BCAPI Working Groups and Poverty Reduction Initiatives

The following provides a snapshot of the BCAPI Working Groups and Poverty Reduction Initiatives that BCAPI supports:

1. Single Parent Family Working Group

In 2000, BCAPI engaged Deloitte to undertake a Poverty Study to help the group focus on activities that were likely to be most effective in preventing and eliminating poverty. The Study also helped BCAPI gain a comprehensive knowledge of the extent of poverty in Saint John. BCAPI learned that the majority of people living in poverty in the City of Saint John were members of single parent families, including a total of 6000 parents and their children. As a result of the Study, single parents and their children are now the primary focus of BCAPI actions as we strive to break the cycle of poverty.
Armed with the "evidence", the Single Parent Family Working Group has taken the primary lead in moving the recommendations of the Study forward and uniting the activities of BCAPI Working Groups to:

• Help children who live in poverty to succeed in school and break the poverty cycle;
• Enhance youth programs that prevent teen pregnancy, improve well-being and motivate school completion;
• Develop services and supports that enable teen parents to continue their education;
• Help single parents to get into the workforce and off social assistance.

2. Youth Poverty Working Group \ The Resource Centre for Youth

BCAPI’s Youth Poverty Working Group partnered with local service providers and formed a committee to establish a very successful “youth engagement” program for local teens - The Resource Center for Youth, better known as the TRC.  The program quickly outgrew its space and the committee led a major fundraising campaign that enabled the TRC program to move from the basement of St. Joseph’s Community Health Centre to its own stand alone facility in Uptown Saint John.  In 2007, the TRC facility was opened and the Youth Poverty Working Group members became part of the TRC’s Board of Directors.
This Center brings community's resources and services together under one roof to provide "one stop shopping" for local teenagers in the areas of education to employment, recreation, community involvement, health and self-development. 

3. Housing Working Group

The Housing Working Group partnered with the local First Steps Housing Project Committee to establish a residence for young homeless pregnant and parenting youth. The residence opened its doors in May 2002 and accommodates up to 12 mothers and their infants.
The Housing Working Group is now focused on championing the development of a housing strategy for Saint John and helping Saint John to achieve at least 100 new affordable housing units, annually.

4. Education to Employment Working Group

The Education to Employment Working Group has supported the operations of two CASPs (a high school equivalent diploma program), held 2 very successful Job Fairs and helped to create jobs for people living in poverty. In 2005, the Working Group turned its attention to helping First Steps Housing Project develop an alternative high school for young moms who had dropped out of the regular high school program.  The Dr. Christine Davies Education Centre opened its doors at First Steps in 2006.  Early results are demonstrating that the students are making significant progress in achieving their high school diploma and moving on to further education and employment.  The Working Group is now examining additional ways to address the barriers, experienced by “at risk” teens and young adults, to staying in school.

5. Communications Committee

The Communications Working Group has been a support and resource to BCAPI, enhancing communications through the BCAPI website, special events and newsletter "Work in Progress". This Group will continue to define and develop the communication tools required by BCAPI to carry out its work, including a strategy to increase awareness regarding the effects of poverty and how it can be substantially reduced.  In 2008, the Communications Committee organized a 10th anniversary Gala that raised more than $100,000.00 for poverty reduction initiatives in Saint John.

Vibrant Communities Saint John (VCSJ) Leadership Roundtable

In 2002, Saint John was one of 14 cities, invited to participate in Vibrant Communities Canada, a Pan-Canadian Poverty Reduction Initiative, led by the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, Caledon Institute of Social Policy and Tamarack Institute for Community Engagement. BCAPI agreed to be the local sponsoring organization and convened a Roundtable of local leaders - from business, government, non-profit organizations and people living in poverty - to oversee the initiative. Vibrant Communities Saint John (VCSJ) was officially launched in February 2005. 
The Vibrant Communities Saint John Roundtable engaged the community in developing a three year Poverty Reduction Strategy for Saint John that adopted the principles of comprehensive thinking and action, community asset building, multi-sectoral collaboration and community learning and change.  The implementation of the 3 year strategy caused Saint John to meet and exceed its targets and helped more than 2000 local people in their journey out of poverty.  The Saint John Poverty Reduction Strategy was renewed in 2008. A BCAPI member chairs the VCSJ Leadership Roundtable and BCAPI supports the work of VCSJ in multiple ways.

PALS – Partners Assisting Local Schools
There are seven schools housed in Saint John neighbourhoods with high concentrations of poverty.  To combat the effects of poverty and to help every child succeed, each of these schools has become a PALS community school.  PALS attracts local businesses and community organizations to partner with school staff, students and parents to enrich the learning environment for the students.  PALS partners offer volunteer time and/or financial support to help make the school a warm and responsive community.

The PALS program has had a positive impact on virtually every facet of school life – academic achievement, enrolment, school spirit, student behaviour, social skills, student motivation, sports activities, cultural awareness, and pride in being part of a positive and caring community. An increased level of parental involvement has also been a welcome effect.

The PALS Partnership is proving that dedicated school staff and parents, working in partnership with community can deliver great changes within any school.

Today, over 500 volunteers are working with the children of these schools and more are added daily!   As a working model, the PALS partnerships of Saint John were the basis for the establishment of some of the first Community Schools in New Brunswick. The PALS model is also being adopted and adapted elsewhere in the province and is being considered in other provinces.

The PALS model was founded in 2000 by Mr. J. K. Irving, Chairman of J.D. Irving, Limited in partnership with School District 8, and has received national and international recognition for its excellence.

TRC - The Resource Centre for Youth

The TRC opened its doors in 1998 in the basement of St. Joseph’s Community Health Centre after a community health survey revealed that teenagers were the least supported population group in our community.  Rallying to change this picture, teens, adult volunteers and service providers worked together to establish the TRC as a safe, energetic place for teens to access free recreation, self-development programs, health and wellness services and assistance with school studies and employment and to help teens become leaders and active participants in their community.  By 2000, the TRC had become so successful in involving and supporting youth that it had outgrown its space. The community rallied again and last year the TRC opened its new facility thanks to generous support from TRC volunteers, the Saint John Rotary Club, the Provincial and Federal governments and many community contributors.

The TRC offers many opportunities within a one-stop shopping environment that motivate youth to realize their full potential.  Testimonials from youth reveal its true worth:  “I feel accepted here.”  “If I was not here, I would be on the streets doing who knows what.”  “The adults here really care about what happens to you.”  “The people here helped me find a place to live, I don’t sleep outside anymore.”  For more information about the TRC and its programs, visit www.trc4youth.org

First Steps

Young single woman and their children represent the single largest group of people living in poverty in Saint John.   In 2002 First Steps Housing Project Inc. opened its doors to respond to our community’s high rate of poverty and teen pregnancy and the lack of supports for pregnant and parenting women and their babies.    The First Steps program provides homeless moms with a safe home, support and guidance, an alternative high school and daycare program and connection to many community services.  Since its inception, First Steps has helped over 178 women have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby and move from homelessness to self-sufficiency and a better quality of life.

First Steps in Saint John, New Brunswick is the only facility of its kind in the Atlantic Provinces.  In six short years, it has proven that supportive, safe environments where life skills can be taught and where self-esteem and confidence can be nurtured can have positive outcomes both for the young parent and for the child.  Most importantly, the assessments from the young mothers who have “graduated” from First Steps tell us that without this facility, its programs, its focus on education and the on-going support, they would not have any chance to succeed in life.  Visit http://www.firststepshousing.com/firststeps

PRO-Kids
P.R.O. Kids (Positive Recreational Opportunities for Kids) matches children and teens with arts, culture, recreation and sports programs to help them learn new skills, develop their talents and participate in positive after-school activities with their peers.  Over its seven year history, P.R.O. Kids has opened the doors to new opportunities for over 2,100 children and youth - opportunities that their families would be unable to provide due to financial limitations.
P.R.O. Kids is a proactive and confidential service provided in Saint John, Quispamsis, Grand Bay-Westfield and Rothesay. All administration costs are covered by the respective municipalities, allowing 100% of the funds received to go directly to the children and youth.  Visit http://www.saintjohn.ca/services_recreation_pro-kids.cfm

The Early Learning Centre Project
Communities and Governments  – wealthy and poor – from around the world are embracing quality early childhood development (ECD) as a primary strategy to reduce inequities and prepare citizens for the future.  Together, we’re learning that early childhood development heavily influences a child’s ability to learn, school success, economic participation in adulthood, social citizenry and health.  And, of course, parents who work and go to school seek quality and affordable care programs for their young children.

Saint John is ready to demonstrate a quality early childhood program that combines pre-school, licensed childcare and family supports into a single accessible program for young children and their families in the neighbourhoods where they live.

Under the leadership of the Saint John Early Childhood Development Coalition, local service providers have been working together for two years to prepare the business case for Saint John’s first Early Learning Centre.  Now with help from community and government resources, the ECDC is ready to launch and demonstrate a quality comprehensive early learning and care program for Saint John families.  Its success will lay the groundwork for the growth of quality early childhood programs for families throughout New Brunswick.