Family Connections spring 2014 by BC Council for Families

FamilyConnections The BC Council for Families Magazine Spring 2014

 the self advocacy issue 

Self Advocacy: Introduction To Champions For Change, A SelfAdvocacy Guidebook pg. 12

who advocates for millennials in canada? pg. 22 Reader Review: The Community Engagement Toolkit

pg. 8

we need mother goose in spanish!

pg. 18

Council for Families

FamilyConnections

editor Tina Albrecht art director & design Tina Albrecht contributors Beth Hutchinson, Cara Hykawy, Tina Albrecht, Joel Kaplan, Kerry Watts, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond subscriptions By membership with the BC Council for Families. www.bccf.ca Family Connections is published four times per year by the BC Council for Families. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Council, its members or funders. #208 – 1600 West 6th Ave Vancouver, bc v6J 1R3 t 604 678 8884 e editor@bccf.ca www.bccf.ca Established in 1977, the BC Council for Families is a registered non-profit society. Registration #0488189-09-28 issn#1195-9428 officers of the society Sylvia Tremblay · President, Fraser John Thornburn · Vice President, Fraser Joel Kaplan · Executive Director board of directors Sultan Almajil · Interior Deb Day · Island Karl Eberle · North Tim Fairgrieve · Vancouver Coastal Aaron Francis · Interior Lynn Locher · North Sandra Routledge · Vancouver Coastal Katie Tichauer · Vancouver Coastal Jay Timms · Fraser Ying Xu · Vancouver Coastal © 2014 BC Council for Families

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volume 18, issue 1 spring 2014

Focus 12 Self Advocacy: Introduction To Champions For Change, A Self-Advocacy Guidebook Advocating for oneself or for someone else is not always an easy thing to do but it is a very important thing to do well. Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond 18 We Need Mother Goose in Spanish! The goal of implementation of a spanish-speaking program is to help immigrant families build a sense of community. Beth Hutchinson

Departments 3 From the Editor’s Desk 4 News & Notes 6 Toolbox 9 Good to Know 22 Balancing Act Who advocates for millennials in Canada? It might not be who you would expect. 23 Final Word Advocacy is what organizations, associations, or individuals do for people who need to have their voices heard.

From the Editor’s Desk

At one point or another you may approaches. On page 6 BC Alliance of have heard your parents tell you Professionals Serving Young Parents that you need to stand up for coordinator Kerry Watts reviews a short film yourself. If you were like me after hearing featuring a young First Nations mother who those words you probably decided that it shares her story about being a teen parent. meant that the next time our mom or dad asked you to do the dishes or mow the In other news here at the Council we are lawn that you could “standup” for yourself gearing up to launch our new website. It and say NO! I know the first time I pulled has been months in the making and we are this one I wasn’t met with resounding very proud and excited about unveiling it applause from my parents for standing-up to you; our core users. The new website for myself. Growing up I noticed that my will be filled with great new and useful older sister was much better at “standingfeatures. We are looking for individuals up” for herself than I was and I quickly who are interested in becoming early learned there was a big difference between adopters and helping us test the new just stating my opinion or what I thought site as we prepare for launch. If you are should be happening and negotiating interesting in getting involved email me with my parents for what I wanted. I was at editor@bccf.ca. Additionally, we are eventually able to negotiate my way out striving towards a website that features of piano lessons and into painting classes. the stories and experiences of people like That was a huge win for me! yourselves and the families that you serve. If you have a story and/or image that you would like to share with us please email To a certain extent self-advocacy is just that, standing up for ourselves, our wants, them to us! our needs and our rights. An integral part of the self advocacy process is learning As usual it is my hope that you find this how to advocate well and in a manner that issue to be informative and that the will give us the results that we are looking content enhances your daily work with for. In this issue of Family Connections you families. Thank you for reading! If you have will find an introduction to self advocacy comments, questions, or suggestions for by Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond on page 12. articles or a theme for an upcoming issue, On page 18 Parent-Child Mother Goose just drop me a line at editor@bccf.ca. coordinator Beth Hutchinson shares with us how one Spanish speaking mother successfully started a very popular PCMGP program after advocating for her own needs as a parent who wanted to pass her native language on to her child. 14 years later the program is still going strong. Tina Albrecht, Editor Sometimes advocacy doesn’t mean that you have be at the frontline fighting your own battles, sometime you can achieve positive results with more subtle

Spring 2014 Family Connections 3

News & Notes

We’re sharing our knowledge on mother’s mental heath

APSYP wants your ideas to make our conference better than ever!

It’s that time of year: Board nomination now open

In January of this year, several staff members of the Council attended a wonderfully informative training based upon the new Mother’s Mental Health Toolkit, all about supporting postpartum women’s mental health. We learned a lot about how, as workers in the family service field, we can recognize postpartum mental health challenges in the women we work with, and help them to find the resources they need to mitigate these issues. Next up, we’re going to share all this great information with you! We’re planning workshops for fall of this year, specifically targeted towards Nobody’s Perfect Program Facilitators. The Mother’s Mental Health Toolkit is perfect for the use of those working with parents (and more specifically, mothers) or children aged 0–5 years. The training will allow Nobody’s Perfect Facilitators to incorporate the information and worksheets from the toolkit in their sessions with parents. Look for more information on these fall trainings soon!

The Alliance of Professionals Serving Young Parents is looking ahead to October 2014, and planning our annual conference. This year, we’re changing it up a little! For years the conference has been held in the Lower Mainland, but we have lots of members of our network who reside on Vancouver Island, so, we’re bringing it there! The conference will be held this October in Nanaimo (exact date to be determined). We are really excited about this great opportunity to connect with and learn from people like you who are working throughout the province to support and strengthen BC’s young parent families. In order to make this an event that truly meets the needs of professionals serving young parents, we want to hear from you! If you have suggestions or preferences for workshops, panels, discussions, or any other ideas at all, please contact Kerry Watts, Program Coordinator, at kerryw@bccf.ca, or give her a call at 604-678-8884 ext. 107. We look forward to hearing from you!

Gain insight, network, and give back. These are just some of the benefits of being a member of the Board of the BC Council for Families. Joining the Board of Directors allows you to make a difference in your community, your province, and your life. As a member of the Board, you will work to oversee the financial wellbeing and continued growth of the BC Council for Families. The Council’s Board of Directors is currently composed of twelve members from the following regions of the province: Vancouver Coastal, Vancouver Island, Fraser, Northern, and Interior.

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Do you qualify as a potential Board member? • Willingness to govern the Board of the Council; • Ability to contribute to the diversity of input to the Board’s deliberations; • Willingness to form linkages with other boards for the purposes of fulfilling the Council’s goals and objectives;

Connect with readers. Connect with families.

• Ability to attend a maximum of four meetings a year and to be available via electronic media (telephone or email); • Previous board experience with governance is an asset; • Some specific skills that are of interest include: marketing, accounting, finance, and fundraising. Knowledge of government policy and familiarity with the corporate sector are also desired qualities of candidates. Finally, candidates should have a passion for families. If you know someone who is a good candidate for our Board of Directors, who meets some of our criteria, email us at bccf@bccf.ca and we will send them a nominations package.

By the way — if you send us an image be sure to remember that we will be using it on our website and it may also show up in our marketing and promotional materials. So go ahead and forward your pictures, stories, and testimonials to us at bccf@bccf.ca. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Advertising in Family Connections is a great way to showcase your events or services. Family Connections helps you get your message out to family service professionals all across BC. special member rates To book your advertisement, contact: Tina Albrecht, tinaa@bccf.ca Our next ad deadline is May 30, 2014.

It’s that time of year again... Save the date for our AGM! We’re excited to announce that we have chosen a date for our 2014 Annual General Meeting. We invite you to join us on Friday, July 11, 2014 for what we know will be another great event. We might even have a special announcement in store! Stay tuned for more information.

Tell us all about your family You know a lot about our family here at the Council, now we want to know more about you and yours. Pretty soon we’ll be launching a brand new website with tons of new features and we’re looking to change things up a little bit. We’ve used a lot of stock photos on our website in the past, and while they’re great, we’re now looking to share the stories of everyday people — just like you! We want to use images, stories, and testimonials on our new website so that we can feature the real voices of families across the province and beyond. We’re looking for: • Pictures of you & your family • Testimonials • Success stories And anything else you might be interested in sending us!

Spring Trainings Looking for professional development opportunities for the spring? We have a Nobody’s Perfect training scheduled with more events in the works. Keep an eye on our website for the most up-to-date training informations. Nobody’s Perfect Facilitator Training June 2 – 5, 2014 Cranbrook Nobody’s Perfect is a parenting education program where parents can safely share their experiences and concerns and receive the support of other parents – in addition to the support and resources brought by two skilled and knowledgeable facilitators. View Details: http://www.bccf.ca/ professionals/events/info?id=104&reset=1

HealthyFamilies! Family news you need to know. • New research • Policies and programs • Reports and statistics • Trainings and professional development • Events and updates from the BC Council for Families Free! Delivered to your desktop every second Monday. Subscribe online: www.bccf.ca

Spring 2014 Family Connections 5

Toolbox

reader reviews  What

have you been reading lately? To contribute a review, contact us at editor@bccf.ca

Our Stories: By First Nations Teen Parents  Produced

by Parenting Path Group Productions. 15 years old and pregnant, Nickie Watts, a Tseshaht First Nations teen living in Port Alberni, BC was disappointed in the images of teen pregnancy she saw on TV, in movies and on the Internet. She felt media representations of pregnant and parenting youth tended to glamourize teen pregnancy and she noticed a significant lack of resources that specifically spoke to the experiences of young First Nations parents. Not only did the films she saw in prenatal classes feature married, nuclear, working families that she as a teen parent she could not relate to, they lacked the sense of community and tradition Nicole was used to seeing in First Nations families. In 2012, Nickie, now mom to a threeyear-old daughter, reconnected with her former drama teacher, who was working as a film producer. Kerry Robertson was making a parenting resource DVD called “The Parenting Path,” which explored how the traditional beliefs, values and practices Nuu-Chah-Nulth First Nation families use in raising their children are in harmony with contemporary research on parenting best practice and child development. Wanting to capture a diverse range of experience with parents of all ages, Kerry and her business partner, Juliana McCaig, approached Nicole and asked her to be in the film. Nickie agreed and during the filming, she expressed 6 Family Connections Spring 2014

an interest in making a film that could serve as a resource for teenaged parents. At the draft screening of “The Parenting Path,” Nickie reiterated that interest and sparked by the idea, Kerry later approached her with the idea of becoming a co-producer. Nicole agreed and the seeds for “Our Stories” were planted. Kerry and Nickie recruited other teen parents for the film through a moms’ group at a local Young Parent Program, as well as through friends of Nickie’s, connections made during the filming of “The Parenting Path,” and community referrals. “In all cases,” says Kerry, “the parents we interviewed were willing to share because they knew the film was primarily being made for other teen parents and they wanted to in some way help them by their stories.” In fact, she says, one of the hardest parts of making the film was “editing all of the amazing stories down to a user friendly onehour version. Many of the stories did not make it into the finished film.” “Our Stories” is a frank, heart-warming and emotional exploration of the experience of First Nations teen pregnancy and parenting. In the first half of the film, Nicole and the other participants share their experiences around finding out they were pregnant and sharing the news with their partners and other family members, seeking out community supports, making decisions around education and employment, and dealing with the stigma of teenaged

pregnancy. There are discussions about labour and delivery as well as traditional ways of welcoming and honouring a new baby. The second half of the film focuses on the joys and challenges of becoming a new parent. There are some particularly emotional moments here – both happy and sad – so it is a good idea to have a box of tissues at the ready. There is a segment entitled “Parent talk” that covers key aspects of parenting such as feeding, dental care, registering for First Nations status, financial management, and having children in foster care. The participants also discuss practicing positive parenting, balancing parenting and school, sharing traditions and culture with their children, and setting future goals. The film ends with a hopeful message and a statement from Nickie about what she has learned through making the film. One of the most unique – and refreshing – aspects of “Our Stories” is that is includes voices of both young mothers and young fathers, including Nickie’s current fiancé who became a step-father to Tia at age 17. Also included are a great-grandmother who had her first child at 17, a 15-year-old couple expecting their first child, and an expectant grandmother. Throughout the film there is a focus on the traditional practices of First Nations families. As one mother explains, “different families have different beliefs,” so the specific traditions will vary depending on which house the family comes from. Overall, the stories that are shared

nickie watts & her three-year-old daughter

by the participants reflect the diversity of experience around being a young parent and the film works to breakdown many of the stereotypes that exist around teen pregnancy and parenting. What comes through most is the love of these parents for their children. In the closing of the film, Nickie says the process of making “Our Stories” taught her a lot about her own journey as a parent and also made her aware of the fact that there was a “whole community of teens out there, who have babies and who are doing it.” For the other participants, Kerry believes it provided them with a chance to tell their own stories in their own way, advocate for themselves as young parents, and use their experiences to help others going through similar challenges. “I think without exception, the teen parents from this project were pleased and proud of how they appeared in the film, felt that they had told their stories honestly, and believed that their stories just might make a difference and help other teen parents.” The reception to “Our Stories” has been overwhelmingly positive. It has been shown to educators, school counseling staff, nurses, family support workers, social workers, and substance abuse treatment centre staff across Vancouver Island. Nick Seredick, an educator with the Alberni School District wrote, “The movie re-calibrated my own feelings towards this most important issue. [This is] a tremendous resource for everyone living in a community with young parents

regardless of where they are on a map. Their stories are universal, yet uniquely their own. This is unquestionably a movie I will never forget, one that I will view again, and one that is indeed life changing.” Feedback from other young parents has been equally encouraging. They have called the film “relatable” and “real” and one young mom said that she had cried watching the film and that it “hit home” because it reminded of her of how it had felt when she first got pregnant. Indeed, it is an invaluable resource to any program or agency that serves young parents, especially those from Aboriginal backgrounds. It can be used with both family-service providers to raise cultural awareness about First Nations tradition and culture and with pregnant and parenting teens themselves to spark discussion and open up conversations about the realities of being a young parent. Nickie Watts is now 21 and in college and she names her daughter as leading character in her life. She hopes to one day work with at-risk Aboriginal youth, specifically teen parents. Speaking about her everyday experience as a young parent and her motivation to create the film, Nickie writes, “I am a strong First Nations woman who sees the statistics against me, and yet I proceed on…. My life is not a common 21 year old’s life. I spend most days cleaning, cooking, going to school, and taking care of my daughter. I wanted to create a resource for others who would be going through the

complication of being a teen parent that I did… My goal in life is to help those in need. I want to be an inspirational figure in my daughter’s life, but I also want to be an inspiration to others.” Indeed, through the making of this film she has done exactly that. “Our Stories: By First Nations Teen Parents” is scheduled to be screened at the Cowichan Aboriginal Film Festival in April 2014. Check the festivals websites for exact screening dates and times http://aff.cowichan.net/?festival-schedule,292. If you would like to learn more about the film, you can watch a trailer here http:// vimeo.com/80036619. To order a copy of the full DVD, send a request by email to Juliana.mccaig@gmail.com

 Kerry Watts

Kerry Watts is an independent consultant with the BC Council for Families and Program Coordinator of the BC Alliance of Professionals Serving Young Parents. She has been working with families in and around Metro Vancouver for over 15 years. Kerry lives and plays on Bowen Island with her husband and three children and their ever-growing menagerie of pets.

Spring 2014 Family Connections 7

Toolbox

reader reviews  What

have you been reading lately? To contribute a review, contact us at editor@bccf.ca

The Community Engagement Toolkit: Getting your community members involved in programs planning Non-profit organizations throughout the province of British Columbia offer many programs and services that are both essential and wonderfully effective for their community members. Every community is unique, and as such, not every community requires the same types of programs and services. A one size fits all approach may not be appropriate for different communities, so altering programs and services to fit your community, with the cooperation and input from community members, can be a good solution to a variety of needs. As family service sector workers know well, bringing programs and services to the members of the community you live in is important work, and making sure to modify and adjust them to fit the needs of the unique population in the community is integral. Getting your community members engaged in determining what types of programs and services are right for them, and learning how to modify your current programs and services to meet their changing needs is made simpler with the use of the SPARCBC Community Engagement Toolkit. This Toolkit was initially developed for municipalities to use in the design and implementation of a community engagement process. Although it is generally geared towards use by municipalities, it can be easily adapted for use by community agencies and practitioners. The SPARCBC Community Engagement Toolkit can be used as a set of guidelines to implementing a community engagement process that is tailored towards specific issues and developments in your community.

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A structured mechanism to developing a community engagement process that simultaneously allows for flexibility in your approach, the Community Engagement Toolkit is, by all means, a useful resource. With five well laid-out steps to follow and modify at your discretion, this free toolkit can be utilized by any organization across the province with ease. The five steps involved in the community engagement process include: Assess level of community impact, identify appropriate types of community engagement, select specific community engagement methods, develop a community engagement plan, and implement a community engagement plan. The toolkit helps you to identify the level of community impact that a change in organizational action may launch. By thinking through the level of impact a potential change in programs or services will have on your clientele, guided by the toolkit, your organization can better determine level of community engagement required to appropriately address any concerns and collect any opinions or suggestions. Once the level of impact has been determined, it’s a streamlined process to identify the appropriate type of community engagement process. The toolkit cross-references levels of community impact with the appropriate type of community engagement processes required. This community engagement matrix provides an easy-to-reference chart for determining what options are best for your organization, under your specific set of circumstances. Finally, when it comes to implementation of your community engagement process, the toolkit provides

a worksheet framework to jump-start the action and guide your collective thinking into a comprehensive plan. Getting your clientele and community members involved in planning for future programs and services, communicating their needs for programs and services, and engaging them in the process of modifications being made to current programs and services is important. Knowing what you clientele wants and needs is the cornerstone of providing effective programs and services. The Community Engagement Toolkit facilitates this process in an easyto-use, and comprehensive manner, and best of all, it’s free to download! Your organization can only benefit from involving your community members in decisions that directly affect the programs and services that they are currently taking part in, or are going to be offered to them. Download the toolkit here: http://www.sparc.bc.ca/component/ rubberdoc/doc/534-community-engagementtoolkit.pdf

Good to Know

We’ve compiled a list of helpful, advocacy-focused websites to get you started in a variety of advocacy areas. Cancer Advocacy Have you or someone you love been affected by cancer? You can make a difference in the lives of people who have cancer by becoming an advocate. Visit Canadian Cancer Action Network for a wealth of information. • http://www.ccanceraction.ca/ Caregiver Advocacy If you’re a caregiver you know how challenging it can be without a solid support system. The Canadian Caregiver Coalition is there to provide support and respond to the needs of caregivers in Canada. • http://www.ccc-ccan.ca/index.php Child & Youth Issues Advocacy Who advocates for children and youth in the province of BC? First Call BC is at the forefront. • http://www.firstcallbc.org/ Did you know that there is a representative in BC whose job is to advocate for children and youth on a full time basis? Visit MaryEllen Turpel-Lafond’s website to learn more. • http://www.rcybc.ca/content/home.asp Society for Children and Youth is an organization dedicated to improving the wellbeing of children and youth in British Columbia and providing them with a strong voice. • http://www.scyofbc.org/

Parent Support Services Society of BC protects the safety & well-being of children and promotes the health of families by providing support, education, advocacy, research & resources. • http://www.parentsupportbc.ca/about Disabilities Advocacy Do you need some support in your advocacy for people with disabilities? The BC Coalition of People with Disabilities is a place of support, information, and advocacy. • http://www.bccpd.bc.ca/programs/ advocacy.htm Looking for information on disabilities self-advocacy? Inclusion BC is the hallmark agency. • http://www.inclusionbc.org/self-advocates/ bcsaf The Family Support Institute’s goal is to strengthen and support families faced with the extraordinary circumstances that come with having a family member who has a disability. • http://www.familysupportbc.com/

Mental Health Advocacy One in four British Columbians will experience a mental illness at some point in their lives. That’s why it’s so important to advocate for the promotion of mental wellness and recovery. The Canadian Mental Health Association does just that. • http://www.cmha.bc.ca/how-we-can-help The Action, Research, & Advocacy Association is a grass-roots organization that provides advocacy, information, and supports to people with mental health concerns. • http://aramentalhealth.org/ Other Advocacy Organizations Alzheimer Society of BC is dedicated to helping people concerned with or facing dementia to have the confidence and skills to maintain quality of life. • http://www.alzheimerbc.org/ If you need to access a database of further resources, here it is! BC 211 is an easy, visible, non-judgmental entry point for people looking for help 24/7, 365 days a year. • http://www.bc211.ca/index.html

Another great self-advocacy site packed with information: the BC Self-Advocacy Foundation. • http://www.bcsaf.org/who-bc-selfadvocacy-foundation

Spring 2014 Family Connections 9

Connections

Joel Kaplan Executive Director, BC Council for Families

In the past, the BC Council for Families was a leader in the collection and dissemination of family data in the province. Over time, this role diminished due to various reasons, but we never forgot how important a role it was to be an aggregator of essential data that can help to inform political decisions. So, we decided to bring that role back to the forefront. The BC Council for Families’ new initiative, TAG, aims to do just that. TAG has been in the works for some time now, and we’re excited to launch it this spring in concert with our brand new, multi-functional website. We sat down with Joel Kaplan Executive Director of the Council to chat about what the TAG project involves and the myriad of benefits to families and family serving professionals that accompany it. family connections: Can you give us an overview of what the TAG initiative entails? joel kaplan: The TAG project is the product of research that was done several years ago in an application for a United Way grant on public policy. It was based on the notion that the social services that are currently benefitting families need to be identified and social services that do not yet exist but need to exist could be determined as well. So, we decided to make this happen. The whole TAG project centres on the idea that we identify public policy issues that affect families and allow families to have their own voice and tell the story of their immediate concerns and issues. 10 Family Connections Spring 2014

family connections: T stands for Talk. In what ways can the users of our new website make their voices heard? joel kaplan: The Talk portion of TAG will manifest itself on the website as people being able to engage with each other around issues of concern to them. Issues such as parenting, public policy, teenagers, early childhood, and much more. We will provide several methods that individuals can use to talk to each other. These include; forums, ongoing blogs, guest blogs, and being able to talk to professionals and/or organizations that represent a particular cause. family connections: A stands for Act. What are some of the ways people can use TAG to take action on an issue that they are passionate about? joel kaplan: Acting via our website will mainly involve professionals and families being able to take surveys several times per year. The surveys will engage the public, we will aggregate their opinions and viewpoints, and build a repository of responses on issues that come up in the surveys. We will be reviewing the responses and determining what issues families are facing, and we will be monitoring the tangible impact on real families. Essentially, we’ll be taking the pulse of BC families. The surveying will reinforce the realness of these issues and put a voice to the problems. We’ll be giving organizations the opinions of real live people to use in a positive way

with the government to make changes and communicate need. The Council will send results throughout the field and to government agencies. We will also provide results to the individuals responding to the surveys. Additionally we hope to release reports of the results at public forums throughout BC, where the public will be the speakers. In the future, we would like to facilitate community meetings where the focus will be on the voices of citizens. If we could use the opinions and voices of real people and bring those to the government, it may just influence a better outcome in terms of making change. For professionals and organizations running programs and services, we will offer a surveying function embedded within the website that allows for pre and post-testing capabilities. This tool will serve programs all across the province. Service providers will be able to develop a pre and post-test in relation to their need, and collect information as to how effective their programs and services are. This is a great way for agencies to take action and know what works in their programs and what needs some improvement. family connections: G stands for Get Involved. How can users utilize our website to make change happen? joel kaplan: Get involved encompasses a whole array of things! The Get Involved section will allow registration via the website for family life education and family-support

The whole TAG project centres on the idea that we identify public policy issues that affect families and allow families to have their own voice and tell the story of their immediate concerns and issues

programs that our affiliates will host on our website. For example, a professional organization that provides support to families could host registration for their programs through our website. This could be anything from our proprietary programs such as My Tween and Me, to any thing else that may be on offer across the province. This is the first time that we have opened up our website to other programs and services! We are really excited to support other family life education programs throughout British Columbia. Finally, we have our resource bank – a collection of resources that are available to families and professionals that will include many of our current resources but will be greatly enhanced. Our current Council resources will be revised, revamped, redesigned, and diversified. We will identify additional resources based on what issues and concerns are raised by parents and professionals in our forums. We will be adding to our resource bank the most relevant books, videos, DVDs, and more. We are also going to be making our resources available in a single-copy sale option. The most important aspect of “g” is that organizations will be able to host their causes and promote it on our site. family connections: What’s the most exciting new aspect of the TAG website? joel kaplan: The fact that there’s an integration of all of the aforementioned

components such as easy access, collaboration at a real level, surveying, evaluation, registration, resources, forums, blogging, and so much more that is all included is really exciting. This will be a collaborative space for the three focuses – Talk, Act, and Get Involved, rather than all of these professionals and organizations operating individually and in a tunnel. We can emerge from our silos and interact in a participatory manner. We will, essentially, be going back to our roots as a “Council”, but now it will be a virtual one. The capacity of TAG is beyond what we are aware that any website out there in the internet can currently do. family connections: What’s going to keep professionals and families coming back to the website? joel kaplan: They will continue to be able to find the latest information and resources, and as their family, or families that they serve, grow and evolve, there will be resources and family support programs available across the lifespan. This website is really going to go where no one else has gone before. We will be supporting families in challenges and issues that they might have across the whole life continuum. As we see what issues are emerging over time we can alter our services and resources as to what’s relevant. We will be letting people know what’s trending, and what’s current.

Another aspect that will keep people coming back is the ability for professionals and families to upload their reviews, testimonies, and social media. Essentially, people can comment on or rate anything we offer on our website, be it a resource, video, or program. Additionally, people can upload their own photos and other forms of media, to show us what’s going on in their corner of the province, or in their program. It’s going to be a very interactive experience.

If you want to get involved with this project we are gifting early access to anyone who is a current contact or affiliate with our website. It is possible to become an early adopter through December 31st, 2014 and we are allowing our current contacts to have access to the website as premium users. If you have any ideas or suggestions for the new TAG initiative, we would love to hear from you! Send Joel a line at joelk@bccf.ca or give him a call at 604-678-8884 ext. 102.

Spring 2014 Family Connections 11

Focus

Self Advocacy Introduction to Champions for Change, a self-advocacy guidebook  Mary

12 Family Connections Spring 2014

Ellen Turpel-Lafond

Focus

One of the responsibilities of my Office is to advocate on behalf of vulnerable children and youth, including those with special needs, in foster care, involved with youth justice, or receiving other services my office is authorized to oversee. These vulnerable children and youth need to know that they have rights, specifically the right to be heard and supported in matters affecting their lives. By learning to advocate on their own behalf, children and youth have the capacity to become champions for change in their own lives.

dvocating for oneself or for someone else is not always an easy thing to do, but it is a very important thing to learn how to do well. In 2011, my Office produced a guidebook, Champions for Change, that is intended to give people the power to speak up and to provide individual youth or the adult supporters who might be advocating on their behalf the necessary information and tools to do so. This article is going to draw heavily from the guidebook and at the end I will let you know how to access your own copy. The purpose of the guide is to share ways in which youth can advocate for themselves and to assist the adults who may be advocating on their behalf. It is intended to advance a youth’s 14 Family Connections Spring 2014

rights and interests if he or she is requesting services or dissatisfied with the services received through the child-serving system. The goal of the guide is to empower youth or the advocates working on their behalf with the information needed to speak up and be heard. It describes the skills and provides the tools needed to help them build their case. The act of advocating can be emotionally charged, frustrating and confusing and may not always turn out as planned. Advocacy requires courage, reason and persistence. It also means being organized, respectful and factual. With these skills, a person can increase his or her self-confidence and feel more empowered to speak up on matters affecting their life or the lives of others.

Some people have a lot of experience with advocacy, either on their own behalf or on behalf of someone else. Others may not have the same knowledge or have the experience to understand how the often complicated child-serving system works. However, when people have the information and knowledge, they also have power – the power to speak for themselves and determine their own choices and future. Why advocate? Advocacy requires a valuable set of skills that helps individuals address issues and concerns that affect their daily lives and the lives of others. It is a problem-solving exercise that involves bringing an issue or injustice to the

attention of those who have the authority to change the outcome of the decision. For a variety of reasons, many people do not challenge decisions or make complaints about decisions affecting their lives or the lives of their loved ones. They may fear that they will get in trouble or they believe that it’s too complicated or a waste of their time. These individuals may not believe their efforts will make a difference. They may also feel intimidated by the system because they are unfamiliar with the processes or the bureaucratic language that is often used. Sometimes individuals, especially children and youth, can feel powerless when dealing with bureaucratic systems. However, advocacy is ultimately about protecting their rights and interests. It may require a great deal of work to be heard, but it often results in positive outcomes. Self-advocacy is when people take action to speak up for themselves, rather than having others speak on their behalf. Elements of Self-advocacy Champions for Change outlines some of the basic requirements for self-advocacy. These are: Style Advocacy is an assertive and collaborative approach to solving problems. It is often not a quiet exercise. It is also not about bullying and name calling, but about standing up for your rights and interests. An aggressive style will not help you achieve your objective. Instead, it will likely cause people to feel threatened and to become defensive.

Process The child-serving system is large and complex. One of the reasons people face difficulties addressing their issues or concerns is because they are often unfamiliar with the processes involved. They may not know how to file a complaint or who they need to talk to. Understanding processes can help you get from A to B more efficiently and effectively. It can also help to avoid delays, such as being sent back to complete necessary complaint/appeal steps missed while trying to resolve an issue. Empowerment Regardless of circumstance, individuals can influence their personal situation. Empowerment is about sharing

issues can be easily resolved, while others will require enhanced systemic advocacy. It is critical that you assess your motivation underlying your advocacy request. Are you advocating as a result of revenge, anger, hurt, grief, loss, money, need or because your rights haven’t been upheld or a principle of administrative fairness hasn’t been met? Knowledge Knowledge is power. The more information and knowledge you have about processes, policy, legislation, programs, resources and services, the more empowered you will be as a Champion for Change either for yourself or the person for whom you are

The act of advocating can be emotionally charged, frustrating and confusing and may not always turn out as planned. your thoughts and views on matters that are important to your life or the lives of individuals who are important to you. It’s about speaking up and using your voice and being included in the conversation whether you were asked to participate or not. Assessment Before you can assess next steps, it’s critical that you’ve identified both the issue and the possible solution. If you remain dissatisfied with the decision, you need to decide whether to continue with your advocacy efforts to see if the decision can be reconsidered. These efforts require critical thinking and problem solving. Some

advocating. Information gathering and critical thinking are key parts of effective advocacy. Background information is useful as long as it’s relevant to the current situation. When the issue involves children or youth, time is of the essence. It is important to stay on task and use time wisely, limiting the information to key facts and not hearsay or anecdotal statements. The more you know about the legislation, policies and complaints process involved, the better equipped you are. These requirements make up the acronym SPEAK, which is what you want to be able to do.

Spring 2014 Family Connections 15

Advo catin or fo g r som for one self alwa eone ys an else but i i e s not a s y t is a thin thin g to v ery i g to do, m p l ortan earn do w how ell. t to

Ready to Start? Are you ready? Here is a checklist that will help you decide whether you can move to the next stage of advocacy – persuading the decision-maker. Champions for Change recommends that these items be followed in order to strengthen your case. Some may not apply to your situation, which may mean there is not a lot of evidence for your case, but if you have checked off all the items, you are ready. If one or more isn’t checked off, take a moment to decide how important it is to you before moving on. • I know what my issue is and have the background and information about the current situation to clearly identify my concerns. • I know what I am requesting and why I am requesting it. • I know the jurisdiction and mandate (the level of a government or community organization responsible for decision-making in your case) that my request falls within. • I’ve done my fact-finding and know the players and key decision-makers who can help with my request. • I have a copy of the relevant laws, practice standards and/or policy information that relate to the decision that has been or is about to be made. What the Representative can do The Representative for Children and Youth provides advocacy services to ensure that the voice and views of young people who are in care and their families are heard and that their rights and interests are upheld in decisions that are being made about them. As of Sept. 30, 2013, the Representative is also now responsible to advocate for young adults (from age 19 to age 24) who have developmental disabilities and are eligible for services from Community Living BC.

When you contact the Representative, a Child and Youth Advocate or Youth and Young Adult Advocate will do one or more of the following things: • Support your self-advocacy by providing information about rights, policies, relevant government services and available complaints processes • Provide youth with advice and coaching on effective self-advocacy • Send you relevant written materials • Connect you with natural or community advocates for ongoing support • Assist you in finding a local advocate or support person • In some situations, directly advocate on behalf of a child or youth to ensure that their views and interests are heard and considered in decision-making. Please remember that the Representative’s advocates are mandated only to assist children,youth and young adults who are accessing government services that are designated in our legislation (services provided to children and youth under the Child, Family and Community Service Act or to young adults under the Community Living Authority Act).

Youth and young adults with developmental disabilities: • BC People First: https://www.facebook.com/pages/BritishColumbia-People-First/131251286904187 • BC Self Advocacy Foundation: http://www.inclusionbc.org/self-advocates • Inclusion BC: http://www.inclusionbc.org/ • People First of Canada: http://peoplefirstofcanada.ca/index_en.php On line resources: Self-Advocacy Manual (Uncovering the Mysteries of your Learning Disability): http:// www.ldinfo.com/self_advocacy_manual.htm I hope this was helpful to you. For more detailed information, Champions for Change is available on our website http://www.rcybc.ca/Images/PDFs/Reports/ RCY-ChampionsForChange-FINAL%20 JULY%2020.pdf

 Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond

Where you can you turn to for further guidance on advocacy/self advocacy If you need assistance in advocacy you might try the following resources:

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond is BC’s Representative for Children and Youth. She holds a doctorate of law from Harvard Law School, a master’s degree in international law from Cambridge University, and a law degree from Osgoode Hall. A member of the

Young people: • Youth In Care in Canada: http:// youthincare.ca/ • Vancouver Island University Student Guide to Self-Advocacy: http://www.viu.ca/studentservices/ documents/SelfAdvocacyGuide.pdf

Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, she is active in her First Nations community. She actively supports healthy families and seeks greater respect and recognition for the unique situation of children in society, particularly vulnerable children.

Spring 2014 Family Connections 17

Focus

18 Family Connections Spring 2014

We Need Mother Goose in Spanish!

 Beth Hutchinson

he Parent-Child Mother Goose Program Program, had an idea, talked about it, and the program with my 3-month old baby. My is a group program for parents to attend got assistance from others to bring that husband made the phone call to register my with their babies and young children. It idea into a living reality. For ten years now, daughter and I. At the time I was unable to focuses on the power and pleasure of songs, Spanish speaking parents, their babies and have an English conversation on the phone.” rhymes, and stories, all presented orally by young children, some grandparents and Rita fell in love with the ways she learned to a facilitator. Parents learn gradually through a couple of Parent-Child Mother Goose connect with her daughter, and found the repetition and are able to use the songs and Program ® (PCMGP) teachers have been Parent-Child Mother Goose Program to be a rhymes at home with their children. It is an singing and sharing stories at Britannia very special time that they spent together. important program that has been shown to Community Centre in Vancouver’s Eastside. Rita and her husband speak Spanish at be a positive contributor to the parent-child Rita Arciniega first came to an Englishhome. Passing on her language, and the heritage relationship, to the development of the child, language Parent-Child Mother Goose that accompanies it, is very important to and to fostering social connections amongst Program 14 years ago, also at Britannia them. During her experience in the Englishthe participants. Community Centre. Rita remembers, “I barely speaking PCMGP, Rita began to have This is the story of one woman who spoke English; I had only been in Canada thoughts of a Spanish-speaking program that attended the Parent-Child Mother Goose for less than a year when I first attended could meet the needs of individuals whose Spring 2014 Family Connections 19

Focus

first language was Spanish, and others who might be interested in learning the language. She began advocating for a program that would not only meet her needs but also the needs of others like her. Jane Cobb, the program teacher, felt that this suggestion was an important one, as it met the program needs of their community. She asked Rita if she would be willing to lead a Spanish-speaking Parent-Child Mother Goose Program, and Rita said yes! Mike Evans is the Community Education Coordinator at Britannia Community Centre. He has a history at that site, including working with elementary and high schools, community centres, and public libraries. He has worked in schools as a teacher and counsellor and had always supported the community education program before moving into the position of coordinator. Mike was already working to support the English speaking PCMGP. He thought that the Spanish program was a natural direction for the work they were already going to take. Mike supported the idea of a Spanishspeaking PCMGP because he recognized the immense value to the community of the PCMGP. Mike thought that since there were already Parent-Child Mother Goose Programs operating in languages other than English and the new program was going to be beneficial 20 Family Connections Spring 2014

to Britannia Community Education, as well as the loyalty he felt to the leaders at a personal level, it was a natural progression that influenced him to go forward with implementing a Spanish PCMGP. He joined Rita’s cause and began to advocate for the needs of his clients. The greater goal in the implementation of Spanish-speaking Parent-Child Mother Goose

to churches, the Health Unit, and other community centres to let them know about the program. The facilitators rely a lot on word of mouth to spread information about the program. The PCMGP facilitators have maintained their relationship with the Health Unit. The Unit makes referrals, and the facilitators hold some program spots for families who face many challenges.

All of the families, who started out in the program together, want to stay together as their children graduate to a higher age range, and so all of the original families come altogether. is to help immigrant families build a strong The Spanish-speaking PCMGP also has a sense of community through their common relationship with the Infant Development language and cultural heritage. This sense of Program, and elementary schools, which community allows them to raise stronger and make referrals. confident children who can be better integrated into the school system, local communities, Keeping it up: The maintenance and Canadian society as a whole. of the program The program has been running all these Finally the program got started… years based on the positive outcomes that facilitators see happening as a result of Seeking and finding participants attendance at the program. Claudia Blaney At the beginning, the pioneers of the and Maria Puga are two mothers who both Spanish-speaking PCMGP program went started out as program attendees in the

Rhymes There is certainly great value in the silliness of these:

al subir una montaña Al subir una montaña una pulga me pico la agarre por las narices, y se me escapo! Going up the hill a flea bit me I grabbed it by the nose, and it got away!

my body Mi cuerpo, mi cuerpo hace musica, Mi cuerpo, mi cuerpo hace musica. Mis manos hacen: clap, clap, clap.

English program, and then took the training Spanish-speaking PCMGP now and to become PCMGP facilitators themselves. in the future They describe many positive outcomes for Presently, there are five Spanish-speaking children such as, an improvement in the PCMGP programs with 90 families in relationship between parent and child, attendance. They are Canadian families with the cultivation of friendships between roots in many different Spanish-speaking participants, the increased development of countries, predominantly countries in children’s language abilities, and the use of Central and South America. A significant rhymes and stories in putting the children to number have one Spanish-speaking parent bed at night, just to mention a few. and one non Spanish-speaking parent. Rita is a central figure, as she teaches in all of Facing the inevitable challenges the five programs. The Spanish-speaking One of the main challenges the Spanishprograms serve three levels: infant, toddler, speaking program has faced is that there and preschooler. The families who attend are too many attendees! All of the families, the program move from one level to another who started out in the program together, as their children age, they have a long-term want to stay together as their children involvement. Long-term relationships are graduate to a higher age range, and so all formed and families build a community within of the original families come altogether. the program. The program is popular! Julie Iannacone, the Manager of Services Another major challenge, as expressed by for Children and Teens at the Vancouver Mike Evans, “Budget, always budget.” Direct Public Library sums up the impact of the and concise, this statement clearly expresses Spanish-speaking Parent-Child Mother Goose the amount of work that exists in finding Program in one statement, “Caregivers tell funds to keep this program afloat. However, us that as a result of attending the Parentboth the Vancouver Public Library and the Child Mother Goose Program in Spanish, Britannia Community Centre continue in they are more confident and comfortable in their commitment to the program. Mike says using songs and rhymes with their babies that his inspiration to continue comes from and toddlers to support their language and seeing, “the pure joy in the room,” when he social development skills. Our partnerships visits the program. in the community are crucial in making the

Mis pies hacen: stomp, stomp, stomp. Mi boca dice: la, la, la. Mi cuerpo hace: cha, cha, cha! Mi cuerpo, mi cuerpo hace musica, Mi cuerpo, mi cuerpo hace musica. My body, my body makes music, My body, my body makes music. My hands make: clap, clap, clap. My feet make: stomp, stomp, stomp. My mouth says: la, la, la. My body makes : cha, cha, cha! My body, my body makes music, My body, my body makes music.

connections that bring these families into the library and community network of literacy and learning support. We know that the program has made a real difference in the lives of these families.”

 Beth Hutchinson

Beth is the provincial coordinator of the Parent-Child Mother Goose Program® in BC housed at the BC Council for Families. Her background in the PCMGP and in the Infant Development Program have boosted her understanding of expressiveness, interaction and stories and the gifts they bring to our human lives.

Spring 2014 Family Connections 21

Balancing Act

Who advocates for millennials in Canada? It might not be who you expect.

Not too long ago, we had a brainstorming session on the topic of advocacy here at the Council. Someone asked the question, “Who speaks for millennials in Canada? Is there a voice speaking for this generation’s needs?” We all sat around, staring into the void, racking our brains, and sadly, we couldn’t really come up with an answer. So, who is a millennial and why aren’t they getting involved in politics? Millennials, also known as Generation Y, are somewhat loosely defined as a category, but are generally considered to be those who were born beginning in the early 80s to the early 2000s. They are often broadly characterized in ways that are both favourable and sometimes not so favourable. ‘Civic-minded and neoliberal, with values of inclusiveness and acceptance, re-defining what it means to be successful’, are some favourable descriptors. ‘Narcissistic, selfish, generation me, no work ethic’, are some of the less favourable. As a member of Generation Y, I can safely say I’ve heard many of these stereotypes applied to me and my peers and while I definitely can’t speak for my entire generation, I can confirm that, for the most part, that’s just what they are; stereotypes. Are we uninvolved in politics because we are too self-absorbed to care? Is it because we are unable to take a look up from our cell phones long enough to notice what’s going on? Or is it something more? The fact is that many of my peers feel a sense of disenfranchisement when it comes to politics. In general, we have less sway with the government as compared to other generations such as the baby boomers and we’re fully aware of it. It’s a sort of learned helplessness – 22 Family Connections Spring 2014

why campaign for Generation Y, when we don’t trust the government to both listen to us, and then follow through on promises they make? A shift in values generationally has resulted in the lowest levels of voter turn out in many years. Young people just aren’t showing up to the polls, nor are they becoming involved in other more traditional types of political engagement. But, this doesn’t mean that we aren’t getting involved and making sure our voices are heard in other, less traditional ways. The advent of online activism, also known as clicktivism, is one of the top ways in which millennials are participating. Clicktivism, the burgeoning frontrunner of youth activism, is the use of social media and other online methods to promote a cause. With more and more companies, organizations, and even governments becoming active on social media, youth can reach out directly with just the stroke of a keyboard and click of a mouse. Youth are making themselves heard in a public forum; it’s just not your grandparent’s forum. So, if millennials aren’t getting together and forming advocacy groups to lobby for their own interests, and are instead becoming active through social media, sitting behind their smart phones dispersed throughout the country, who advocates for young people in Canada? One of the only answers to that question is; Generation Squeeze, a campaign that is directed by a network of partners who are doing a good job of representing the wants and needs of Generation Y in the public sphere. The Generation Squeeze campaign’s goal is to facilitate what they

call, “A Better Generational Deal”, that is, to convince the government that young people are getting the short end of the stick when it comes to government spending. Reducing student debt, allowing youth to save for a home, be able to start a family, and save for their retirement, are all goals of the Generation Squeeze campaign. Here at the Council, we may have sat and racked our brains when it came to picturing the voice of Generation Y, but the truth is, each and every member of Gen Y who sends an email, signs an online petition, or tweets at their MLA is advocating for themselves and their fellow millennials in a way that makes sense to them. While our generation may not have an easily identifiable spokesperson, we do have a few organizations working on our behalf, and more than a few individuals who are making their voices heard all across the digital world. http://gensqueeze.ca/

 Cara Hykawy

Cara is a recent graduate of the University of British Columbia with a degree in Psychology. She works in the Communications Department at the BC Council for Families, where she enthusiastically advocates for families and family serving professionals. Cara is passionate about utilizing social media to help get the message out that healthy families equal healthy communities.

The Final Word

Advocacy and self-advocacy – what are they? Thoughts and considerations Advocacy is what organizations, associations or individuals do with or for people who need to have their issues known and voices heard. Inherent within the BC Council for Families’ name is ‘for families’. Therefore, we advocate on behalf of families at the various tables, meetings, public forums, and more, that we actively participate in. On the other hand, we are strategically moving towards advocating with families and individuals as well as for them. The ‘with’ aspect is critical from my point of view. It can be intimidating to be the only person advocating about an issue. It can be challenging to find the right words to articulate challenges, or to gain the confidence to break the mould and demand more than the status quo. But, if you don’t talk about issues affecting you and your family and work to raise consciousness, no one will ever know how you are being impacted. If you start to talk about your challenges on a platform where you feel safe, comfortable, and like you’re actually being heard you can garner much more community support for your advocacy issues. That’s where the Council comes in. We want to be here to provide you with a space where these types of conversations and actions surrounding advocacy can happen in a place of collaboration and support. In this issue of Family Connections I hope you have read my interview about the TAG project on page 10. Our new TAG initiative is all about advocacy for and with families. We are hoping the many partner agencies, families, and professionals serving families throughout BC will

gather together virtually and advocate for issues that they believe in and support. By Talking (T) we will hear what concerns you and you will gain support and acquire answers. By Acting (A) we will gather your many and diverse voices and share the results of surveys with the policy-makers and influencers in BC – the Government and their Ministries, as well as not for profit organizations and charities serving families throughout the province. By Getting Involved (G) you will have the opportunity to declare your issue de jour throughout the entire province. Every organization will have a chance to promote their own particular cause such as: “$10 a Day Childcare”, “GenSqueeze”, “Poverty and Children”, or “The Living Wage Campaign.” We want to work with you and help you utilize our collaborative online space to talk, act, get involved, learn, grow, and most importantly advocate. Advocacy and self-advocacy is something that comes from within. It is what you do when you need to take action for yourself and likeminded people. It is absolutely essential to speak up and advocate and allow your voice to be heard.

Joel Kaplan, Executive Director

Spring 2014 Family Connections 23

Council for Fam ilies

Send a Tribute Card to someone you care about! Tribute cards are a thoughtful way to

been made in his or her honour on your

honour a friend, loved one or someone

behalf. Sending a tribute card is also

special. When you make a contribution,

the perfect way to say: Happy Birthday,

BC Council for Families sends a card

Congratulations, Thank You or even

to the honouree stating that a gift has

Thinking of You!

Sending a Tribute Card is easy! You just need to tell us who you would like us to send a tribute to, include a personal greeting, decide which card design you prefer and the amount that you want to send as a tribute. Additionally you can also decide which fund or program your gift will go towards. One of our popular funds is the Carol Matusicky Endowment Fund. Your donation to Carolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fund will help further the work of the BC Council for Families as we strive to strengthen families â&#x20AC;&#x201C; through our parenting education and support programs, our information resources for families, research, and through our networks of vital support and ongoing learning for community practitioners. If you are interested in sending a Tribute Card email us at bccf@bccf.ca and we will send you a form with all the details.