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  Feb 2008
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Issue #2, December 2007

This Issue:

• Welcome
• The Health of Non-Profits: Is this sector at risk?
• New Neuroscientific Research into the Teenage Brain
• VIHA Mental Health & Addiction Services Strategic Plan
• Agency Announcements

Welcome

This is the second issue of the electronic newsletter afsa news - a quarterly publication of the Association of Family Serving Agencies. Please forward this newsletter and encourage anyone interested to subscribe. Send a message to info@communitycouncil.ca to promote events or suggest articles for the next newsletter.

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The Health of the Non-Profit Sector -
Is this sector at risk?

With Tim Brodhead, President & CEO,
J.W. McConnell Family Foundation
Monday, November 26, 2007 at the Embassy Inn

In answer to the question, “how healthy is the non-profit sector?” Tim Brodhead responds that “we’re not doing well.” In the midst of the many signs of wealth—a growing economy and labour shortage—we remain disconnected from the poverty around us.

Unlike other sectors such as manufacturing, the non-profit sector is largely overlooked and unappreciated. Canada has the second largest non-profit sector after Holland. It employees 1.5 million workers and is responsible for 8.5 % of Canada’s gross domestic product. Nonetheless, the sector is often seen as residual at best.

Mr. Brodhead spoke to three indicators of non-profit sector health:

1. Financial: When universities and hospitals are excluded, non-profit organizations generate 75 billion in revenue per year; 45% through membership, 40% through government (mostly provincial), and 12% in donations. This revenue is unevenly distributed and while individuals are donating larger sums, the number of donors is decreasing. Overall, the financial picture is mixed and is not healthy.
2. Staffing: It is increasingly difficult to encourage people to work in this sector. There is however, much that we can do. Mr. Brodhead suggests organizational and succession planning, encouraging existing leaders to stay involved, management training and diversifying the workforce as some steps that we can take. He encouraged attendees to remember that “people don’t just want to make a living they want to make a difference.”
3. Leadership: If an American survey is adjusted to the Canadian context, Mr. Brodhead suggested that 65,000 non-profit leaders will retire in the next decade. It is imperative that the sector deal with challenges that to date we have largely overlooked.

What do we need to create a healthy non-profit sector? Money, often the default answer, is not the only issue. Mr. Brodhead is convinced that as a sector, we are not telling our story well. Our voices are disparate, our contribution undervalued and our needs not clearly defined. This leads to self marginalization and it makes it difficult for the public and politicians to champion the sector.

Mr. Brodhead suggests we follow the example of the United Kingdom. The UK has a national policy framework and an office of the third sector with representatives in all of the central organs of government. Also, people and governments rightly want evidence of effectiveness. We need to embrace and refine evaluation methods that measure what is important. It is no longer permissible for agencies to assume that they are effective solely because the work they do is valuable.

Panelists Jennifer Charlesworth, Federation of Families, and Sandra Richardson, the Victoria Foundation, re-affirmed the themes of articulating the relevance of the non-profit sector in the global economy, sharing our stories strategically and consistently, and the emerging challenges in leadership within the sector with an aging demographic and a competitive labour market. Panelist Mark Medgyesi of the Ministry of Public Safety shared information on the strategic initiative underway between the provincial government and the non-profit sector to explore ways we work together, service delivery procurement and sustaining the capacity of this sector.

So, while it’s clear that the sector is not thriving, we are not powerless to affect change. Recognizing and communicating our contribution to the Canadian economy and quality of life, promoting a national policy framework and effective evaluation are just as important as money to make the sector well.

 

Funding support for this event includes: Ministry of Children and Family Development, Human & Social Development UVic, Queen Alexandra Foundation, BC Council for Families.

 

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Introduction to the New Neuroscientific Research into the Teenage Brain

Neuroscience research of adolescent brains is the most exciting positive news I’ve heard since I began working with adolescents 35 years ago. When members of our teams were counselling teenagers we often characterized them as pseudo mature-a mixture of child and adult. We often observed that adolescence in North America endures until people are well into their 20’s. The teens we were and those we have counselled could be agreeable and polite yet would throw a tantrum if asked to carry out a minor household task, like wash the dishes. Adolescents like to think they’re all grown up but they take risks without thinking about the consequences: unprotected sex, fighting, driving too fast. Sometimes we wonder how teenagers make it to adulthood because of their high-risk behaviours. We didn’t know why. Now we do.

With the advent of new research tools, neuroscientists can peer into adolescent brains all through the teenage years. They have discovered that adolescent brains aren’t finished. Neuroscientists have found that teen brains are constantly being rewired through their adolescence. Specifically the prefrontal cortex is not fully developed. The prefrontal cortex controls interpretation and evaluation. It acts like a cop and tames the beast within us (Feinstein). Adults rely more on their frontal cortex than adolescents do. The incomplete prefrontal cortex in adolescents explains some of the impulse control issues that they have, making unsafe or poor choices. Without adult guidance, teens are left to their own devices, sometimes with dire consequences.

When teens are stressed, e.g., poor relationship with their parents, information comes into the brain and is transferred to the amygdala as a threat, the part of the brain that is the instinctual seat of our emotions, responsible for fight or flight (Strauch). The threat is then transferred down to the cerebellum at the back of the brain. The brain’s survival system has taken over. Logic, reasoning, and thinking have stopped (Anaka).

The frontal lobes of the brain also contain language abilities. This explains why teens often say ‘I don’t know’ when asked a question such as ‘How are you feeling about that?’ As they grow older and their prefrontal lobes develop, adolescents are able explain themselves more logically and rationally.

Teens often describe school as boring but their social life isn’t because the adolescent brain seeks out novelty. Some teachers of teens recognize this by using props and perhaps physical activities in their classrooms.

The neuroscience research has revealed that adolescents are vulnerable and they think about things differently than adults. They are greatly affected by all their relationships, with parents, teachers, and friends.

Although they may balk at authority, the research confirms that teens need to have healthy relationships with adults for support and guidance.

This article was composed using information from the following sources. These sources are easily accessed and contain more resources within them.

Teen Brain-PBS FRONTLINE reports on new neuroscience research indicating that teenagers’ brains are stlll developing, especially in the frontal cortex. This is an interactive website. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/teenbrain/

Anaka, Gary; Your Magical Brain: How It Learns Best; Portal Press, 2005

Feinstein, Sheryl; Secrets of the Teenage Brain: Research-Based Strategies for Reaching and Teaching Today’s Adolescents; Corwin Press, 2004

Strauch, Barbara; The Primal Teen: What the New Discoveries about the Teenage Brain Tell Us About Our Kids; Doubleday, 2003

Article written by Kathi Whiting, December 2007

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VIHA Mental Health & Addiction Services Strategic Plan 2008-2011

In September of this year the Mental Health & Addiction Services (MHAS) branch of VIHA circulated a draft Strategic Plan Working document inviting feedback and comments. This is a proposed three year strategic plan outlining where the services provided by MHAS will go over this time period, always dependent on budget considerations and emerging pressures. It covers all services currently provided in categories of prevention, primary, secondary, tertiary and quarternary care as well as subspecialty consultation and treatment.

Initially the feedback deadline was mid-October but because a section was left out of the original document circulated, this deadline was extended to the end of December. As of December 18th the missing section has still not appeared so it is assumed that another extension will be offered. Community stakeholders and public agencies are encouraged to review and offer their ideas and comments. This document does not seem to be posted on the VIHA website. Anyone interested in obtaining an electronic copy can email info@citizenscounselling.com. Alternatively you can contact MHAS Director Alan Campbell’s office through his assistant Robyn O’Neill at robynoneill@viha.ca.

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Agency Announcements

BC Sczhizophrenia Society (BCSS), Victoria Branch

The Family Counselling Program at BCSS Victoria Branch offers short-term counseling and support to families with a mentally ill member. Funded through the Vancouver Island Health Authority, the program offers up to six sessions at no charge. The service provides information about serious mental illnesses, treatment options, prognosis and recovery, assistance with developing skills to manage the symptoms exhibited by an ill family member, help with understanding mental health services and resources, and help with developing constructive family coping strategies. Referrals to the Family Counselling Program can be made by a VIHA Mental Health and Addictions Case Manager when this agency is involved. Otherwise, families can be referred by any community agency or through self-referral. Currently there is no waiting list. Appointment times can be made to accommodate individual schedules.

Contact Dana Lewis, Family Counsellor at 384-4225 or familycounsellor.bcss@shaw.ca for more information.

Capital Families Association

Capital Families Association will be offering Mother Goose for 0-12 month olds. The program will run from 8:45 am to 9:45 am on Friday mornings, from January 18th through to March 7th. For details about this program, please call Christina or Susanne at 391-4324, or visit our website at www.capfamilies.org.

CHOICES Adoption & Counselling

CHOICES is a licensed, non-profit, non-sectarian agency that has been serving BC since 1989. CHOICES is the only adoption agency on the island that specializes in domestic and international adoption. The agency currently has international programs with Bulgaria, China, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Russia, Taiwan and the USA. CHOICES is committed to finding permanent families for children. You can make a difference in the life of a child. For more information call 1-888-479-9811 or view our website at www.choicesadoption.ca.

CHOICES is committed to providing professional comprehensive, client centered adoption service, giving paramount consideration to the best interest of children.

Upcoming Adoption Information Sessions on the Island
All sessions are from 2pm to 4pm and there is no cost. Adoptive families will share their stories and CHOICES will talk about how to get started in your adoption journey.

In Victoria, at the Quality Inn on 850 Blanshard Street:
January 20
March 2
May 4
September 21
November 2

In Courtney, location to be announced:
March 9
September 28

NEED Crisis & Information Line

Look forward to 2008 as a new year with new challenges, new friends, new skills, a new way of giving: Volunteer with the NEED Crisis and Information Line.

Training starts Feb 16 and continues on Tuesday evenings. Call 386-6328 or visit the website at www.needcrisis.bc.ca for more information.

Pacific Centre Family Services Association (PCFSA)

Pacific Centre Family Services Association, the Heart of Our Community for 40 years invites you to their Open House:

Date: Thursday, February 14th, Valentine’s Day
Time: 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
Place: Pacific Centre's Langford location - #107, 2849 Peatt Road

Refreshments will be served. Enter to win one of the fabulous door prizes.
RSVP by email to imason@pcfsa.org or by phone at 478-8357.

Office and Group Space Available to Rent in Langford

PCFSA has some additional space available in Langford (2849 Peatt Road) which could be rented out for purposes benefiting the community. PCFSA is committed to working in positive partnerships with community members and organisations, especially where they can enhance the delivery, efficiency and effectiveness of services needed within our communities. The rental space has recently been renovated and includes:

• a large room equipped for group meetings, board meetings, available for rent outside of office hours. There will be a minimum charge of $20 for each booking, which covers: the first 2 hours of rental, administrative processing of the room rental request and the reservation of the room. A charge of $10 per hour is applied to each subsequent hour or part thereof, and additional items required can be negotiated.
• two independent offices, ideal for counselling or office work, available for exclusive rent. The monthly cost will be $800 for approximately 180 square feet with utilities except for phone and cable included.

The facilities do not include a reception and are co-located with PCFSA counselling and administrative staff. Please contact Pacific Centre Family Services Association at 478-8357 for more information and the room booking package. www.pacificcentrefamilyservices.org