Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion - Plan Summary & Overview
Chilliwack Community Services (CCS) is a gender- and culture-safe agency that welcomes all identities in all formats. In fact, as part of its 5-year strategic planning (2023-27), when receiving feedback from clients, participants, staff, stakeholders and community partners, continuous improvement in being a gender- and culture-safe agency was identified as one of the three (3) most important areas for CCS to focus on. As such, CCS underwent a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion audit in summer of 2022, to identify internal aspects that could be improved. As part of this undertaking, the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Plan was developed.
CCS recognizes that the land it provides services on is the unceded traditional territory of the 25 Indigenous communities that span from Chilliwack to Boothroyd, which includes the 12 First Nations communities that border the City of Chilliwack. These First Nations communities constitute about 9 percent of Chilliwack’s population, while about 2 percent of the community members identify as Metis. CCS is committed to working towards the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action and their integration within the EDI Plan.
One key area the EDI Plan is focused on is communications. CCS has developed an intentional rollout of a new Learning Management System (LMS) for staff along with a feedback loop for new learners, ensuring all staff are trained according to accreditation and inclusion standards in the way that best accommodates their needs. Additionally, CCS is increasing communications accessibility for community members by providing Plain Language training to all staff and exploring an accessibility overlay for its updated website.
Another key area of focus for the EDI Plan is accessibility of programs. One goal is the development and implementation of an annual Accessibility and Inclusion audit of CCS programs to ensure accommodations are being made for clients, stakeholders and community partners to fully access CCS services. The audit development is already underway and implementation will begin in the new calendar year, 2024. This audit will take into consideration accessibility needs and challenges, other barriers to accessing services, and cultural sensitivity.
Additionally, all front-facing staff will be trained in and practicing the ‘Every Door is the Right Door’ approach to supporting clients and community members. This is a trauma-informed and inclusive approach that was developed by Chilliwack community agencies and has been implemented for over 10 years. Using the ‘Every Door is the Right Door’ approach, front-line staff will assist clients in finding and accessing the resources they require, even if they are offered by an agency other than CCS, thereby finding the ‘Right Door’.
CCS is committed to continuing to support its staff in a culturally safe and inclusive environment through upcoming changes and transitions for the agency. CCS is intentionally communicating with its staff regularly to manage changes, provide opportunities for staff feedback and debrief, and continue to cultivate a culture of collaboration and collective insight.
