British Columbia Schizophrenia Society

Did you ever wonder…Where does the money come from and what is done with it?

The BC Schizophrenia Society Head Office

The BC Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) head office is located in Richmond, BC. Provincial office rent, phone, website, staff, accounting and similar administrative expenses are paid for by donations and by administration fees from BC Health Authorities for delivering provincial programs and services. Several years ago, these expenses were entirely funded by government. When funding was cut, BCSS could no longer afford fundraising, advocacy and education staff. We were subsequently forced to reduce our efforts in these areas.

Provincially Administered Regional Services

The BCSS Provincial Office supervises a network of regional coordinators who provide direct support and education services to families in 15 communities throughout BC. The Provincial Office also contracts with the various Health Authorities to maintain funding for these positions. BCSS Coordinator service contracts vary from one day a week to full time. In the 2009-10 fiscal year alone, BCSS provincial coordinators responded to 5,684 calls and over 35,000 emails for support and information, attended 1,700 meetings, organized 390 support group sessions, and presented to over 34,000 members of the public (see graphic.) BCSS coordinator duties vary slightly depending on needs of each specific regional Health Authority, but all coordinators help individuals access resources for people with serious mental illness, do public education presentations in the community, and organize family support groups. Many also offer our Strengthening Families Together family education course twice a year plus a number of other BCSS programs. Some areas in BC do not fund BCSS coordinators. Some towns and regions might have instead a volunteer-run BCSS branch, or a BCSS incorporated branch with its own office. If a branch offers support groups or services to the public, their services and contact details are listed on our website www.bcss.org . Some areas are lucky enough to have both a funded coordinator and a volunteer-run branch.

Provincial and Regional Programs

In addition, there are seven other workers who manage or work in specific programs that are funded by either provincial or regional Health Authorities. These programs include the ReachOut Psychosis Concert Tour, the Reaching Families Project (online support groups, calendar and e-newsletters), BRIDGES, Family Respite and Kids in Control.

Branch Support

Provincial office staff process tax receipts and accounting for branch donations, providing staff time to complete the accounting and receipting paperwork required for charities by the federal government. Until recently these administration costs were not recovered from the branch, but changing this practice to make it sustainable was critically necessary. BCSS Coordinators also help support and train branch volunteers in many locations (see graphic). If you are making a donation via your local branch and would like your donation to support the programs and services of the provincial society, please be sure to let them know.

Current BCSS Provincial Personnel
Jane Duval	Executive Director, BCSS Provincial Office
Greg Dallimore	Provincial Office Administrator
Nancy Strider	Interim Financial Administrator
David Dickinson	Fraser -Burnaby /New West
Hardeep Thind	Fraser South
Francesca Arueyingho	Tri-Cities/Ridge Meadows Regional Coordinator
Tammy Lohnes	Vancouver/ Richmond
Gail Bagri	Interior – Kamloops
Kim Dixon	North – Prince George
Heather Megchelsen	North – Burns Lake and Area
Colette Bourque	North – Dawson Creek
Julie Kornelsen	Northeast– Fort St. John
Toby Coupe	Northwest – Bulkley Valley
Leah Domoney	Northwest
Dolly Hall	Northwest – Terrace & Region
Wendy Watts	Northwest – Haida Gwaii
Susan Sim	Williams Lake and Area
Danita Senf	Powell River & Area
Brenda Blanchard	Respite Services
Kashmir Besla	Kids in Control – Area: Maple Ridge to Hope
Sacha Enthoven	Kids in Control – Area: New Westminster/Burnaby
Marianne Hildebrant	Kids in Control – Area: Upper Fraser (Abbotsford – Chilliwack area)
Debbie Sesula	B.R.I.D.G.E.S.
Sophia Kelly	Provincial Manager, ReachOut Program, Reaching Families

---