The SJSWC Remains Concerned About the Lack of Progress on Pay Equity in the Province One Year After Release of Key Report

Last August, the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour, Provincial Action Network on the Status of Women, and the Workers’ Action Network released a report calling for action on the development and implementation of proactive pay equity legislation. The report included clear recommendations for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to move ahead with pay equity legislation as well as evidence of the effectiveness of this legislation in other provinces. One year later, the St. John’s Status of Women Council is reflecting on the series of events surrounding pay equity in the province since the release of the report.

Find the full timeline of what has happened in the last year, available for download below.

HIRING: Harm Reduction Outreach Worker (relief)

The Harm Reduction Outreach Worker (Relief) is responsible for delivering wrap-around support services and safe alcohol provision to participants of the St. John’s Status of Women Council’s (SJSWC’s) Managed Alcohol Program (MAP). The Outreach Worker is also involved in community engagement, education, and outreach promoting harm reduction services for women and nonbinary individuals. As a collaborative member of the SJSWC team, the MAP Harm Reduction Outreach Worker plays an integral role in MAP participants’ continuum of care. 

The position will integrate participants’ goals for their own social determinants of health with MAP practices that are culturally relevant, gender-inclusive, and trauma-informed. These goals are developed alongside and implemented by the MAP Care Plan Facilitator. The Outreach Worker takes direction from the Care Plan Facilitator informing individual support and safe alcohol provision. They will also work closely with other members of the SJSWC team and build partnerships through collaboration with the greater community. 

This position reports directly to the Care Plan Facilitator, and receives mentorship and direction from the MAP team. 

Closing Date: July 21, 2023, 4:30 PM Newfoundland Time. 

Please email a cover letter and resume to: hiring@sjwomenscentre.ca
*Applications without a cover letter of some kind will not be considered

Open letter to the City of St. John’s and Government of Newfoundland and Labrador: funding for Downtown Safety Coalition

Alongside First Light, Migrant Action Centre, Quadrangle NL, Stella’s Circle and Thrive, the St. John’s Status of Women Council is sharing an open letter to the City of St. John’s and Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

We’re expressing concerns about the joint funding announcement from the City and province to the Downtown Safety Coalition. This group formed to tackle the complex issue of safety in downtown St. John’s and is made up of police, tourism and hospitality, the George St. Association, Music NL and municipal and provincial governments. The joint funding is an investment in developing a public education campaign to increase reporting of crimes.

We are concerned about this impacts of this initiative, particularly without representation or meaningful engagement from groups and people who are most likely to experience violence themselves. This approach to building safety is in conflict with the findings shared by many community members and organizations in an event hosted by the City of St. John’s in February of this year. This decision leaves the community questioning if the intended use of funds will have a real impact on our safety and if this group has the expertise required to make effective use of these funds.

Read the letter in full below.

HIRING: Peer Support Facilitator (part time)

MAP is a harm reduction program for women and nonbinary people that provides a safe supply of alcohol and other supports to those who are harmed by drinking. This program has completed its initial 2-year pilot phase and is ready to implement province wide training and ensure that resources are available to those supporting other populations and regions. The Managed Alcohol Program has found a critical piece to operating is to offer support in a way that suits participants needs and offering peer support has proven to be meaningful for MAP’s participants.

The Peer Support Facilitator is responsible for the delivery of the Harm Reduction Peer Support Group. The Peer Support Facilitator will be supported by MAP Outreach Workers to deliver this group. The Peer Support Facilitator will report to the Care Plan Facilitator. The peer support group will be available to any individuals who identify as someone who uses a substance (not only alcohol). This position focuses heavily on collaboration with community partners as a goal of the group is to offer pop up peer support groups at different community organizations to meet people where they are.

Salary: $25 per hour, 8 hours per week, flexible schedule, but evening hours are required.
Closing Date:  July 3, 2023, 4:30 PM Newfoundland Time.
Please email a cover letter and resume to: hiring@sjwomenscentre.ca 
Applications without a cover letter of some kind will not be considered

SHOP releases new Media Guide, Sex Work: A Journalistic Guide to the Fundamentals of Your Sources

The Safe Harbour Outreach Project (SHOP) of The St. John’s Status of Women Council (SJSWC)has developed guidance for media on ethical reporting on sex work. The Media Guide, Sex Work: A Journalistic Guide to the Fundamentals of Your Sources, is being release to celebrate International Sex Workers’ Day (June 2nd).

This guide is the first of it’s kind locally and has been directly informed by current and former sex workers in and around St. John’s through community-based research and consultation.

View the Press Release here.

Download the full Media Guide here.

HIRING: Training Facilitator

Reporting to the Managed Alcohol Program Coordinator, the Training Facilitator is responsible for the delivery of the MAP Development Toolkit and Resources to community partners so they are able to implement their own Managed Alcohol Program. This position focuses heavily on collaboration with community partners and the Health Authority to reach people in Newfoundland and Labrador who would benefit from a MAP.

Hours of Work: Monday – Friday (9-5), some evenings and weekends as required, 35 hours per week
Salary: $55,000 / annum
Duration: Full-time, contract position for the duration of the current funding cycle, expiring end of March 2024. The potential for extension is dependent on renewed and/or new funding.

The person employed in this position must be eligible to work in Canada and upon being offered the position must submit a certificate of conduct (police records check) – please note the certificate of conduct does not have to be clear and any existing records will be discussed confidentially.

Closing Date:  June 12, 2023, 4:30 PM Newfoundland Time.
Please email a cover letter and resume to: hiring@sjwomenscentre.ca 
*Applications without a cover letter of some kind will not be considered

PANSOW shares submission on Pay Equity and Pay Transparency

Over the last month, members of the Provincial Action Network on the Status of Women (PANSOW) have participated in both in-person and virtual consultation sessions on the regulations for Bill 3: An Act Respecting Pay Equity for the Public Sector and Pay Transparency for the Public and Private Sectors. Now, the Provincial Action Network of the Status of Women shares a submission to the Interdepartmental Working Committee on Pay Equity with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

In solidarity with the recent report from the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour, Newfoundland and Labrador Needs an Equality Reset, PANSOW recommends a re-write of Bill 3 to better serve women and other marginalized workers.

Read the full submission below.

PRESS RELEASE: Lessons from Five Years of Free Feminist Counselling

The St. John’s Status of Women Council launches new report sharing key learnings from five years of providing free feminist counselling services in the community.

ST. JOHN’S, May 3rd, 2023 – On Canadian Mental Health Week, the St. John’s Status of Women Council (SJSWC) is releasing a report on their feminist approach to mental health care in the community and sharing their concerns about inadequate mental health support for those who need it most.  

For five years, the SJSWC has been offering free counselling services to community members and the monitoring data from their work has shown that wait times, lack of financially accessible mental health services, and a lack of understanding of the impacts that gender based violence (GBV) has on mental health are causing harm in our community. 

The SJSWC’s approach to mental health care is one which reduces barriers, emphasizes connections, provides essential services, challenges assumptions and stereotypes, and, most importantly, puts people first. The report shows that our mental health needs cannot be adequately addressed by any one institution, body or community organization. Most importantly, not without sustainable resources that allow stable and wide-reaching services, ongoing evaluation, and adaptation to meet the changing needs of our communities. 

Lisa Faye, Executive Director of the SJSWC, notes the importance of a feminist approach to mental health services: “What we’ve learned from Right Here, Right Now is that a feminist, trauma-informed, low-barrier approach to mental health care works for people. We also know that people need continuous care, connection, and better access to services. If we are committed to improving health outcomes in our community more broadly, we have to invest in mental health services now.” 

The SJSWC calls for sustainable funding for mental health services, improved understanding of GBV in all mental health care settings, and increased access to services in order to cut waitlists, prioritizing choice and connection. 

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CONTACT INFORMATION

For more information or to arrange for interviews, please contact:
Lisa Faye
Executive Director
St. John’s Status of Women Council / Women’s Centre
709-765-4434
lisa@sjwomenscentre.ca 

RFP – Marketing and Business Plan Development

The SJSWC has been awarded funds by the Investment Readiness Program to help with preparing a marketing and business plan for our new social enterprise.

Our mission for this project is to help build a safer and stronger community and foster positive social change by enhancing the skills, knowledge, and confidence of individuals and groups of all genders through a variety of training sessions, facilitated by our in-house staff members.

These funds will be used for the following activities.

  • Activity 1: To assess the market for existing community training and identify opportunities and strategies for us to create a sustainable social enterprise.
  • Activity 2: To develop a marketing and business plan that provides a roadmap for training as a social enterprise.
  • Activity 3: To prepare for the social enterprise by developing and implementing improved internal administration systems.
  • Activity 4: To prepare for the social enterprise by recruiting and training more facilitators. 

This RFP is exclusively for activities 1 and 2. Activities 3 and 4 will be informed by activities 1 and 2 in the future.

Timeline
RFP Released: April 10, 2023
Responses Due: May 1, 2023
Finalist consultants selected and contacted for interview: May 5, 2023
Chosen consultant selected and contacted: May 18, 2023
Project Kick-off: Latest, June 1, 2023

Proposal Submission
Proposals will be accepted until 5:00pm (NDT) on May 1, 2023. Please use the subject line:
“RFP Business Plan – NAME OF YOUR COMPANY”.
Any questions on this RFP and all proposals must be submitted by email to: hiring@sjwomenscentre.ca.

Full Request for Proposals document:

HIRING: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Worker

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Worker (Feminist MEL Worker) s responsible for supporting teams to develop short, medium, and long term results based visions for their work and to work with them to develop the tools they need to monitor those visions. Working from a feminist, trauma informed, and harm reduction approach, these work will be collaborative, with overall guidance from the Feminist MEL Worker. This position reports directly to the Managed Alcohol Program (MAP)Coordinator, with significant support from the Executive Director and receiving mentorship and support from the MAP Care Plan Facilitator and MAP Training Worker.

Closing Date: 18 April 2023 – 4pm Newfoundland Time.

Please email a cover letter and resume to: hiring@sjwomenscentre.ca 

*Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.