Constituency Liaison Program
- Do you care about your colleagues and patients, and want the best possible healthcare system?
- Do you think MLAs need to better understand the importance of the work you do?
- Do you have 1-2 hours a month to make lasting change?
If you answered yes, then you are a fantastic candidate for the HSA Constituency Liaison Program.
Be part of a program that has been linking HSA members to their local MLAs for over a decade. HSA provides the theoretical and practical training to give you confidence in these conversations, and the credible, reliable information to help you ensure that all elected representatives in British Columbia understand the issues facing our members, our union, and our communities.
The issues we bring forward through the program are grounded in the experiences of you, HSA members. By joining the CL program, you are part of ensuring that all elected representatives, no matter what political party they represent, are aware of the challenges we face and the solutions we have to offer. There are currently two streams in the CL program – one with a focus on health care issues, and one that focuses on child development centres.
The constructive relationships built through this program have helped shape government policy and support strong public health care and community social services.
If you are interested in joining the program, please contact Nicole Seguin at Nicole.Seguin [@] hsabc.org for more information.
Constituency Liaison topics
Each year the Constituency Liaison program renews activities and revise its focus based on current issues or challenges that our members want to address.
The topics this year are:
- Addressing the critical shortages of Health Science Professionals in BC.
- Services for children with support needs and their families, including increased funding for early intervention therapies, stable funding for autism services, increased funding for supported child development services, and early years mental health services.
Addressing shortages of Health Science Professionals in BC
For years, British Columbia’s health care system has struggled with shortages of Health Science Professionals (HSP) in the public sector. Many British Columbians have never heard of these professions, nor could they describe the critical role they play in our public health care system. Despite this lack of public awareness, health care would not function without them.
It is not just doctors and nurses who save lives and care for British Columbians; it takes a whole team of health care professionals.
The health care system has managed under these shortages for many years, but the situation has reached a tipping point and needs immediate attention
It’s time to increase funding for children with support needs
More than 15,000 children in British Columbia have physical, behavioural, neurological, and developmental disabilities, including cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and other mental health and behavioural issues. These children, and their families, receive a wide range of therapy and care from health science and community social services professionals across the province. Currently this care is delivered through Child Development Centres.
Funding challenges and shortages of health care and community social services professionals are taking a toll on the critical services on which children and their families depend.
And it’s not certain that the proposed new Family Connection Centre model will increase services -- or even ensure continuity of care.
Funding for children with support needs briefing note
What is a Child Development Centre