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First Call
Making Children and Youth a Priority
First Call is a coalition that advocates for effective child
and youth legislation, policy, and practice. We work to ensure
that all children and youth have the opportunities and resources
required to achieve their full potential and to participate
in the challenges of creating a better society. We believe
that children and youth must receive a first call on society's
resources because we value them as children and youth and
because they are our future.
First Call has an active steering committee which includes
such groups as the BC Council for the Family, BC's Children's
Hospital, Federation of Child and Family Services of BC, SPARC,
and Society for Children and Youth of BC.
First Call has been active on a number of fronts. Over the
past year, we have facilitated information sharing and community
input into the development of the new Ministry for Children
and Families through eight "Gove Forums" throughout the province.
First Call has taken leadership in raising awareness of child
poverty through BC Campaign 2000. We have also developed active
campaigns and information summaries to put children and youth
on the agenda during government elections.
Some of our current projects include developing a BC Agenda
for Children and Youth through broad consultation, supporting
a network of Provincial Organizations to get a provincial
community voice at the MCF table, and promoting Primary Prevention
services to children and youth.
The First Call Prevention Task Group involves a wide group
of people from organizations such as BC Institute on Family
Violence, BC Parents in Crisis, and PARCA. The goal of this
group is to develop a strong community voice that supports
the Ministry for Children and Families in their mandate to
provide primary prevention services.
We are planning a Focus Group meeting in early March to
look at a common model and/or definition of Prevention. We
are also considering a provincial conference on prevention.
If you would like to get involved in the Prevention Task Group
or in any First Call initiative, call 875-3629 or outside
the lower mainland call 1-800-307-1212.
Cindy Carson
Provincial Coordinator
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