$1.8-Million for Specialized Employment Services
VICTORIA – New employment services worth $1.8 million annually are now available for people with learning, developmental, mental health and other neurological disabilities throughout the province, announced Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing and Social Development.
“Our goal is to facilitate sustained employment for these individuals; either full-time, part-time or self-employment,” said Coleman. “This funding allows us to provide hundreds of British Columbians with individualized supports and services to find meaningful work and a better chance for success in life.”
A total of 11 contracts serving various locations throughout the province have been awarded and signed.
Proponent | Location |
| The Prince George Society for the Employment of Persons, DBA Employment Action | Prince George and surrounding communities |
| The Provincial Networking Group Inc. | Terrace and surrounding communities |
| THEO | Kamloops and area |
| Tier Support Services | Kelowna and surrounding Okanagan communities |
| Vancouver Island Vocational & Rehabilitation Services (VIVRS) | Comox, Campbell River and other mid-Island communities |
| Vancouver Island Vocational & Rehabilitation Services (VIVRS) | Duncan, Mill Bay and surrounding areas |
| CBI Consultants Ltd | Burnaby, Abbotsford, Langley, Delta, Surrey |
| North Shore Connexions Society | Primarily Vancouver North Shore |
| CBI Consultants Ltd - Vancouver Coastal | Richmond, North Shore, and Vancouver area |
| Back in Motion Rehab | Surrey and surrounding communities |
| Grand Forks Sunshine Valley Community Services | Grand Forks and surrounding areas |
An anticipated 568 individuals will benefit from these services over the three year contract term, which commenced on July 1, 2009.
Service providers will work with the individual, their family and the community to create employment situations that embrace the individual’s “ideal conditions of employment,” and provide necessary workplace supports, both to the individual and employers.
These new employment services support the Ministry’s commitment to provide British Columbians with access to the best system of supports in Canada and meet a stated a goal that clients achieve sustainable employment through flexible and individualize employment programming.
Under the Labour Market Agreement (LMA), the Government of Canada is providing the Province approximately $66 million annually until 2012-13. Through a variety of programs, these funds will increase training for individuals who are low-skilled and require essential skills, or who require recognized credentials to reach their full potential in the current marketplace. They will also help increase access to training for unemployed individuals who are not currently Employment Insurance (EI) clients, including but not limited to those who are underrepresented in the labour market.
