Overdose Crisis Archives | Pacific Public Health Foundation

Compassion, Inclusion, Engagement (CIE)

foundry — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Time frame: 2019 – 2021

Overview:
Compassion, Inclusion, Engagement (CIE) is a provincial partnership between the First Nations Health Authority and the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) to address stigma and discrimination experienced by people who use substances, particularly those who are Indigenous.

CIE supports people with lived experience, primarily in remote and rural communities, in forming peer groups. Peer groups have been instrumental in advocating for the rights of people who use drugs and for meaningful change in drug policy that saves lives. CIE peer groups are empowered and supported in two ways: through skill and capacity building and through seed funding.

By providing capacity building support, these groups learn tangible skills in how to organize, develop a mission, learn about navigating group dynamics, grant writing, financial management, and more. The seed funding that’s provided supports their on-the-ground work, which ranges from operating peer-run overdose prevention sites, training and distribution of naloxone and harm reduction supplies, providing needle clean up, and providing employment and income to members.

By supporting new and emerging peer groups and by leveraging the BCCDC’s position as a provincial leader, CIE ensures that the voices of people who use drugs are at the table with decision makers.

Results:
Through CIE, peer groups across BC were supported to take on projects related to stigma elimination, harm reduction, and overdose response in their communities, and were free to choose the most effective way to create that change for themselves, in relation to their community. The majority of the groups chose to employ peers as trainers for overdose prevention and harm reduction services, while other groups engaged in advocacy work that pushed levels of government for safe supply, including people with lived and living experience of substance use in decision-making and conversations in their communities, and advocated for increased harm reduction/overdose prevention services.

Here’s an example of some of the work that was done by peer groups involved:

ANKORS Cranbrook:
Funding supported women in the Cranbrook area (a high percentage being Indigenous) who are afraid, isolated, or may be impacted by partner violence, an opportunity to come together monthly to support one another, address the stigma that exists for them, and to empower and get supplies in a safe, women specific group, run by peers.

The CLEAN Team:
The Clean Team in Quesnel, BC, is led by and composed of peers with lived experience of homelessness and substance use. The peers are employed part-time and perform early morning cleanups of needles, drug paraphernalia, and litter around business improvement areas, schoolyards, and other ‘hotspot’ locales.

Youth Peer Group:
Because there is no peer group for youth who use substances in the Fraser Valley, there is a high need for youth who use to have a safe place to meet other youth who use substances, and start discussion around harm reduction. The goal of the Youth Peer Group was to create a safe place for youth to share experiences, tips, harm reduction skills, and needs.

CIE peer groups supported:
The Association for the Collaborative End to Stigma
ANKORS Cranbrook
Canadian Association for Safe Supply (CASS)
The CLEAN Team
Coalition of Peers Dismantling the Drug War (CPDDW)
Coalition of Substance User of the North (CSUN)
Comox Valley Street Outreach
“Connections” (formerly the Sunshine Coast Drug User Collective)
Drinker’s Lounge
Indigenous Harm Reduction Team
Kandu-Kelowna Area Network of Drug Users
The Langley Community Action Team (CAT) Peer Group
Positive Living North (PLN)
The POUNDS Project
Raincity
SNOW
Unbroken Chain
Unnamed emerging peer group in Terrace
Vernon Entrenched People Against Discrimination (VEPAD)
Youth Peer Group (YPG)

For updates on this work and other related projects, go here.

The post Compassion, Inclusion, Engagement (CIE) appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

Reducing Harms: Seed and Pilot Funding for BCCDC Researchers

foundry — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 07:50:00 +0000

From 2014 to 2019, the BCCDC Foundation for Public Health ran a pilot funding program called the Open Awards Program (OAP). The purpose of the OAP was to strengthen the research enterprise at the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) by providing small pilot grants and seed funding to support research, knowledge translation, and convening activities that would enable researchers to secure larger funding awards. Spread over two competitions per year, we awarded up to $100,000 per annum to faculty members at the BCCDC, many of whom went on to secure grants from larger funding sources. Over 53 awards were provided, totalling $436,323 for various activities across many key areas, and reflecting our public health priorities.

Here is just a handful of OAPs that reflect our critical focus on reducing harms, we are proud to have funded:

Buprenorphine/naloxone Standard Dosing and Microdosing in the Emergency Department: A feasibility study (2019)

Research Lead: Dr Jessica Moe

Many vulnerable populations, such as First Nations, construction workers, and people who use drugs alone, are at high risk for overdose, and may only seek out healthcare services in Emergency Departments (EDs). Yet, EDs don’t have a good way of identifying those at risk and offering treatments that could prevent future overdoses. By preventing cravings and withdrawal symptoms, Buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) is the recommended treatment for patients with opioid addiction who wish to decrease their harmful opioid use, and studies show that starting people on buprenorphine/naloxone during ED visits helps to connect them with addictions services.

At the same time, many barriers exist that prevent people from accepting this treatment, like experiencing uncomfortable opioid withdrawal symptoms like agitation, nausea, vomiting, and sweats, before starting buprenorphine/naloxone at standard doses, plus, the medication can make patients’ withdrawal symptoms worse if started too early. As a result, microdosing is a new way of starting buprenorphine/naloxone where people take small doses that gradually increase over 6-7 days. People also do not need to be in withdrawal before a microdosing method is started, and the risk of causing worsening withdrawal symptoms during initiation is low. Still, the longer time to reach a target dose is a downside. This innovative study examined the feasibility of starting people on buprenorphine/naloxone from the ED using both standard dosing and microdosing methods, and was the first to address knowledge gaps on the acceptability of these methods, further contributing to the understanding of barriers to induction methods and of how to optimize buprenorphine/naloxone provision for vulnerable ED patients.

Opioid prescribing evaluation and research activities (2016-2018)

Research Lead: Dr Roy Purcell

Deaths due to illicit drug overdoses in BC is on the rise. This dramatic increase in deaths due to illicit drugs is partially due to patients transitioning from prescription opioid use to illicit drug use, which is very common. Many drugs sold illicitly contain fentanyl, an extremely dangerous opioid that is many times more potent than heroin. Patients who transition from taking prescription pain relievers containing opioids to injecting illicit drugs will be a much higher risk of overdose death.

Funding from the BCCDC Foundation allowed researchers to use data from the BC Hepatitis Testers Cohort (BC-HTC), a comprehensive population-based longitudinal cohort consisting of all BC residents who have been tested for HCV or HIV at the BCCDC Public Health Laboratory, to investigate the association between prescribed opioid therapy and objective measures of intravenous drug use (IDU) in a population-based cohort of almost 1.4 million people in Canada. Importantly, this grant was a key component of further funding to complete this research.

CDPC National Knowledge Exchange and Consultation on Supervised Consumption Services (2016)

Research Lead: Dr Naveed Janjua

People who inject drugs face serious potential health risks, including vulnerability to HIV and HCV. As Canada is in the grips of an overdose crisis, many groups are working to establish Supervised Consumption Services (SCSs) as part of a comprehensive response to the overdose situation. Funding from the BCCDC Foundation brought the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition (CDPC) and the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network (Legal Network) together for a two-day facilitated “National Knowledge Exchange and Consultation on Supervised Consumption Services (SCS)” in Vancouver, BC, hosting 100 guests from 20+ localities in Canada considering and/or implementing SCSs.

The event successfully enabled the development of a comprehensive analysis of barriers created by the Respect for Communities Act, and a greater understanding of challenges encountered when operating a supervised consumption site. Additionally, an important network of stakeholders such as community groups, health authorities, harm reduction workers, and people who use drugs, was established to further future knowledge exchange efforts and coordination. The CDPC continues to work at a national level and focuses on including a broader range of participants in its network and activities related to SCSs. With the newly refreshed network of SCS advocates, the CDPC will look at implementing new digital engagement strategies, and may create some task sub-groups to focus on issues of SCS applications, operations, and community advisory processes.

Peer engagement and evaluation project (2015-2016)

Research Lead: Dr Jane Buxton

Harm reduction programs are internationally accepted as effective for reducing health disparities associated with drug use. However, there are large variations in the availability, accessibility, and utilization of these programs across BC. Partnering with people who use drugs, or ‘peers,’ reduces inequities by making services relevant and responsive. The Peer Engagement and Evaluation Project (PEEP) aimed to develop, implement, and evaluate best practice guidelines for peer engagement for harm reduction initiatives using an approach that includes capacity building, empowerment, and engagement of peers, providers, and decision makers.

BCCDC Foundation funding was granted for the purpose of a team meeting, for which one of the main findings was understanding the amount of stigma and discrimination among health providers across the province. As a result, the development of knowledge translation tools, including anti-stigma training with a photo series, were used at presentations across the province, as well as the development of best practice guidelines, which have been directly informed by the validation of their focus group findings at the team meeting.

You can stay connected on all project updates by visiting this page and subscribing to our newsletter.

The post Reducing Harms: Seed and Pilot Funding for BCCDC Researchers appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

Now Hiring: Senior Development Officer

foundry — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 17:43:53 +0000

Are you passionate about health equity?
Do you want to make an impact toward ending the overdose crisis?
Are you looking for an opportunity to support communities through the pandemic and as we recover?

We invite you to join our growing fundraising team where you can support this vital work—and more.

We are looking for a Senior Development Officer to support our burgeoning fundraising activities and build on our momentum. We are currently poised to undertake broader public health work that will help BC advance the health of our communities. It is becoming increasingly clear that we need strong public health programs, research, services, leadership, and advocacy for community health and societal wellbeing, and even more clear that public health investment is a prerequisite for positive health.

Our approach to fundraising is collaborative, grounded in social justice, and responsive to community need. We are hiring for two new positions to join our Director of Development as we continue to build a strong foundation for the organization and address health inequities. The ideal candidate loves connecting with existing and new donors about supporting projects, their impact, and improving health equity.

Position Summary:

The BCCDC Foundation is seeking a full-time Senior Development Officer to work with the Director of Development and Development Coordinator to develop and implement fund development strategies that support:

The strategic plan and priorities of the BCCDC Foundation;
Organizational and financial growth and sustainability;
Consistent achievement of the mission, vision, and mandate of the BCCDC Foundation;
Continued successful growth of the Foundation’s reputation, influence, and impact as a public health charity.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Manage a portfolio of annual and major gift donors, including corporations, individuals, and foundations;
Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward potential partners, donors, and sponsors;
Communicate effectively with donors and engage in face-to-face solicitations;
Publication-level writing for: funding applications for foundations, corporations, and individuals, stewardship materials and impact reports;
Strategic fundraising program development: build corporate giving, tribute giving, holiday giving programs;
In collaboration with the Director of Development, develop, implement, and evaluate fund development strategies and programs. Report on fundraising goals and metrics;
Collaborate with the Communications team on fundraising communications and plans;
Support donor stewardship programs and events, participate in community events, networking opportunities, or other engagement activities;
Ensure alignment between the Foundation’s best and most viable fundraising activities and the Foundation’s potential. Work to create financial sustainability and revenue diversity;
Assess and explore other viable fundraising programs as appropriate;
Research and identify potential donors;
Prepare regular reports for senior staff as required;
Work with external partners on program and project development;
Other duties, as required.

Requirements:

Proven experience in any/all of these fundraising areas: annual giving, major gifts, donor relations, proposal writing, planned giving, events, corporate giving;
Experience in public health, a health-related field and/or social justice an asset;
Post-secondary education, undergraduate degree in a relevant field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience;
Demonstrated track record to plan, execute, and meet fundraising goals;
Experience building and maintaining strong donor and volunteer relationships;
Sound computer skills and experience with DonorPerfect or other CRMs, research tools such as iWave and Grant Advance;
Knowledge of charity-related legislation, ethical practices pertaining to fundraising, and other privacy/compliance legislation;
Commitment to the vision, mission, values, and priorities of the BCCDC Foundation, as well as the Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethical Standards;
Excellent oral and written communication skills;
Ability to efficiently organize and manage diverse projects while meeting multiple deadlines, along with thorough attention to all details and consistent follow through;
Ability to work flexible hours on occasion, based on predictable activities like early meetings and late events.

Attributes:

Driven and perseverant. Undaunted by challenges, and approaches opportunities with an open and positive mindset. Self-motivated and tenacious.
Adaptable. Smart and clever with flexible thinking and a creative outlook. Able to deal with the unexpected. Models and enables creative thinking, curiosity, and innovation to create new solutions. An excellent problem-solver.
Collaborative. A true team player without ego or pretension, yet confident in their abilities and expertise. Cultivates strong and trusting relationships. Values good and open communication. Fosters respect, authenticity, emotional intelligence, responsibility, and accountability.
Mission-aligned and dedicated. Holds genuine excitement for the Foundation’s mission and is willing to immerse themselves in public health, the social determinants of health, and harm reduction. Socially and politically progressive and open minded. Passionate and caring. Committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Committed to social justice, anti-racism, and anti-Indigenous racism.

This role is based in the Lower Mainland. Our team is participating in hybrid in-office and remote work and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. We value in-person collaboration opportunities and also support all employees in creating remote work schedules that work best for them and the organization. Therefore, you must be able to successfully and comfortably manage time, tasks, and work functions via remote work.

We value a diverse team. Applications are strongly encouraged from all qualified individuals regardless of disability, culture, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, or religion. The BCCDC Foundation’s work focuses on addressing health inequities; as such our fundraising practices and program areas are developed through a lens of equity, diversity, and inclusion, anti-oppression and Reconciliation.

Application deadline: February 12, 2022

Please email cover letter and resume to info@bccdcfoundation.org

We would like to thank all applicants, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

About Us

The BCCDC Foundation for Population and Public Health (The Foundation) works in partnership with the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), and other stakeholders to improve public health outcomes. The Foundation puts healthy humans at the centre of health planning and funding. The only Foundation of its kind in Canada, the Foundation and its partners are building the model for public health that can be emulated across the country, and are best positioned to do so.

The BCCDC Foundation has been in a growth phase for the last several years. By working on key health promotion, prevention, and equity initiatives, our goal is to positively shift the health of our population and reduce the burden of disease and injury. Our priorities are: reducing harms; addressing threats; and emerging areas. For instance, with the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been able to support pandemic response efforts and are positioned to continue this work to enhance our public health system in BC to prepare for and respond to future emerging threats. Another example is our work to address the overdose crisis—a public health emergency declared in 2016 and increasingly getting worse as the drug supply becomes more toxic and the pandemic has pushed more people into isolation.

We have funded more than 100 projects since our inception. For stories on our work, please visit: https://bccdcfoundation.org/whats-new/blog-posts/

As the philanthropic partner of the BCCDC, the Foundation operates as a tax-exempt charity with its own Board and administration; as such, it is an arm’s length organization that supports public health broadly. The Foundation is modelled in a way that we support public health and the BCCDC in unique ways through fundraising, grants and awards, communications, knowledge translation, as well as public education and awareness. By bringing these aspects to the excellent work of the BCCDC and the public health system, we provide a value-add for BC. This is an exciting time to be working in public health. Join us in securing more private funding at a pivotal time for the province and beyond.

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Now Hiring: Development Coordinator

foundry — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 17:29:44 +0000

Are you passionate about health equity?
Do you want to make an impact toward ending the overdose crisis?
Are you looking for an opportunity to support communities through the pandemic and as we recover?

We invite you to join our growing fundraising team where you can support this vital work—and more.

We are looking for a Development Coordinator to support our burgeoning fundraising activities and build on our momentum. We are currently poised to undertake broader public health work that will help BC advance the health of our communities. It is becoming increasingly clear that we need strong public health programs, research, services, leadership, and advocacy for community health and societal wellbeing, and even more clear that public health investment is a prerequisite for positive health.

Our approach to fundraising is collaborative, grounded in social justice, and responsive to community need. We are hiring for two new positions to join our Director of Development as we continue to build a strong foundation for the organization and address health inequities. The ideal candidate loves creating and implementing systems and process improvements, managing data, digital fundraising, and communicating with donors and the public. This role is integral to our fundraising, stewardship, and growth. Bring your creativity and systems thinking to our mighty team.

Position Summary:

The BCCDC Foundation is seeking a full-time Development Coordinator to work with the Director of Development and Senior Development Officer to execute and enhance fund development strategies and systems that support:

The strategic plan and priorities of the BCCDC Foundation;
Organizational and financial growth and sustainability;
Consistent achievement of the mission, vision, and mandate of the BCCDC Foundation;
Continued successful growth of the Foundation’s reputation, influence, and impact as a public health charity.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Donor relations: issue tax receipts, prepare donor acknowledgment letters, tribute giving materials; communicate with donors by phone and email;
Database administration and management in the DonorPerfect database: process donations; ensure data integrity; update donor and prospective donor contact information; create reports and analyze fundraising results;
Support stewardship initiatives: special donor mailings; digital communications and newsletters;
Use and optimize opportunities with Grant Advance and iWave research programs;
Direct response program support: logistics, list generation, and analytics;
Manage and grow monthly giving and mid-level giving programs;
Collaborate with the Communications Department on fundraising communications and plans, stewardship, and Direct Response program;
Event support: logistical support for donor events, community events, and other donor engagement activities, including preparing invitations and follow up materials;
Collaborate with the Operations and Finance team;
Support Communications Department, as needed;
Research and identify potential donors; assist with briefings;
Scheduling and administrative support for external meetings and planning;
Prepare regular reports for senior staff as required;
Other duties, as required.

Requirements:

Proven experience in donor relations, fundraising, member services, or client-facing roles;
Demonstrated communications/marketing experience;
Experience in public health, a health-related field and/or social justice an asset;
Strong relationships building skills with an ability to develop a positive rapport with a diverse range of individuals;
Sound computer skills and experience with DonorPerfect, other CRMs, Microsoft Office applications; research tools such as iWave and Grant Advance; Mailchimp, Adobe, and Canva would be highly desirable;
Commitment to the vision, mission, values, and priorities of the BCCDC Foundation, as well as the Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethical Standards;
Ability to efficiently organize and manage diverse projects while meeting multiple deadlines, along with thorough attention to all details and consistent follow through;
Ability to work flexible hours on occasion, based on predictable activities like early meetings and late events;
Highly collaborative team member who enjoys working with a large variety of stakeholders.

Attributes:

Driven and perseverant. Undaunted by challenges, and approaches opportunities with an open and positive mindset. Self-motivated and tenacious.
Adaptable. Smart and clever with flexible thinking and a creative outlook. Able to deal with the unexpected. Models and enables creative thinking, curiosity, and innovation to create new solutions. An excellent problem-solver.
Collaborative. A true team player without ego or pretension, yet confident in their abilities and expertise. Cultivates strong and trusting relationships. Values good and open communication. Fosters respect, authenticity, emotional intelligence, responsibility, and accountability.
Mission-aligned and dedicated. Holds genuine excitement for the Foundation’s mission and is willing to immerse themselves in public health, the social determinants of health, and harm reduction. Socially and politically progressive and open minded. Passionate and caring.
Committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. Committed to social justice, anti-racism, and anti-Indigenous racism.

The post Now Hiring: Development Coordinator appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

Newsletter #25: June 2021

foundry — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 19:56:12 +0000

Help Put an End to BC’s Overdose Crisis: Support Peers on the Frontlines, Indigenous Health and Rights: Time for a Healing Way Forward, and more in our June newsletter!

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Help Put an End to BC’s Overdose Crisis: Support Peers on the Frontlines

foundry — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 21:18:53 +0000

2020 served as a record-breaking year in lives lost to the overdose crisis. Over 1700 people died from overdose in BC, a 74% increase from 2019.

And the numbers have only increased in 2021.

Source: BC Coroners Service

In April 2021 alone, nearly 6 (5.9) people died each day—the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in the month of April.

The overdose crisis is worsening because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to a staggering increase in overdoses and deaths, and First Nations people in BC are disproportionately and severely impacted.

“The devastating impact of the toxic drug crisis on BC’s First Nations people, families, and communities cannot be ignored. This issue will not be resolved without the continued support and commitment of health service partners, and First Nations leaders. We must continue to work together to reduce the impact of drug toxicity on First Nations people.”
-Richard Jock, CEO of the First Nations Health Authority

Credit: First Nations Health Authority

Compassion, Inclusion, & Engagement (CIE) is a partnership program between the BC Centre for Disease Control, the First Nations Health Authority, and the BCCDC Foundation, that empowers people with lived and living experience of substance use (peers) to take action and stop overdose in their community. The work that peers do is based in public health, saving lives, and ending the overdose crisis.

You can help protect lives in BC by donating to CIE today.

How CIE supports peers and makes an immediate impact

CIE funds peer groups providing overdose response and safe injection services in local communities, particularly where overdose prevention sites and services don’t exist.
CIE supports peers delivering harm reduction services, clean and safe supplies, and training.
CIE helps peers establish meaningful connections for people in their communities.
CIE groups work to eliminate stigma and drug policy-related harms which are significant contributors to the overdose crisis.

Thanks to you, we reached our first target of $30,000! The need is increasing, so we’ve increased our goal to $60,000 and we need your continued support to help us reach our new target. Will you help us get there?

Each CIE peer group is eligible for a grant of up to $10,000; the more we raise, the more groups across BC we can support. But we can’t do it without you.

We can’t risk losing any more of our friends and family to the overdose crisis. We must work together and act now to prevent further deaths.

Please, consider donating today to support CIE and save lives.

Want to learn more about CIE? Check out this guest blog post “Compassion, Inclusion, & Engagement: The Role of Peers in the Overdose Crisis” written by the CIE team at the BC Centre for Disease Control.

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Compassion, Inclusion and Engagement: The Role of Peers in the Overdose Crisis

foundry — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 00:01:21 +0000

Guest post by:*
Sally Maguet,
Lead, Compassion, Inclusion and Engagement initiative

Charlene Burmeister,
Provincial Peer Coordinator for CIE

Marnie Scow,
Provincial Peer Coordinator with CIE

Laura Moore,
CIE’s Project Coordinator

The Compassion, Inclusion and Engagement (CIE) initiative is a partnership between the First Nations Health Authority and the BC Centre for Disease Control.

We have been working with communities across the province since 2015 to host dialogues between service providers and peers (people with lived and living experience of substance use) to challenge stigma, improve harm reduction services, and bridge capacity between communities and healthcare services.

Between 2015 and 2021, the province has declared two public health emergencies. One in response to alarmingly high overdose rates in 2016 and the second in response to COVID-19 last year.

Monthly deaths due to COVID and overdose 2015-2020 (click image to expand)

For those affected by substance use, supporting someone who is using drugs, engaged in harm reduction and overdose prevention work, or connected to the peer community, COVID-19 has not replaced the overdose crisis, instead, it has compounded it.

In 2019, overdose rates were steadily decreasing in BC, but as COVID-19 took hold, we started to see the number of overdose deaths creeping up again, until we sadly had our worst month ever in June 2020 when 185 people died in our province from overdose.

Between April 2016 and December 2020, 6,078 people died of overdose in BC, and 901 people were taken too early by COVID-19.

Cumulative deaths due to COVID-19 and Overdose 2015-2020 (click image to expand)

We know the toll COVID-19 is taking on our essential workers and are deeply grateful for their heroic efforts. Peers are often the overdose prevention “front line” workers in their communities, yet, preventing and reversing overdose among their friends, neighbours and family with little support or recognition.

CIE has been working with peers in communities across the province to build networks of support and improve harm reduction and overdose prevention services.

CIE provides small community grants to peer groups who are an essential part of the network of support across the province, and the BCCDC Foundation has provided much of the funding for these grants since 2018. Grant funding has enabled peers to stay connected during COVID-19 by providing access to technology and ongoing outreach activities like community lunch programs.

Since 2018, peer groups who have received CIE community grants have created supportive peer connections, as well as building bridges to their communities. Peer groups have organized community clean up efforts, created connections with local businesses, municipal governments and community groups, as well as participating in the provincial opioid overdose response by contributing to planning tables like Community Action Teams.

At CIE, we are guided by the principles of harm reduction and firmly believe that peers are the experts in their lives and their communities. With the BCCDC Foundation’s help, we hope to continue to support peers in BC to build and sustain supportive networks, create connections in their communities, and be a strong and influential voice in decisions that affect their lives.

As Johann Hari said in his TedTalk in 2015, “The opposite of addiction is connection.” If COVID has taught us anything, it is how very true this is.

Supporting peers to stay connected during this very stressful time is more important than ever. Providing support directly to those most affected by service disruptions and exposed to a toxic, deadly street drug supply is a tangible step toward a truly equitable approach to health.

Additional resources:

*Bios:
Sally Maguet is the lead for CIE. She has a public health background and works on projects that support Indigenous Cultural Safety, harm reduction, and climate change adaptation.

Charlene Burmeister is a provincial peer coordinator for CIE and has been working in research and harm reduction for over 12 years.

Marnie Scow is a provincial peer coordinator with CIE with over 10 years experience providing and managing harm reduction services, and bringing an Indigenous perspective to research, education and harm reduction approaches.

Laura Moore is CIE’s project coordinator. She has a Master’s of Health Administration and has been working in harm reduction for many years supporting research and capacity building projects across the province.

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Newsletter #18: November 2020

foundry — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 18:37:42 +0000

New research on COVID-19 & misinformation in BC, guest post from BCCDC experts on BC’s overdose crisis, meet our new Development and Communications Manager, and more!

The post Newsletter #18: November 2020 appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

Nurse, mom, advocate Sheila Henry runs 50K to raise awareness for overdose crisis

foundry — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 17:15:02 +0000

“This past June when the BC Coroner released the number of overdose deaths for May I was overwhelmed with anger, sadness, compassion, frustration and more. I cried. I wanted to do something, I wanted to help.” -Sheila Henry

On October 10^th, World Mental Health Day, Sheila Henry ran from downtown Langley, through Surrey, New West, and Burnaby to finish a 50K ultra-marathon distance in Vancouver on the Downtown Eastside.

Sheila Henry

No, Sheila isn’t a seasoned ultra-marathoner; in fact, she’d never run more than 21K. But, with the help of training from her boyfriend Jamie (an experienced runner) and the passion to raise awareness and support the fight against the stigma of mental health, substance use, and the overdose crisis, she completed her 50K run!

Sheila’s 50K route

Her initial fundraising goal was $1,000, which she surpassed quickly. Then she increased it to $2,000, then $3,000, crushing those goals too. Since, Sheila has raised over $5,000 and counting, that will go to our Compassion, Inclusion, & Engagement Fund. Sheila has taken us from halfway to almost 70% of our target goal!

In a radio interview with CBC, Sheila explained why she specifically chose the BCCDC Foundation to be the recipient of her fundraising campaign: “I found that I really wanted to have a non-profit organization that aligned with my values and morals and what I thought was important and I felt like the BCCDC Foundation for Public Health spoke my language. When I read stuff on their website, it really, really matched with how I felt about things. When I called them and had a conversation, it just reassured me that they were the right people.”

Starting this campaign and completing the 50K run on Mental Health Day was deeply personal to Sheila.

A nurse working on the overdose crisis in communities in the Lower Mainland, Sheila sees and experiences firsthand the struggles people who use substances face.

“The knowledge and experiences gained throughout this time have impacted me greatly. Learning about adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and how they affect one’s health in adulthood, both physically and mentally, has given me a depth of understanding that translates to profound compassion for humanity and our struggles.” –Sheila Henry

A single mom, who was also raised by one, Sheila and her two daughters have also encountered their own challenges with mental health. Eventually diagnosed with bipolar mood disorder, her eldest daughter, Kisa, fought depression and self-harm tendencies from a young age. Sheila’s youngest, Tayla, battled anxiety and suffered from a brain hemorrhage that required an emergency craniotomy, that resulted in a year of rehabilitation therapy and depression. Sheila, too, found herself falling into a deep depression for a number of years as she struggled with her ability to cope.

Sheila running through Surrey

The Langley Advance Times caught up with Sheila before and after her run and spoke to her about why raising awareness about the overdose crisis is so important to her. Leading up to the run, and after completing it, Sheila’s emotional commitment to this campaign is clear.

Our Executive Director, Kristy Kerr, spoke with CTV about the overdose crisis and why efforts from individuals like Sheila are so important for our work to eliminate stigma and provide peer supports. Working together with passionate individuals like Sheila means we can create more solutions and help more people, faster.

You can be a part of the efforts to prevent overdoses in BC. You can join the many others who are supporting Sheila’s campaign by donating to support peers who are the frontline workers helping to save lives through overdose response, providing harm reduction services and supplies, stigma elimination, and support to people who use substances.

Jamie Cross & Sheila Henry

Sheila asks: “Please take the time to donate, spread the word, be active, as well as show care and respect for others. We can all make a difference in another person’s day just by being kind.”

Consider donating to Sheila’s campaign today before it ends on Saturday, October 17^th.

We have so much gratitude for Sheila Henry and all those who are supporting her campaign: Thank you!

If you’re interested in creating a fundraiser to support our work, please contact us at: donate@bccdcfoundation.org or (604) 707-2635

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Anti-Stigma Education and Recovery Day 2019

foundry — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 16:49:02 +0000

On September 7, we loaded up our fearless leader’s cute little ’98 Honda Civic, and with some much-needed help from Google Maps, hit the road to New Westminster for Recovery Day BC. Recovery Day is part music festival, part information fair, and part community engagement event for people to learn about recovery from addiction and mental health issues. We were invited to attend along with LifeLabs, who we’re partnering with on a campaign to eliminate stigma associated with substance use.

Left to right: BCCDC Foundation Executive Director, Kristy Kerr; LifeLabs National Manager, Community, Jen Newsted; BCCDC Foundation Senior Development Officer, Katie Koncan.

We had the chance to speak one-on-one with folks from across the province about substance use, harm reduction, and how we can activate health and eliminate stigma together. Engaging in anti-stigma work is deeply important to us and is part of our Reducing Harms priority. Since 2016, BC has been in a public health emergency: the overdose crisis. We’re proud to be engaged in our own anti-stigma education work, as well as support programs like Compassion, Inclusion, Engagement at the BC Centre for Disease Control, to help put an end to the crisis.

Our executive director Kristy Kerr spoke alongside Erica Thomson, a peer expert and long-time advocate for people who use substances, in a presentation on de-stigmatizing substance use. Their presentation covered types and sources of stigma that people who use substances experience, the role it has in the overdose crisis, and how we can all play a part in eliminating stigma.

You can watch the full recording of Kristy and Erica’s talk here.

Interested in learning more about the overdose crisis and stigma? Hop on over to our resources page for FAQs, downloadable infographics, and additional resources to get started.

If you want to help us do more anti-stigma education, or you want to help peers (people with lived experience) engage in grassroots anti-stigma, overdose response, and harm reduction work in their communities you can make a charitable donation to our Reducing Harms priority today!

Don’t forget you can also sign up for our newsletter for monthly updates on what we’re doing, our priority projects, events and more!

The post Anti-Stigma Education and Recovery Day 2019 appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.