EDITOR,
Have you ever required child care? Attended a Strong Start program? Do you know anyone who has a developmental disability? Is safe, affordable housing important to you? Do you know someone who has faced job loss or the obstacles encountered as a new immigrant? Do you know anyone who has been a victim of domestic violence or is dealing with addiction recovery? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, community social services matter to you. Community social services are a part of all our lives and March is the month to celebrate it. Take a moment to think about how these services have affected your life or the lives of those around you and the importance of these services to the quality of life in our community. Community social services are based on the belief that every person is a valuable member of the community and that all people deserve the support and skills to deal with and surmount the challenges they face throughout life.
Everyone has a right to participate and feel a sense of belonging. Availability to these supportive services helps improve the quality of life for everyone, making our communities stronger and more stable. Greater recognition and understanding of the critical role community social services play in our communities is needed to ensure their continued availability, access and improvement.
Despite the great importance to individuals, families, and communities, community social services are often misunderstood and marginalized or undervalued. There are as many as 15,000 workers who provide these vital services across our province. Since we primarily provide services during times or areas of life where people face challenges or obstacles, we often are invisible. We must change and expand the perceptions about the people who use these services and their value to our community.
Community social services workers make it possible for people to participate and contribute in activities that so many of us take for granted. We make it possible for people with developmental disabilities to live in homes and hold jobs in their own communities. We make it possible for British Columbia families to go to work by providing quality child-care programs. We make it possible for women and children to find safe refuge from violence and abuse. We make it possible for immigrant families to find the counsel and support they may need in their new communities. We are the people that make things possible during times of need. This month, please take the time to celebrate these successes and possibilities and join us in building stronger, safer communities for all because community social services matter.
Andrea Duncan
Squamish
