Search Homelessness Services Association of BC

Document creation and writing are essential skills used when working with clients that access shelters, outreach teams, case planners and service providers. HSABC’s Effective Document and Report Writing webinar teaches participants the basic techniques and practices of clearly written client and agency documents. Participants will learn the basics of how to create written documents that transfer information effectively to shift supervisors, case managers, and agency, in a fun, interactive and supportive environment.

Reid Johnson

Reid started his career as a certified family therapist and was the Clinical Coordinator of Social Work at Shaughnessy Hospital before moving to the BC Centre of Ability. Reid has provided leadership throughout the sector, most recently as the President of the Health Sciences Association of BC, a union of more than 18,000 health and social services professionals.

HSA is affiliated with the National Union of Public and General Employees. With 340,000 members across the country, it is one of the largest labour organizations in Canada. In the words of NUPGE, “His leadership has transformed HSABC (Health Sciences Association of BC)/NUPGE into a strong voice for health professionals across B.C. and a solid defender of public services, even under enormous pressures.”

Reid earned his Master of Social Work from UBC and continues to provide leadership within his community and businesses.

A session for leaders and managers on how emotional intelligence can be one of the greatest factors in leadership success. Knowing yourself well, understanding your team, bringing transparency and speaking truth can bring confidence in you as a leader. Learn about the differences between a manager and a leader, and how to be an inspiration and an influencer.

Reid Johnson

Reid started his career as a certified family therapist and was the Clinical Coordinator of Social Work at Shaughnessy Hospital before moving to the BC Centre of Ability. Reid has provided leadership throughout the sector, most recently as the President of the Health Sciences Association of BC, a union of more than 18,000 health and social services professionals.

HSA is affiliated with the National Union of Public and General Employees. With 340,000 members across the country, it is one of the largest labour organizations in Canada. In the words of NUPGE, “His leadership has transformed HSABC (Health Sciences Association of BC)/NUPGE into a strong voice for health professionals across B.C. and a solid defender of public services, even under enormous pressures.”

Reid earned his Master of Social Work from UBC and continues to provide leadership within his community and businesses.

An effective strategic plan will inspire a diverse group of organizational supporters and team members, including funders, volunteers, donors and staff, to drive towards shared outcomes. Confirming a clear purpose, and defining priorities, are critical elements to a robust strategic plan.

This session will introduce a planning framework specific to not-for-profit organizations, and outline steps to building a plan with your team.

• Evaluate the differences between a strategic plan and an operational plan
• Outline different types of environmental scans and their role in effective preparation for strategic planning
• Decribe the five components of a strategic plan for your organization: Vision, mission, success, strategic goals and values
• Topics
• Achieving organizational alignment and commitment to shared goals through a strategic plan

Mark Friesen

Mark Friesen is the Director of Capacity Development at Vantage Point, where he assists not-for-profit organizations throughout BC with strategic planning, governance, and capacity building. Mark excels at assessing governance structures and finding democratic solutions to organizational challenges. At Vantage Point, Mark can be found facilitating new and seasoned not-for-profits at various stages in their organizational life cycle. Mark received his Masters’ in Urban Studies at SFU, where he received a Graduate Fellowship in 2012, the Doug Drummond Research Fellowship in 2013, and graduated with the Dean of Graduate Studies Convocation Medal in 2015 for his research into governance at the scale of the city-region. Mark has served as a volunteer, association founder, and an executive director, and has led fundraising, strategic planning and program development efforts in the sector for over 15 years. He currently sits on the Board of the Ripple Coast Society and Columbia College.

With the prospect of four plus generations in today’s workforce, never before has managing diverse work styles, preferences and expectations been more challenging. What does it take to secure and inspire talent to get the job done? How do you find that ‘middle ground’ that engages and challenges younger workers without discarding tried and true established ways of doing business? How do you get your less tech-savvy employees to warm to new approaches? This HSABC webinar will take a closer look at generational differences and examine tools and techniques for attracting and keeping the best fit for your organization and for motivating your employees to be present, productive and professional in performing their jobs.

Instructor: Marsha Goldford

Marsha Goldford is a chartered professional in Human resources, currently employed with Developmental Disabilities Association (DDA) as their Director of Training and Development. Marsha has a Master’s in Public Administration from Queen’s University, and a Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management from Royal Roads University.

Marsha is also an active community volunteer serving as a director on housing boards and as a mentor with the BC Human Resources Management Association and Dress for Success Professional Women’s Group

HSABC’s Managing for Improved Performance webinar outlines the steps managers can take to effectively manage staff to improve employee performance. Special sections on absenteeism and problematic employee behaviour are explored with tips on documentation and ways managers can affect positive change in the workplace. HSABC’s Managing for Improved Performance webinar is geared for those in management and supervisory positions and is suitable for both union and non-union employers.

Instructor: Marsha Goldford

Marsha Goldford is a chartered professional in Human resources, currently employed with Developmental Disabilities Association (DDA) as their Director of Training and Development. Marsha has a Master’s in Public Administration from Queen’s University, and a Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management from Royal Roads University.

Marsha is also an active community volunteer serving as a director on housing boards and as a mentor with the BC Human Resources Management Association and Dress for Success Professional Women’s Group

The work force is aging, and at the same time, a younger generation of workers is emerging and redefining the workplace with the advent of technology and tools that promote virtual vs. physical presence. How do you effectively create and manage your organizations needs for regular, scheduled, in-person attendance by your employees? This workshop offers a primer for people managers at all levels complete with policies, programs, tools and techniques, on how to encourage ‘presenteeism’ and how to address fault and no-fault absenteeism should it become problematic for your organization.

Instructor: Marsha Goldford

Marsha Goldford is a chartered professional in Human resources, currently employed with Developmental Disabilities Association (DDA) as their Director of Training and Development. Marsha has a Master’s in Public Administration from Queen’s University, and a Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management from Royal Roads University.

Marsha is also an active community volunteer serving as a director on housing boards and as a mentor with the BC Human Resources Management Association and Dress for Success Professional Women’s Group

This 90-minute webinar will provide an introduction to basic management tools and strategies geared toward the unique needs of supervisors, managers, and team leads working in organizations that provide shelter, housing, and other services to people experiencing homelessness. This webinar is aimed at service providers who are new to managing staff, but the information covered is also applicable to people leading volunteers and to more seasoned managers looking to refresh their skills or expand their leadership toolkit. In this webinar, we will explore some common challenges facing new managers, especially in dynamic environments where resources are tight. We will focus on easy-to-implement tools and strategies that managers can employ to ease their own transition into a leadership role and to support their direct reports and their teams to thrive.

Instructor: Darcie Bennett, PhD, CEC

Since completing her PhD in sociology at UBC, Darcie has worked at the intersection of non-profit management, legal advocacy, and social science research. In 2006, Darcie joined Pivot Legal Society as a community-based researcher and went on to hold several positions including Child Welfare Campaigner, Campaigns Director, and Interim Executive Director. She also spent two years as Director of Marketing and Communications for Ecojustice Canada. In 2018, Darcie completed a graduate certificate in executive coaching from Royal Roads University. Today, as a certified executive coach and consultant, Darcie supports individuals, teams and organizations to live their values sustainably and achieve their goals.

This webinar provides an overview of what vicarious trauma is and its impact at an organizational level (e.g. absenteeism, high turnover etc). The session focuses on the prevention and intervention of vicarious trauma in the areas of organizational culture, work load, work environment, education, group support, supervision, and resources for self care. Participants will leave with a tailored practical and implementable strategy to take back to their organization.

Instructor: Amanda Thiessen

Amanda specializes in helping individuals and organizations manage workplace stresses and make positive changes.

As a ‘Stress Strategist,’ Amanda works with individuals through the process of inquiry to support people in gaining clarity and finding solutions to challenges. She offers a range of workshops to organizations to facilitate the creation of safe, supportive, and positive work environments.

Having worked for over 15 years in the non-profit world, she has firsthand knowledge of the kinds of experiences that exemplify working in front-line capacities. Her experience includes working in the areas of addiction, victim services, mental health and developmental disabilities.

Although Amanda has a BA in Psychology, a Bachelors of Social Work and a MA in Theology, her greatest accomplishments remain being a loving partner, a devoted mother, and a good friend.