Advocating for sector change

In April, we submitted a brief to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities. Part of our ongoing efforts to advocate for systemic change to support a more stable, resilient sector, the brief highlighted the important care work of community services organizations, long-standing challenges caused by short-term funding and precarious work, and the pandemic’s toll on workers’ mental health and staff recruitment.

Leading the way to support mental health of front-line community service workers

In 2022, we led a collaboration of federations, a roundtable with the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, and the development of a two-year $100 million federal budget proposal to support front-line community service workers. Responding to the need for support among front-line community services workers, Caring for Carers is a suite of evidence-based mental health supports through which the Government of Canada would support this dedicated workforce within Canada’s care economy, ensure better outcomes for individuals using services, and stabilize the organizations for which they work.

Building knowledge to reduce 2SLGBTQ+ poverty in Canada

We are proud to serve as a community partner on the first national study looking at poverty in 2SLGBTQ+ communities across Canada. 2SLGBTQ+ Poverty in Canada: Improving Livelihood and Social Wellbeing is a six-year $2.5 million study funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada is being led by activist-scholar Nick Mulé, PhD of York University. A Community Advisory Board will advise the study, through which a cross-sectoral community-based action plan will be developed to reduce 2SLGBTQ+ poverty in Canada.