Beyond the Referral
This is the first step when someone asks for help but has several overlapping concerns.
What is listening and identifying the person's priorities?
A person needs groceries today, but the program they are considering allows households to receive that particular form of assistance only once per month. What other type of support at the same organization might be worth exploring?
What is weekday pantry access at St. Mark's Food Bank?
A worker knows where a community organization is located but has not checked whether the client can attend during its limited daytime hours. What important consideration is missing?
What is practical accessibility?
A parent is receiving food assistance but is also concerned about their preschooler's development. Which additional local organization would be worth exploring?
What is the South Peace Child Development Centre?
A client needs food assistance but cannot get to the food bank. What barrier would you address first?
What is transportation?
This should be confirmed before telling a family that a specific program can accept them.
What are eligibility, referral requirements, and current availability?
A family discovers that a community program cannot accept their application directly. The worker learns that access must begin through a provincial child and family service system. Which local organization might they be exploring?
What is Axis Family Resources?
A parent wants developmental support for a young child. Before suggesting the South Peace Child Development Centre, the worker should establish which two details about the program?
What are age or program eligibility and referral requirements?
An adult receiving disability-related supports wants more opportunities for friendship, recreation, and community participation. Which organization could be explored specifically for community inclusion?
What is the Dawson Creek Society for Community Living?
A parent is concerned about their three-year-old child's speech development. Which local organization would you suggest?
What is the South Peace Child Development Centre?
A worker contacts an agency with a person's permission and helps arrange the next step. This is an example of this referral approach.
What is a supported or warm referral?
A worker assumes that a person who qualifies for disability-related support can automatically access any residential placement offered by an organization. What important limitation has the worker overlooked?
What is program capacity or residential availability at INS?
A worker recommends a community inclusion activity without asking whether the participant needs assistance to attend. What information should be confirmed with the Dawson Creek Society for Community Living?
What are support-person requirements and accessibility arrangements?
A family experiencing housing instability also needs immediate food assistance. Name two organizations whose services could address these different needs.
What are South Peace Community Resources Society and St. Mark's Food Bank?
A family needs support from Axis Family Resources, but the program requires a professional referral. What would you check first?
What is the referral pathway?
Someone has been given three agency phone numbers but cannot navigate the application processes. This demonstrates a need for this type of assistance.
What is service navigation or advocacy?
A family is told that their current housing arrangement is intended to provide longer-term stability following an immediate crisis, rather than emergency shelter on the first night. What type of housing is being described?
What is second-stage housing?
A family is reluctant to seek help because they associate government involvement with the possibility of losing their children. What must a worker explain carefully rather than make assumptions or guarantees about?
What are MCFD's role, child protection processes, and the limits of confidentiality?
A parent is seeking support for their child's needs but does not know whether the most appropriate service is developmental therapy or family support. Name two organizations that could be explored.
What are the South Peace Child Development Centre and Axis Family Resources?
An adult with a developmental disability wants more opportunities to participate in community activities. Which organization might you contact?
What is the Dawson Creek Society for Community Living?
A worker recognizes that the client should help determine which referral option is most appropriate rather than having a decision imposed on them. This reflects these two principles.
What are self-determination and person-centred practice?
A worker identifies that an adult qualifies for disability-related services but still needs to establish which provincial funding or referral pathway applies. Which provincial agency might be involved?
What is Community Living BC (CLBC)?
A client wants culturally grounded support but has previously experienced discrimination within helping systems. Beyond identifying a program, what should guide the worker's approach?
What are the client's cultural preferences, informed choice, cultural safety, and relationship-building?
An adult needs help with independent living, community participation, and possible disability-related funding. Identify two local organizations and one provincial agency that may be relevant.
What are INS, Dawson Creek Society for Community Living, and CLBC?
A family experiencing violence needs a safe place tonight. Would you look for emergency shelter or second-stage housing?
What is emergency shelter?