THE THREE S’s OF QUALITY CARE
Let’s talk about the three S’s of quality care. When you make a donation to SOS Children’s Village BC, you’re donating to an organization that is truly involved with the community we serve.
As I’m writing this, I’m remembering a Zoom call with Kistie, our Executive Director. She came into the meeting about 15 minutes late, which is unusual for her, but as she came in, she explained that she had been called into the Village to attend to an emergency medical situation. Everyone else in the meeting nodded understandingly, and I realized that this was a common occurrence. If there’s ever a situation with the Village or the youth in our programs, Kistie and other SOS BC staff drop everything and are on their way to help.
And that is part of what makes SOS BC truly unique. We operate with many facets of quality care, but three that stand out are safety, setting, and staffing. Without further ado, here are the three S’s of quality care.
Safety
When the pandemic hit, our staff became frontline workers overnight. They were trained and oriented in health and safety, first aid, and Indigenous perspectives on mental health. They received PPE, and then they set out into the community to meet youth where they are at. Creative solutions were found to bring some joy to staff and youth during uncertain times. We started using pool noodles to remind the children about staying six feet apart, and inflatable dinosaur costumes to deliver food packages to families and youth in the safest way possible.
Setting
Our Village model continues to prove that it’s a valuable and sustainable model of care. The strength behind our model is the supportive community environment that the Village creates, versus a single foster home. Over the last year, we’ve seen the Village come together to become a hub for support, food security, and education. Youth, caregivers, and children have access to:
- Clinical support and resources right in their own backyard
- A community school run by our SOS BC outdoor educator Carmen
- A safe environment for kids to be kids, with 11 caregivers and 7 staff members always around
Staffing
Even in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, we are able to stand by the needs of our youth and provide the same, high quality of care that they deserve. Part of our success during COVID-19 has been the relationships that our staff have built with youth. Every youth that goes through one of our programs automatically becomes part of our Aftercare program – where we are committed to checking in with them and giving them support until they feel that they don’t need it anymore.
This past year, we’ve seen a much larger number of our alumni come back to SOS BC looking for support as they go through the pandemic, and when they come back, the same staff are still here to provide support.
Retention is an important aspect of quality care and we strive to create a strong, consistent team that will provide long-term support. As a result we have a group of like-minded, compassionate individuals who are committed to SOS BC. This means that when youth return to our charity for support after aging out of care, the staff are still there to support and foster that connection with the youth, even years later.
The Impact You Make
So, this is our promise to you: when you give to SOS BC, Kistie our Executive Director will guarantee that the money goes towards supporting the children, youth, and caregivers. We know the community we support, and we know what to do with that money to provide the three S’s of quality care.
Before becoming Executive Director, Kistie worked at the Village for nine years managing crisis response. She has studied both our Village, and international Villages in Europe to ensure that our main mission is carried out in the best way possible. She knows, and is involved with, every aspect of this organization, and she’s ready to continue championing for the rights and quality care of foster youth in this province.
When you’re making a gift to SOS BC, you’re helping Kistie and all of us to truly making a difference in the lives of foster children and youth, and helping ensure that they grow up with the quality of care that they deserve.
By Maiya Chan, Communications and Development Assistant
Edited by William Brennan