Minister Opens Convening of Social Services
Minister of Youth, Families, Sports and Community development Glenn Blakeney formally opened this morning’s [Jan 25] Convening of Social Services Agencies at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel, Harbourview Room. The all day meeting will conclude at 4:00pm.
The Inter-Agency Committee for Children and Families in partnership with the Bermuda Civil Society Project is holding the fourth in a series of convening meetings specifically targeted at agencies, church groups, community organizations and individuals who work to provide services and support to individuals and families.
Lauren Trott, Chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee for Children and Families previously said: “The objective of the convening meeting is the creation of a shared continuum of care particularly for the highest risk clients, to put in place opportunities for collaboration between agencies, and to address gaps in services to children and adults.”
Ms. Trott added, “The first three convening meetings served as opportunities to bring agencies and individuals together, to understand the services available in Bermuda, to dialogue and understand where gaps in services exist, and to talk about best practice strategies for delivery of services. We will have a representative from Root Cause, a non-profit research and consulting firm, who have compiled a report based on findings of the research carried out last year. We will also host an interactive panel discussion and look at ways that we can collaborate successfully in order to ensure organizations establish a resilient continuum of care in Bermuda for families and children in need.”
Minister Blakeney’s full comments are below:
Good Morning Everyone,
I am very pleased to be here today to open the fourth Convening of Social Services Agencies in Bermuda.
Social services agencies are confronted by the challenge of responding to the ills of crime, substance abuse, inadequate education, housing, and an aging population in a harsh
economic climate where many families and individuals are struggling to make ends meet.
At the forefront of efforts to address these significant problems are the many voluntary/charitable organizations and community outreach groups striving to provide urgently needed services otherwise not offered by corporate or Government social agencies.
There are a number of non profit community service providers and committed individuals throughout Bermuda who are taking the lead in dealing with child safety, mental health, gang violence, youth development, providing counseling services, crisis intervention and hot lines, education and skills training among others.
It is critical these service providers work collaboratively to tackle these complex problems by utilizing limited resources and funding much more effectively to eliminate
gaps in social services, disseminate and share information, prevent the duplication of efforts and ensure funds are being targeted efficiently to reach those most in need.
It is timely that this Convening of Social Services Agencies is taking place today as this presents an ideal opportunity to establish who is doing what, what is working and what isn’t, where are the areas of duplication and where are the largest gaps in services.
As Minister of Youth, Families, Sports and Community Development it is my sincere hope that this forum will act as a call to action for all agencies both Government and
non profits to forge a new era of collaboration! I have no doubt that those in attendance today have exactly that in
mind and are determined to take meaningful steps to achieve this.
With fewer funding opportunities available today, non profits are being scrutinized more closely by donors effectively adding to their workload in order to be more accountable. With over 400 registered charities in Bermuda competing for funding, assistance from volunteers, media coverage in the print, broadcast, electronic and now social media, the need for collaboration is imperative for success.
I cannot overstate the strategic benefits of pooling resources to develop a sound infrastructure or capacity to respond to the top three issues identified in the report The
Analysis of Social Service Agencies, which speaks to: inadequate education, lack of adequate life skill training and unaddressed multi-generational trauma, including substance abuse dependency, addictive disorders, mental health issues, physical and psychological abuse.
There also needs to be a much more concerted drive to share information about what services are provided by whom in the community; for example in education, mental health, crisis intervention and youth development. Information should also be shared in understanding to what extent the various services are being practically delivered.
It is my belief that in coming together we can take the first step on the path to successful partnership among the various agencies in Bermuda, assist donors with the information they need to better help the most vulnerable people in our community.
I believe a commitment to mutual cooperation and a collaborative approach is imperative, if we are to succeed by becoming more effective and efficient in the delivery of essential Social Services.
Bermuda as with most other countries in the world is now challenged even more during these precarious economic times, but I have no doubt in my mind that all of you here in this room this morning remain passionately committed to doing your level best in your various areas of expertise and service delivery. So I take this opportunity to wish each and everyone one of you, every continued success in your deliberations during this fourth Convening of Social Services Agencies in Bermuda and I commend you all for your invaluable selfless Contribution. May God Bless You and thank you very much.
