amplified and laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic. A key recommendation calls for increased investment in a national child care strategy that is MORE
In December, we sent a copy of our 2020 BC Child Poverty Report Card to the Premier, several cabinet ministers and all BC MLAs and MPs. In the letters we drew their attention to the continuing high levels of child and family poverty in our province. Especially among children in MORE
On September 15, 2020, as a member of the BC Coalition to End Youth Homelessness, First Call forwarded a letter to Premier Horgan to all BC MLAs. The letter to the Premier calls on the provincial government to address the urgent concern about the risk of homelessness for a larger cohort MORE
On July 29 2020, Honourable Katrine Conroy, Minister of Children and Family Development responded to Fostering Change’s call for enhancing the support available for youth leaving care. In her response she acknowledges that more work needs to be done to support youth leaving care, and lays out the work that MORE
On June 26th 2020, Fostering Change organizers Susan and Anita wrote to the office of Premier John Horgan. The intent of the letter is to remind him of his previous commitments in supporting youth transitions. The letter proposes: Remove barriers including the age cap and minimum in-care time period for MORE
At the end of June, First Call submitted our recommendations to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services as they consider spending priorities in the next provincial budget. This year, in the midst of uncertainty about how COVID-19 has (and will continue to) affect BC’s children, youth and MORE
Today, First Call and Basics for Health Society sent a letter to the BC government urging a coordinated response to children’s health during this COVID-19 pandemic. Advocates, physicians, researchers and health care professionals have come together to voice their alarm about the harmful impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children, MORE
In early May, First Call added our voice to the call for the federal government to work closely with provincial and territorial governments, health institutions, and public health leaders to ensure and support access to healthcare for all people living in Canada, including those currently living in detention, regardless of MORE
Today, First Call’s Early Childhood Development Roundtable (ECDRT) wrote to Ministers Chen and Conroy to share concerns expressed by the forty-three people from around the province who participated in our March 25th meeting. Many issues raised were related to the fragility of providers of early child development services and the MORE
On April 12, Minister Conroy responded to Fostering Change Community Organizers and announced a number of measures to support and protect youth who would have aged out of care during the COVID19 pandemic. In addition, the Minister announced other measures to support youth who had already aged out of government MORE
On March 10, 2020, First Call submitted comments to the City of Vancouver in favour of the motion, “Taking Steps Toward a National Cost-Shared Universal Healthy School Food Program.” Here is the comment that we submitted: First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy urges Council to support this important motion MORE
On February 14, 2020, First Call sent a letter to Minister of State for Child Care, Honourable Katrina Chen. In the letter, we explain it was good to be able to openly discuss why this capital funding program is not working in the best interest of children and those who care MORE
On December 18, 2019, Honourable Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, wrote a letter to Fostering Change Community Organizers and adult allies. In the letter, she references Policy Solutions Day 2019 and thanks organizers for their determination to make BC’s child welfare system more comprehensive and universal. MORE