During my co-op semester, I worked at the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD). MCFD provides a wide range of programs and services to support children, youth, and families in BC. My work term placement was with MCFD’s Procurement Branch in the Finance and Corporate Services Division. This branch is responsible for MCFD’s contracted service providers across the province and for developing comprehensive procurement strategies that transform the ministry's roles, processes, and tools.

I worked as a Policy Analyst with the Sector Initiatives and Analysis team, a team inside the Procurement Branch of MCFD. This team provides leadership, strategic policy advice and decision support for initiatives and issues in the contracted social services sector.

During my work term, the Sector Initiatives and Analysis team was in the early stages of implementing the province’s newly bargained Public Sector Bargaining 2022 Shared Recovery Mandate (SRM) with their contracted community social service providers. My primary role was assisting in implementing the wage and compensation funding lifts MCFD distributes to contracted social services agencies. Some of my tasks included compiling data, developing communications materials, engaging with internal and external stakeholders, and preparing briefing notes for decisions at the Assistant Deputy Minister level. Additionally, I participated in a cross-ministry working group focused on developing financial policy concerning Indigenous cultural services for MCFD.

My co-op has been the highlight of my MPP experience! I gained many practical policy skills and greater knowledge of the community services sector to assist in my career moving forward.

- Brittany Yurkin