What we talked about at Social Planning last night...

I wrote a short column for the Senior Connector. It was about many of the issues the Social Planning Council talked about last evening. Here it is:

The City Social Planning Council deals with very important, sometimes very difficult, issues. And they do so with great care and energy. At the last monthly meeting they discussed the following issues:

Asset Building: Asset building offers a framework for teaching youth critical life skills. This framework consists of 40 different "assets" kids could possess. The community asset building program has, for example, worked with elementary school children to support them as they plan a garden along the Rivers Trail. The children are given leadership roles, with the adults as supporting partners.

The SHOP program: The SHOP program helps sex trade workers live more healthy, productive lives. The program hopes to provide a safe environment for people who are amongst the most abused and marginalized in our community. The people who run SHOP tell us that almost no one in the sex trade in Kamloops chooses to be there. They try to help people who want to get out of the sex trade.

The Kamloops Integration Project: Started by three provincial ministries, this project looked at those who are "falling through the cracks" and successfully pooled funding and resources to help these people find housing and support. Many local social agencies established and enhanced cooperative relationships.

Seniors Advocacy: City Council asked for a recommendation on a request for support from a provincial seniors advocacy group led by Joyce Jones. This group wants to set up seniors advocacy centres in cities across the province. I would be interested in any of your thoughts on whether this would be a good idea or not?

The Social Planning Council talks about a whole range of social issues in the community.

They are incredible group of caring people who are, at this moment, looking for new members. Interested? Call Ron McColl at 828 3311. Or call me at 377 1797.

Comments

[Anonymous]

Re: seniors advocacy.

Seniors advocacy (re: welfare, federal income supplement programs, affordable housing, abuse, etc) is badly needed.

I would first ask: how can the provincial agency putting forth the current proposal work with or under the Seniors Information and Referral Service, a local agency whose volunteers have worked long and hard to build related resources?

Don't let another agency pull the rug out from under this one. The City should invite the new one to partner with SIRRS.

Many funders have the poor habit of funding a new, more glamourous, or project from elsewhere while ignoring the effective volunteers who have slogged away for years to build resources. This justifiably frustrates and disallusions badly needed, dedicated volunteers.

If the city is considering supporting a senior's advocacy center, great! But where a local group is already trying to do that, support that.