BC Community Response Networks
BC Community Response Networks (BC CRN) is a provincial organization dedicated to creating awareness of and preventing the abuse, neglect and self-neglect of vulnerable adults in British Columbia. Started as a pilot project in 1994, BC CRN now serves 86 grassroots community organizations, known as community response networks (CRNs) serving 260 communities. An action-oriented not-for-profit, BC CRN works with CRNs to provide a coordinated community response to vulnerable adults through referrals, education, public awareness campaigns, resources, promotional materials, small project funding and advocacy.
CRNs do not provide direct service to individuals. Each convenes a table of service providers and has the know-how to provide coordinated responses within the community. CRNs respond to the requests of community members when they or a person they know is concerned about possible neglect or abuse. Depending on the issue involved, referrals may include medical care, meal programs, activities or a number of other resources. When the CRN cannot provide a local community referral, they may direct the person to Seniors First BC or to a designated agency (the local Health Authority or Community Living BC) who may investigate.
CRNs also assist with identifying common themes, barriers, and issues that require work at the regional, provincial or national level. Local CRN Coordinators are supported by a Regional Mentor and materials, programs and supports provided by the provincial BC CRN.
Signature Programs
BC CRN has two established signature programs that are designed to educate community members and to provide outreach information about adult abuse, neglect, and self-neglect awareness, and prevention. Several new programs are under development. These complimentary programs are offered in-person and virtually to best accommodate attendees’ needs. Groups and individuals can follow the links to learn more and to register for these programs.
The It’s Not Right! Neighbours, Friends & Families for Older Adults program is geared towards everyday individuals, residents, neighbours, family members, and friends of adults and older adults. The program is conveniently offered in three different presentation formats and multiple languages.
The See Something, Say Something! Reducing Risk for Older Adults is an engagement program geared towards any individual, agency, business, or community service provider who has regular, ongoing contact with adults as part of their daily routine.
The program is designed to help people identify high-risk, vulnerable adults, particularly those who are isolated, living alone and would benefit from some type of assistance to maintain their independence.
Several new programs are under development including ageism, hoarding, intergenerational and the updated decision tree (where to go for help).
In March, the Decision Tree workshop was beta tested. It is designed to help those working with vulnerable adults to decide if a person can be cared for by the community and is able to make their own decisions. If this is not the case, then they may need to be referred for help from a provincial provider or a designated agency. The Decision Tree helps service providers make effective referrals when they witness abuse or neglect. It guides practitioners through a series of questions to help make decisions and outlines various agencies to guide appropriate referrals. This practical workshop was also useful for members of the public. A summary of the Decision Tree workshop can be found on the BC CRN news page.
Learning Opportunities
BC CRN holds a monthly provincial learning event of relevance to community members and practitioners. April’s learning event, Social Prescribing, is a community referral framework that enables healthcare professionals to refer clients to a range of local, non-clinical services. This framework is based on the determinants of health, namely social, economic and environmental factors. Social prescribing engages the person in influencing their own healthy outcomes. Examples include group activities, exercise, volunteering, creative pursuits, gardening and more. It may also provide meal delivery, mental and emotional support and financial assistance. Readers are welcome to register for the Social Prescribing workshop to be held April 18th or watch our news page for a summary.
Learning events take place on the third Tuesday of each month except June, July, August and December. Past events are archived on our website.
Key Events
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), designated as 15 June, was initiated by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) in 2006, and was recognized as a United Nations Day by the General Assembly in 2011. The UN resolution asks all member states and citizens to recognize this day “in an appropriate manner.”
WEAAD is BC CRN’s hallmark awareness and advocacy event, when all British Columbians are asked to stand up for the rights of older people. Campaign activities include lighting public buildings across the province in purple, wearing purple shirts, public information kiosks, webinars and other community activities. A national webinar will be co-hosted this year by BC CRN, Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario, the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and CanAge. Watch our events page for webinar registration.
Local CRNs hold their own events to provide awareness, such as WEAAD events, workshops and information tables, and connect with vulnerable adults through food delivery, photo contests, mobility device checks and much more.
Events aren’t limited to WEAAD. CRN volunteers around the province hold fun social events for seniors and other vulnerable adults. For example, on Valentine’s Day, CRN volunteers around the province visited seniors’ centres, affordable housing complexes and remote and rural locations to deliver cupcakes, cookies and messages of love. We hear about St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, bingo, carpet bowling, and myriad other activities to engage local citizens. These events are opportunities to keep seniors and vulnerable adults active, feed them healthy meals (and treats!), play games, or to just sit and socialize.
Resources
BC CRN’s website offers resources on many topics relative to the work of building safe communities free of abuse and neglect. Advanced care planning, ageism, financial abuse and fraud, LGBTQ2S+ issues (where seniors who identify are disproportionately affected due to lifelong discrimination and stigma), mental health and people with disabilities are just a few of the topics we cover. Visit our BC CRN resource page to access articles, referrals and downloads.
Order printed materials to share in your community, including the Elder Abuse information booklet, topical rack cards and a wallet card to locate resources, by contacting info@bccrn.ca.
Stay up to date with our events and updates by visiting the events page and signing up for the monthly newsletter (bottom of the website page). You can also follow us on social media:
