BCSTH is thrilled by the announcement today, March 25, 2024, by Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity, Kelli Paddon, Office of the Minister of Finance and by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General of $1,398,000.00 to enhance funding to the Prevention, Education, Advocacy, Counselling and Empowerment (PEACE) program and Violence is Preventable program (VIP). This is one of the first announcements under Safe and Supported, BC’s Gender Based Violence Action Plan and it is under the Prevention Pillar. BC signed their CA-BC Bi-Lateral agreement in December of 2023 and this investment is part of the federal GBV Action plan led by WAGE CA.
BCSTH will use this grant to support its members by:
- Implementing additional VIP program sites and supporting facilitators;
- Updating the VIP and BELIEVE curriculum and resources to reflect Ministry of Education and Child Care core competencies;
- Building public awareness regarding domestic violence and services available in communities; and,
- Analyzing service demands and waitlists for PEACE and VIP programming and propose best practices to manage waitlists.
BCSTH is sincerely grateful for the funding along with the government’s recognition of the importance of the PEACE and VIP programs and the work they do every day to keep BC children, youth and their families safe and supported.
For any inquiries please contact, BCSTH Executive Director, Amy S. FitzGerald at amy@bcsth.ca or 604-669-6943, ext. 233
To read the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General’s full press release, click here.