Cathy Anthony / Mike Keating
Community Living Coalition
1018 Ridgeway Avenue
Coquitlam BC, V3J 1S5

September 17, 2003

Honourable Gordon Hogg
Minister
Ministry for Children and Family Development
Parliament Building
PO Box 9057
STN PROV GOVT
Victoria BC V8W 9E2

Gordon.Hogg@gems3.gov.bc.ca

Minister Hogg:

                        RE: Children and Adults Served by Community Living Services

The Community Living Coalition is writing to express our deep concern regarding the uncertainty of the continued commitment from you and your Ministry to all children and adults receiving Community Living Services through Community Living BC. The Coalition has passed a motion at its September 17, 2003 meeting reasserting it’s commitment to a life long service model for all children and adults and their families who require Community Living Service.

The Coalition requests a meeting with you at the earliest opportunity to reaffirm our position and  to discuss our concerns with regard to this critical issue.

The Coalition, on behalf of families, self advocates and service providers, calls on you to honor the commitment that Community Living Services will be seamless and lifelong to all individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. The splitting of children and adults services or a staged implementation can only lead to fractured services and disparities in service policy and practice.

The Community has worked collaboratively with the Interim Authority of Community Living BC and your Ministry to accomplish the goals of improving services to individuals and families.  We have much success to celebrate.  However, our partnership has been predicated on the vision and principle that children and adult services will be transferred together when the permanent Community Living BC Authority begins to deliver services.  We are seeking your confirmation on this principle.

Our community remains firm on this issue and seeks to resolve this with you immediately. 

Sincerely

Cathy Anthony/ Mike Keating
On Behalf of the Community Living Coalition