Community Connections Support Services is a private agency directed by Brian Burnham, holds a current CARF accreditation and is in excellent standing within its communities. Community Connections was established in 1991 and has been providing exceptional support to people living with a disability since that time.
Services in Kelowna include Home Share Coordination for children and adults, Homemaker coordination, and a Community Support program for more than 80 individuals. The Community Support program includes individual services and facilitated group programs such as “guys group, ladies who lunch, walking club, craft group, cooking club” and trips to Vancouver for hockey games and football games as well as an annual retreat in Naramata. The services are often based on social and recreational opportunities for the individual. There is one residential service where one individual is supported through Home Share with one to one staffing support.
In the West Kootenays, CCSS provides Home Share Coordination, Community Support and also provides 24 hour supports for several individuals in their homes who live with complex medical and/or behavioural needs. There are homes in Nelson and Trail areas.
In the East Kootenay and Grand Forks, CCSS provides Home Share Coordination.
Management Support Team:
Brian Burnham
Director, Community Connections
250-491-2907 ext.101 or toll free 1-888-491-2907 ext.101
Email: brian@commconn.ca
Brian has been with Community Connections since its inception in 1991. He has a background in Psychology and holds an undergraduate degree from the University of British Columbia and a Masters degree in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University. Brian has over 20 years of experience in the human services and has supplemented this with training specific to employee development, resource development, accounting and financial management, personnel, group dynamics as well as a whole range of support strategies and techniques with regard to providing world class supports for people who live with a disability. He has a commitment to building great teams by bringing together groups of talented, dedicated professionals around the people we are privileged to serve.
Ken Munro
Home Share Team Leader
250-491-2907 ext. 102 or toll free 1-888-491-2907 ext.102
Email: ken@commconn.ca
Ken leads the team for Home Share Support Services with 20 plus years of experience. Ken is a graduate of the Human Services Program at Okanagan College and currently serves as a member of their advisory committee. Ken was instrumental in establishing Home Share Coordination Services and support to caregivers in the East and West Kootenays as well as his role providing those services to children and their families in the Central Okanagan. Ken gives back to his community in many ways and has held leadership positions at the board level for a number of non-profit community associations. As a result he is an excellent resource of information with regard to the service system for people who live with a disability in the province of B.C.
Pat MacLeod
Service Coordinator, West Kootenay Region
250-505-2620
Email: pat@commconn.ca
Pat coordinates our residential services in the West Kootenays. Pat came to us after graduating from the Human Services Program in 1997, and has been with our agency since. Pat brought with her an extensive skill set and has worn many hats during her time with us. She has provided, and continues to provide front-line support, has led teams in a Senior Support position and has coordinated residential services for our agency with a clear and consistent focus on person-centred support. Her dedication and commitment to those we support and the teams that support them is reflected in the quality leadership she delivers.
Vern Rockwell
Community Support Team Leader, Kelowna, B.C.
250-491-2907 ext. 104 or toll free 1-888-491-2907 ext.104
Email: vern@commconn.ca
Vern comes to us with many years of residential and community support experience in a variety of settings. For the last 15 years, Vern has excelled at leading the Community Support Team in Kelowna and has been integral to its success and popularity. Vern has also established a Community Support Team in the Kootenay Area. He is particularly skilled at developing and organizing our large group events and is connected with other service providers in our community to help make events like our annual retreat and trips to Vancouver complete successes. Vern is also a certified MANDT trainer and has the ability to teach non-violent crisis intervention skills and techniques to people affiliated with the agency. Vern and his Community Support team also annually hold a Health and Safety month in April for those we support. Training includes: safety in the community, nutrition and meal planning, personal care/responsibility and high risk behaviour, rights information and emergency preparedness. Please look for our skills training in our monthly community support calendars on our Community Support website cs.commconn.ca
Jacqueline Burnham
Quality Assurance Manager, Kelowna BC
250-491-2907 ext. 105 or toll free 1-888-491-2907 ext.105
Email: jacqueline@commconn.ca
Jackie has been with Community Connections since 2005 and has worked as support worker, senior support worker and community support worker with the agency and is currently its Quality Assurance Manager. She brings with her a background in Psychology, Accounting, and over 20 years of experience in the human services. Jackie has been responsible for leading teams in achieving accreditation with CARF five times within three separate agencies and is committed to assisting the agency to maintain its person-centred focus while delivering a high level of accountability.