Writing letters to the editor: Learning from the pros

With less than two months until the election, the community social services sector needs to make its case to politicians and the public.

We know that the sector is in crisis, and children, youth, seniors, families, people with disabilities and others are being hurt as a result.

One good way to raise the issues is through letters to the editor. They’re easy to write, newspapers want them and they reach a lot of people. And at least some of those people will contact candidates to share your concerns.

The best letters are from the heart, and about your experiences. The posts on this blog might suggest topics, and provide facts to support your arguments,

And it’s easy to learn from the experts.

The political parties have guides to writing letters to the editors on their websites, and email addresses for newspapers across the province. 

And the BC Healthy Living Alliance has a useful list of letters to the editor email addresses here.

Write one today.

Even if plans for children in care were in place, services aren't there

"If those services don’t exist, or there are huge waiting lists, those plans are just pieces of paper in ministry filing cabinets."

It is, sadly, not surprising the provincial government is failing some 4,500 children in long-term care.

The latest audit by the Representative for Children and Youth found just five out of 100 children had plans of care that met the ministry’s requirements.

Plans of care are critical documents. Parents know their own children - their strengths and weaknesses, the areas where they need help, when it’s time to go to a dentist.

But children and youth in the government’s care routinely move through a succession of foster homes. Frontline workers are responsible for some 30 individuals.

Without a written plan of care, regularly updated with the participation of the youth and others, there is a real risk that children will fall through the cracks. They won’t get help or opportunities, and small problems will fester.

This isn’t a new, surprising program. It has existed since the ministry for children and families was created 17 years ago.

It is a critical failure. The government has acknowledged that and committed to improvements, including more funding as it is required.

Fixing the planning process is essential to identify the services and support children and youth need - from social workers, foster parents, schools, health professionals.

But if those services don’t exist, or there are huge waiting lists, those plans are just pieces of paper in ministry filing cabinets.

The community social services sector delivers many of those services and supports, through private and non-profit agencies across the province.

And today, the sector is in crisis. Underfunding and freezes have left agencies unable to meet even critical needs. 

That’s why anyone concerned for the future of children and youth, families, seniors and so many others who need a little help should be working to make support for the sector an issue in this election.

Conservative election platform shows big work ahead for sector

Mamie Hutt-Temoana

The BC Conservatives released their election platform today, the first party to reveal its plans if elected.

It’s a good reminder of the big job facing those who believe the community social services sector and the difference it makes in so many lives - and in the future of the province.

The Conservative platform is 24 pages long, and detailed in many areas. There are plans for budgeting and incomes and health and education.

But there is nothing about providing people in communities with the help and support they need.

The closest the platform comes even to acknowledging the sector are these two paragraphs.

“Strong and loving families are the bedrock of our communities – and are deserving of support from society and government,” says the platform. “We believe in a strong social-safety net for those who truly need assistance, and at the same time we encourage individuals to be productive and self- sufficient.”

Draw two conclusions from the platform’s lack of any plans for the sector or improving supports for seniors, children, families, people with disabilities - the some 320,000 people who will need help in any given year, even if briefly.

First, the sector has failed to make the case to the Conservatives - the party and the candidates - that its work is important. That every $1 invested in early child development brings $3 to $18 in benefits later in life, or that home care support costs 25% to 60% less than residential care. 

The platform, for example, calls for more spending on the justice system. But it does not recognize that our sector, working with youth at risk or dealing with addiction, keeps people out of the system, while making communities safer. Or that it costs $215,000 to keep a youth in custody, versus $20,000 to support them in the community.

And second, the sector and its supporters have failed to demonstrate to the Conservatives that this is an issue that matters to voters.

There is no reason to single the Conservatives out. We don’t yet know if three other main parties will address the sector’s importance, and its challenges, in their platforms.

But it’s a reminder that the elections is two months away.

The sector and its supporters need to use that time to ensure that all parties and candidates understands its importance and the issue it now faces.

That takes action. 

Write the parties, and your local candidates, and share facts about the sector and the support you are seeking. (This blog and the Community Counts Facebook page are good resources. The Tyee election website has contact information for local candidates.)

Write letters to the editor to make the same points.

Attend candidates’ forums, and speak to friends and neighbours.

So far, we haven’t done a good enough job of getting our message out.

That needs to change.

Mamie Hutt-Temoana is the executive director of the Association of Neighbourhood Houses of BC. 

Questions for candidates on support for seniors in our communities

The CCPA has a useful fact sheet on health care and community supports for seniors here.

Even more useful, it offers suggested questions citizens can put to all candidates and political parties on the issue.

It’s good to understand issues. It is better to act to make things better.

And that can be as easy as writing to candidates and parties and letting them know that why community social services - like support for seniors - matter. Or asking questions like the ones raised by the CCPA, either in letters to candidates or newspapers or at all-candidates forums and meetings.

Candidates and parties respond to issues that matter to the public. They need to hear the sectors’ concerns.

The Tyee has a good election site that includes contact information for many local candidates, so it’s easy to let them know why the issues are important. Party websites also have contact information.

And this blog and the Community Counts Facebook page are great sources of information.

Use them. Act.