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Columbia Basin Trust approves $1 million in social grants

The Columbia Basin Trust recently approved $1 million in social grants for 28 local projects that support social well-being.

The Columbia Basin Trust recently approved $1 million in social grants for 28 local projects that support social well-being.

Recipients include the Castlegar District and Community Services Society, who will receive $22,400 to “implement buildingand equipment upgrades and radon remediation to improve the safety, health and accessibility of the society’s mainbuilding,” and the Circle of Indigenous Nations Society, who will receive $120,200 to “help parents and caregivers ofAboriginal children learn about traditional parenting and Aboriginal culture.”

Funding was also approved for Establishing a Regional Data Gathering System, which is part of a larger project called PRISM:Partners in a Regional Integrated Service Model. Through PRISM, 14 non-profit social service organizations in the WestKootenay Boundary region will work together to organize and streamline their services. The goal is to have integrated servicestreams across the region, in areas such as family support services, victim services, early years services and more.

“Currently, each organization across the region delivers similar services and yet each organization collects data a littledifferently. That data has never been shared regionally to date,” says Rona Park, executive director of Nelson CommunityServices Centre and PRISM co-lead. “By developing a regional system to collect, share and analyze data in each service streamand across streams, we can generate more meaningful information. This will help us design and deliver more consistentprogramming across the region and reach more people in need of our services. By collaborating rather than workingindependently, we can support the health, well-being and resilience of some of our region’s most vulnerable residents.”

The CBT has distributed over $4 million to improving social well-being since the Social Grants Program was launched in 2012.Granting decisions are made by the Social Grants Program Selection Committee, a volunteer group of Basin residents thatincludes individuals who have experience and expertise in the social sector and individuals who have broader communitydevelopment experience.