Ministry of Social Development
October 2009
Revised Bridging Employment Program
VICTORIA – The Ministry of Social Development has secured 18 service providers for 21 contracts in 30 locations for the revised Bridging Employment Program (BEP).
The $5-million BEP, which has been in place since the fall of 2003, provides services to help abused women and former sex trade workers overcome barriers to employment that prevent them from making successful transitions to independence.
The design of the revised Bridging Employment Program will build on the experience of the original program by applying lessons learned and best practices research, including valuable stakeholder feedback.
Changes include:
- Expanding provincewide and increasing capacity to help a further 418 women (from 562 to 880 women per year);
- Addition of a “healing” component that will complement the program’s employment-related services;
- Change to continuous participant enrolment with flexible and individualized services,
- Development of a Personal Plan with each participant; and
- Inclusion of suitable non-Income Assistance participants in the program.
The revised Bridging Employment Program began in January 2009.
Communities Served
| Service Provider
|
| Victoria |
Bridges for Women Society
PEERS Victoria |
| Duncan |
Cowichan Women Against Violence Society |
| Nanaimo and Port Alberni |
Vancouver Island Vocational and Rehabilitation Services |
Courtenay, Campbell River
and Powell River |
Comox Valley Transition Society |
| Vancouver |
Vancouver Eastside Educational Enrichment Society
PEERS Vancouver
Battered Women's Support Services |
| Burnaby |
SUCCESS |
Abbotsford, Chilliwack
and Hope |
Mennonite Central Committee |
| Surrey |
DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society
Newton Advocacy Group |
| Kelowna |
Central Okanagan Elizabeth Fry Society |
| Vernon |
Community Futures Development Corp |
| Kamloops |
Kamloops YM/YWCA |
| Penticton |
South Okanagan Women in Need Society |
| Terrace, Kitimat, Prince Rupert and Smithers |
Northwest Training Ltd |
Prince George, Burns Lake
and Fort St. John |
Prince George and District Elizabeth Fry Society |
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The Ministry of Social Development Info Line at:
1-866-866-0800
For more information:
