Essential Social Services
In 2010, United Way is providing Essential Social Service Grants to 27 agencies across the Fraser Valley to ensure that there is a strong safety net of services available to individuals in need.
We often don’t know in advance what services our family members or friends may need, but want to ensure that those services are there when required.
What is an Essential Social Service?
United Way of the Fraser Valley has defined Essential Social Services as “programs for specific individuals that respond to prevention, basic or critical needs in the Fraser Valley. Those needs require transitional services, ongoing supports that assist in securing a sustainable capacity for overcoming conditions inhibiting a positive quality of life or interventions for an individual's well being.”
This definition encompasses three levels of services to individuals:
1. Prevention: These are services designed to reduce further reliance on social services such as youth leadership, food and nutrition education, language literacy, employment preparation and placement etc.
To help determine if a program is preventative in nature, ask the questions:
• Will this program reduce or eliminate the need for future resources?
• Can the program directly improve the quality of life of individuals?
• Is self-sustainability or independence a probable or intended result?
• Can the program help to resolve longer-range problems / integrated issues?
2. Basic Needs: These are services that provide individuals with tools, assets and skills to make healthy choices, to achieve stability, and maintain a self-sufficient quality of life.
Such services may include treatment programs (for neglect/family or other violence), support services related to specific diseases and/or physical barriers, financial and independent living skills, mentoring, integration, community information, substance abuse treatment and prevention etc.
To help determine if a program meets Basic Needs, ask the questions:
• Can the program directly improve the quality of life of individuals?
• Will this program reduce or eliminate the need for future resources?
3. Crisis Needs: This refers to programs that provide direct impact to people who are in immediate crisis by meeting basic needs. This may include food, emergency shelter, material resources (clothing, bedding, etc.), daily hygiene provisions, crisis hotlines, emergency/victims counseling, disaster relief, temporary financial aid, emergency medical assistance, home nursing and care-giver / respite, end of life hospice care, adult and/or senior daycare, food pantries or banks, soup kitchens, home delivered meals and transitional housing etc.
To help determine if a program meets Crisis Needs, ask the questions:
• Can the program immediately and directly impact the individual in crisis?
• Is the need urgent?
• Is the person in physical danger?
• Is there an emotional crisis?
Funded programs offered by Member Agencies must allow any individual to access programs and services.
Charitable Business Number: 11927 8430 RR0001