Participation

Open to any individual, professional or group committed to policy reform which offers individualized or direct funding as an option for individuals with disabilities and their families in British Columbia. The Coalition is committed to participation from throughout British Columbia and will seek funds to underwrite travel and other costs.

It is expected all participants would be committed to Individualized Funding principles established by the Coalition. (Please see attached Family Statement on IF)

Participation in the Coalition implies an endorsement of the specific aims of the Coalition.

Participation in the Coalition does not imply an endorsement by the Coalition of any activities of the participants not related to individualized or direct funding.

Meetings

A regular time for open meetings of the Community Living Coalition will be established (e.g. 3^rd Monday every month 4:00 – 7:00). These meetings will be open to everyone in British Columbia. Updates would be provided at each meeting and newcomers are always welcome.

Community Coalition Co-Chairs

Co-chairs will be selected to chair meetings of the coalition and to represent the coalition on formal occasions (e.g. to sign accord with government). At least one of the co-chairs will be a family member of an individual with a disability.

The chairs of each working group will present at the regular monthly meetings of the Coalition.

Working Groups

Working groups will be established to focus on matters requiring ongoing attention as well as specific issues that arise form time to time. Chairs or co-chairs will be established for each working group and approved at the regular meetings of the Community Living Coalition. Each group will be asked to develop terms of reference which will be presented at the next regular meeting of the Community Living Coalition and posted on the Coalition’s web site ( www.communitylivingcoalition.bc.ca ).

Working group chairs will report to the entire coalition at the regular monthly meetings.

The following working groups are recommended at the present time:

Coalition Maintenance Working Groups

1. Communications

2. Management (if funding became available)

Content Working Groups

1. Governance and operation of ‘Community Living Corporation’

2. Capacity Building – IF funding mechanisms; developing resources to respond to demand; independent planning supports (function and funding); service provider response; etc.

3. Training and Safeguards (monitoring and certification)

4. Government Strategy (this group would be the reference for our representatives on the transition team with government)

Transition Team Representatives

Representatives of the coalition will be selected to participate on the Transition planning team with government representatives. They will be expected to represent the values, vision, operational elements developed by the Community Living Coalition and to bring outstanding issues back to the Coalition through the Government Strategy working group.

Family representatives will be nominated by the Individualized Funding Family Coalition.

Self Advocate, Service Provider representatives will be selected by the Community Living Coalition.

BCACL representation will be selected by BCACL.

Transition team representatives will report to the regular meetings of the Coalition.

The immediate reference group for Transition team representatives is the, Government Strategy working group.

Transition Team representatives will automatically be members of the Government Strategy working group.

Communications

With coalition members: Every effort will be made to ensure communication is province wide and representatives from outside the Lower Mainland have maximum opportunity to participate in all meetings and working groups.

Media: A fixed number of people will be selected by the Coalition to speak on behalf of the Coalition to the media. A media information section of our web site will be developed with a list of media spokespeople.

Ethics and Conflict of Interest

All members of the coalition agree to abide by the Coalition’s Statement of Ethics and to declare any potential conflict of interest associated with furthering the aims of the Coalition.