In this episode, we’re talking Client Care and Advocacy with our roundtable of instructors who have all been in this work for a long time as peers, as frontline workers, and as advocates, and still are committed to advocacy and good care. 

We get into the real tensions of frontline client care and advocacy — navigating involuntary care, responding to weapons and safety concerns, and working within the limits of staffing, time, and capacity. We unpack how “care” and “safety” are often defined, challenged, and negotiated in real time — and how those definitions don’t always align across workers, organizations, and systems. We also talk honestly about what advocacy looks like in a system that’s stretched thin, where needs often outpace resources, and where the stakes are high for both workers and clients.

Some of the questions we take on include:

• When you think about good care, what does that actually look like in the environments you’ve worked in—especially when things are complex or unpredictable?
• Where do you see the biggest gap between what clients need and what systems are actually able—or willing—to offer?
• What does advocacy look like when you know the system isn’t set up to respond in the ways clients need, particularly around safety, substance use, or basic needs?
• How do you decide when to push harder for a client versus working within system limits to avoid unintended consequences?

This is a conversation about making tough calls, holding boundaries, and finding ways to keep showing up with care, clarity, and purpose — and why, despite it all, people stay committed to this work.

Guests:

Kevin Parker

A Peer Support Specialist in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside with The Spencer Creo Foundation, bringing over 15 years of experience supporting marginalized communities. His work focuses on frontline care, including crisis response, overdose prevention, and supporting people navigating homelessness and substance use.

He spent over a decade with RainCity Housing in various frontline and leadership roles, and now runs Parker & Assu Consulting, offering peer-led training and support to community organizations. Grounded in lived experience, Kevin’s approach centers on trust, equity, and practical, relationship-based care.

https://www.parkerandassu.com/

 Dawn Campbell

A is a Registered Social Worker and Veterinary Social Worker with the Vancouver Humane Society, supporting people facing financial hardship through access to emergency veterinary care. Her work focuses on the intersection of social services and animal welfare, using a trauma-informed, pet-inclusive approach.

She brings nearly a decade of frontline experience in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, offering crisis support, advocacy, and systems navigation. Dawn also serves as a Board Director with the BC Bereavement Helpline and runs a private practice specializing in grief, trauma, and the human–animal bond, with a focus on building more connected, responsive systems.

https://vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca/

Leanne Tombe

A Social Worker with nearly two decades of experience supporting people impacted by sexual exploitation and sexualized violence. She has held leadership roles with Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse, including managing the Calgary Sexual Assault Team and education programs supporting police, courts, and communities. Leanne is recognized for developing innovative prevention, education, and capacity-building initiatives that strengthen response

For more training and resources, go to hsa-bc.ca.

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