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April 2026 – Newsletter
Dear Friends,
Last month, we talked about a question that keeps many of you up at night: “Who will be here for the person we support if something happens to us?”
The answer is a circle, and we are offering customized training on how to build yours, starting in two weeks.
Beginning on Wednesday, April 8th at 2:00 PM Pacific Time, the Star Raft Project will be offering a free four-week training series built specifically for home-sharing providers. This isn’t generic training. It’s designed around your unique role and the real concerns that you all have shared.
What you’ll gain:
Over four Wednesday sessions (April 8, 15, 22, 29), you’ll learn to:
- Build an enduring circle of support for the person you’re hosting
- Support the best possible life for them *now *— a life that rich in relationships, a welcoming community, opportunities for meaningful work and contribution, safety and security
- Support yourself as a provider (the circles uphold you, too)
Beyond the four weeks:
Following the training, you’ll be able to join monthly network meetings where home-share providers can share stories, celebrate wins, troubleshoot challenges, and receive expert coaching. The Star Raft Project is seeing powerful results with a Michigan group that is currently using this approach.
The training starts on April 8th, and the series will repeat in the months of May and June. We hope that you will join us.
Register here for the April series
Cultural Diversity and Inclusion
- April: HIE Awareness Month
- April 2: World Autism Awareness Day
- **April 13: **Day of Pink
- April 13: FND Awareness Day
- April 14-20: National Volunteer Week
- April 17: World Hemophilia Day
- April 22 to 29: World Primary Immunodeficiency Week
“Love is an action, never simply a feeling.”
— bell hooks
**Home Sharing Provider Survey **
HSSSBC is launching a Home Sharing Provider Survey from April 1 to June 30, 2026. The survey takes about 1 to 2 minutes to complete. It is designed to gather quick feedback on your experience as a home sharing provider. Your input will help shape future supports, resources, and sector advocacy.
**CAN website: Share Your Voice: Research and Engagement Opportunities **
CAN invites you to visit the Projects page and click on the button for “Research and Engagement Opportunities” to explore the two current opportunities, both of which are offering honorariums for eligible participants:
- Business + Higher Education Roundtable: A 360 Degree Assessment of the Duty to Accommodate Framework in Workplace Accommodation Provision
- Housing and Disability Study
**Home Sharing Provider Awards Update **
The Home Sharing Provider Awards recognize the commitment, professionalism, and impact of Home Sharing Providers across British Columbia. The awards celebrate individuals who support choice, stability, and quality of life for adults with disabilities through home sharing.
Save the Date: December 11. 2026
More information, including award categories and nomination details on our website. (www.homesharingbc.ca)
**Are you interested in a virtual educational course on brain health and aging for yourself and your family member with an intellectual and/or developmental disability (IDD)? **
Watch a short video about the course or read more information below:
Brain Health-IDD Family Caregiver Course Recruitment Video
A group of researchers at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) are studying a virtual education program for aging adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), family caregivers, and service providers from across Canada. This online course is designed and delivered by family caregivers, alongside medical and mental health experts specializing in the care of adults with IDD.
View our Flyer | Watch a Short Video about the Course |
Register Now: https://redcap.link/9uja13v6
Recruitment Toolkit for Respite Workers
The Recruitment Toolkit for Home Sharing providers is a comprehensive guide to hiring and onboarding respite workers.
Recruitment Toolkit for Respite Workers – HSSSBC
Relationships, Dating, and Intimacy
About this series:
This three-part module series supports individuals to build safe, respectful, and meaningful relationships. It introduces key concepts such as trust, communication, and emotional awareness, and provides practical guidance on how to connect with others in a positive way.
Across the series, learners explore dating, personal boundaries, and how to show care and respect in relationships. The modules also explain consent in clear, practical terms, including how it applies to physical and sexual relationships.
Designed in plain language, this series helps individuals strengthen confidence, make informed choices, and build healthy relationships in everyday life.
**Modules Length: **
- Part 1: 35 Minutes
- Part 2: 30 Minutes
- Part 3: 33 Minutes