Nechako Valley Community Services Society is celebrating 40 years of service in supporting individuals, families and seniors in this region.
“As part of our 40th anniversary we are hosting a family fun day to celebrate this great achievement and to say thank you to the communities of Vanderhoof, Fraser Lake and Fort St. James for allowing us to be part of your community,” said Tyrell Arnold, NVCSS Executive Director. “All activities are free. There will be bouncy castles, face painting, hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy, a colouring contest and kids games with prizes too!”
The family fun day event will be from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Vanderhoof Ferland Park, or in the Arena if it’s rainy.
Non profit since 1977
Nechako Valley Community Services (NVCSS) is a registered non-profit society (incorporated in 1977) which provides services from prenatal to seniors in Vanderhoof, Fort St James, and Fraser Lake. Operating out of three offices in three communities, NVCSS currently employs approximately 60 staff.
Full range of services
Our mission is to strengthen independence, competence and wellness in our communities. We accomplish this mission through a range of activities including: prenatal and infant services, individual counselling and services to children and youth, family services programming, victim assistance, services to individuals with disabilities, senior services, supportive residences and referrals to other assessment and treatment programs.
Started small, now a large employer
The original mandate was to provide community social services to the three communities. The focus was on programs for children, women and their families. The society was established as a means for developing new programming for the communities. Charlene Seguin was on the board for over 25 years, starting in the 1980’s. Charlene explained that our agency had various locations in the Mazhold building, in the strip mall (where the furniture store is on Burrard), and even held meetings in the high school. After many temporary locations, NVCSS built it’s current location at 157 West Victoria. Charlene explained that NVCSS had half of it’s business in home care services, which is not a current service offered by NVCSS. NVCSS responded to community needs and felt the society adapted to community needs through time. NVCSS started out very small, grew to 25 employees in 2006 and up to 70 employees in 2017.
Mobile work crew
In 2002 the Mobile Work Crew started. The mobile work crew is committed to increasing its economic sustainability and providing more employment to our clients. There has been a greater commitment to diversifying the work one can access in Community Living BC programming. Some of our long time work crew clients obtained permanent employment in the community, a major step forward for our clients.
Rehabilitation accreditation
In 2006 NVCSS obtained and has held accreditation by CARF: Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. This was in recognition of the strength of financial and service accountability in place within our organization.
Assisted living
In November 2007 we opened a residential assisted living program for persons with disabilities which provides supportive living facilities to fourteen individuals.
Supportive housing
In February 2008 we were able to open eighteen units of supportive housing for seniors in what is now called Riverside Place.
Infant development
In the fall of 2007 NVCSS began a process of assuming management of Nechako Stuart Association for Community Living which culminated in providing leadership and financial management to the Infant Development Program, and various programs supporting adults with developmental disabilities. This substantive growth has resulted in tripling our budget over a period of two years. Bringing these diverse services together under one roof has increased the profile of all our services in the community and provided a more accessible office and greater integration into the community for our clients.
Parent support
In 2007 NVCSS instituted a new program entitled Care Parent Support Program which provides individual, group and on-call support and education to foster parents from Vanderhoof through to Burns Lake. This program has increased substantially in a one year period and is a critical component of ensuring that placements of children in care have increased longevity and reduces foster parent burn out.
Professional counselling
In May 2008 NVCSS was able to add a new position of program manager who provides clinical supervision to all our front line staff and assists in the development of new programs. This will enhance the professionalism and skills of the counselling and family support staff as well as ensure greater staff retention.
Community partners
In 2009 The Bean on Burrard opened and Nechako Valley Organics was developed. Nechako Valley Organics was a green house project that provided work to our clients and produce to local community partners.
Fetal alcohol support
In 2012 NVCSS took over a new project as the Host Agency for the North Regional CAPC Fetal Alcohol &Drug Effects Resource Coalition (FADER). The agency is responsible for distributing funds and monitoring programming delivered to families with children under the age of six.
Homeless outreach
In 2012 NVCSS partnered with BC Housing and started the Homeless Outreach Program. This program connects people who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless with stable accommodation and appropriate services. NVCSS and BC Housing have entered another contract for a Homeless Prevention Program which is an enhancement to the Homeless Outreach Program that focuses on the prevention of homelessness.
Childcare
In 2017 Fort St. James Daycare opened. There has been ongoing need for childcare in Fort St. James and NVCSS renovated space in the building to meet those needs. Partnering with the YMCA, the Daycare successfully opened in April 2017.
Community living
Over the last 5 years our Community Living programs and Ministry of Family Development contracts have expanded services. NVCSS have programs that have been added, some have changed or ended over time. NVCSS is responsive to community needs and we strive to provide the best services for the communities we serve.