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** April 2024 News & Notes
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** Here's what's going on at CAI
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* Local Leadership United Interim Report
* EOI: Fund Management – Sunshine Coast CAT
* Community Learning Opportunities, External Grants, Jobs & Events
* Articles & Media

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** Local Leadership United Interim Report
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The CAI Local Leadership United (LLU) team is pleased to share the LLU interim report titled "We cannot do this work alone: Gathering Hope in the Seventh Year of BC’s Unregulated Drug Poisoning Crisis".

LLU is a provincial project, funded by the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, delivered through partnership between CAI and the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) that seeks to support local government engagement in local community overdose response efforts. This work was initiated in recognition of the important role that local governments play in creating environments supportive of health for all community members, in collaboration with their partners in health, government and community. From April 2022 to November 2023, LLU held 27 full-day dialogues with local governments and community partners, across all five health authorities, as well as a provincial convening of LLU membership.

Grief, exhaustion and the complexity of the Unregulated Drug Poisoning Crisis and intersecting challenges mean that these are difficult, but important conversations to have. The LLU team extends deep gratitude to all of our partners who have participated in these dialogues and made this work possible. The commitment of partners across all sectors to the health of our communities gives us hope amidst challenging realities.

This report summarizes an evaluation completed to better understand local government engagement in community overdose response, outlines LLU’s impact in supporting harm reduction initiatives, and identifies additional additional supports needed for local government.

Local Leadership United Dialogues will continue to take place through December 2024. If you would like more information on how to bring a dialogue to your community, please reach out to Noah Chalifoux (mailto:[email protected]) , Project Manager - Community Development/Local Leadership United.

With gratitude to the BC Overdose Emergency Response Centre (OERC) for making this work possible, through their continued investment in the health of BC communities.

Click here to access the report ([link removed]) .
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** EOI: Fund Management – Sunshine Coast CAT
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Community Action Initiative invites interested and eligible organizations to submit Expressions of
Interest (EOIs) in response to the provision of requirements described below. The purpose of this EOI is to identify organizations that wish to take on the responsibility for managing the funds of the Sunshine Coast Community Action Team (CAT).

Organizations must be a municipal government or a non-government, not-for-profit, community-based, or a First Nations, Métis, or Indigenous-mandated organization in British Columbia based on the Sunshine Coast. Non-government, non-profit, community-based organizations must provide proof of society registration or charitable status as part of the EOI. Organizations with demonstrated experience in community engagement and collaboration, familiarity with the local landscape of substance use challenges, and proven financial accountability are encouraged to submit.

To access the entire ROI and to apply, please visit our website. ([link removed])

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** Community Learning Opportunities, External Grants, Jobs & Events
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Study Recruitment: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Use in Trans and Gender Diverse Communities in BC

An interdisciplinary research team that consists of people with cancer prevention, social epidemiology and trans and/or gender diverse (TGD) community research experience is conducting a study! The study is called, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Use in Trans and Gender Diverse Communities in British Columbia. This study will look at alcohol, smoking, vaping, and/or cannabis use during the COVID-19 pandemic in TGD people, from British Columbia (see attached poster ([link removed]) ) To ensure that the study is safe for community members, the study has received feedback from a TGD community advisory board throughout development. The Principal Investigator for the study is Dr. Trevor Dummer.

They will be asking some study eligibility questions and a short demographic survey. If you are selected for the study and complete the 1-1.5-hour interview, you will receive $50 via e-transfer, e-gift card, or a physical gift card.

Does this research sound like something you would be interested in participating in? If so, please click this link ([link removed]) to see if you are eligible for the study:
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Resource: To End a Crisis - Vision For BC Drug Policy

“We envision nothing short of a sea change. Our lives, wellbeing and the strength of our communities as a whole depend on it.” - Vision for BC Drug Policy

Drug policies impact everyone, defining collective movement in communities and allocating scarce health, social, and public safety resources. Shifting from broken policies toward a vision grounded in autonomy, choice, and compassion is not just essential; it is an act of love and care for all.

The Vision for BC Drug Policy is a platform that was developed by a provincial working group of civil society organizations and people who use drugs. It provides a clear path forward – one beyond the unregulated drug crisis that is now the direct cause of thousands of fatalities every year. It provides a roadmap for designing and implementing drug-related policies that are grounded in anti-racist and anti-colonial frameworks and are inspired by the principles of autonomy, choice, and compassion.

Click here to learn more about Vision for BC and to read their full platform. ([link removed])
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Resource: Key Messages on Safer Suppy

The National Safer Supply Community of Practice (NSS-CoP) is a knowledge exchange initiative led by London InterCommunity Health Centre, in partnership with the Canadian Association of People who Use Drugs and the Alliance for Healthier Communities. Its goal is to scale up safer supply programs across Canada.

They have assembled key messages on safer supply as well as a series of infographics and social media campaign packages. Updates to these key messages will happen on an ongoing basis as more research, evidence, and information emerges.

Click here to access the ([link removed]) toolkit. ([link removed])
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Event: BOSS - British Columbia Non-Profit Leadership Conference

Tickets are now available for the 2-day leadership conference in June 2024! Since 2015, Vantage Point ([link removed]) has been organizing an annual conference for non-profit organizational leaders, members, volunteers, and interested collaborators in British Columbia. BOSS is an innovative opportunity for sharing tangible and practical strategies that non-profit leaders can use to strengthen their organizations. Sector leaders participate in the conference to connect with their peers and discuss a diverse range of challenges affecting the sector.

BOSS will take place this year on June 5th-6th, 2024.

Click here to learn about BOSS and to register. ([link removed])
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** Articles & Media
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Article: Vancouver Island Construction Association scores kudos for substance-use program ([link removed])
The Vancouver Island Construction Association’s (VICA) Tailgate Toolkit program has won the Canadian Construction Association’s (CCA) 2024 Community Award.

Statement Release: Joint Statement from the Co-Chairs of the Special Advisory Committee on the Epidemic of Opioid Overdoses – Latest National Data on Substance-Related Harms ([link removed])
The co-chairs of the federal, provincial, and territorial Special Advisory Committee on the Epidemic of Opioid Overdoses – Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, and Dr. Yves Léger, New Brunswick’s Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health – issued a statement on the release of the latest monitoring data on opioid- and stimulant-related harms in Canada.

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