Coalition Meeting Minutes

BACI - 2702 Norland Avenue, Burnaby

June 23, 2005

1. Introductions
2. Reminder to use plain language – check in with people regularly to ensure understanding.  Speak one at a time – let the Chair regulate the speakers’ list to reduce confusion.
3. Political Climate – Minister of Children and Family Development is Stan Hagen – good for community in that Minister Hagen is aware of Community Living and supportive of the move to community governance.  NDP recently appointed shadow cabinet critics – Adrian Dix is critic for MCFD.
   1. Write letter to Minister welcoming his re-appointment and the devolution of community living services on July 1, 2005.
   2. MOU on Children’s Services has been signed by the Premier – all special needs services for children will be transferred to CLBC – then, over time, those services that don’t fit with community living will be transferred to CFD authorities. 
   3. Devolution on July 1, 2005 – no changes will occur in July because of Devolution – the longer term changes will occur over the next year, beginning in January 2006 – Transformation.
   4. Biggest upcoming issue is the budget for MCFD / CL in February 2006 – the three year plan introduced in 2005 does not include adequate funding in the 2006 year. The Community must address this issue with Government.  The government was given a significant message in the election that they need to better address the community’s concerns around social services.
   5. Minister of state for Child Care – Linda Reid – seems to be a change only in name, not in functions.
   6. Federal Child Care funding agreement will be signed soon – then funding will flow to increased child care.  Need will be to ensure funding flows to appropriate programs.  Example: Training of ECE workers is better in public institutions than in private institutions.  Wages of child care workers are still very low – BACI pays $1l.00/hour – many other agencies pay less.
   7. Request for Qualifications (RFQ): Regions are calling for proposals from agencies to be approved agencies for services in certain categories.  It is presumed that this will eliminate the need for RFP (Requests for Proposals) for new services.  Regions can then ask an agency directly to provide a new service.  Concern is that newer agencies, or smaller agencies will be excluded from providing new services.
4. Letters to Minister of CFD and Minister of EIA – Letters were written to address the issues of the Community Living Restructuring Fund and the Disability Benefits increase that was not received by some individuals.  These letters will be posted to our website this week. 
   1. Disability Benefits: An additional issue is the hope for retroactivity of the Disability Benefits increase – back to January 2005 when most individuals received the increase. MCFD and MHR (now MEIA) agree that there are issues and are attempting to rectify the issue – but there are so many variations on the problem – some individuals get only comforts, some get full benefits but pay rent / user fee of $666.00 to their service provider.  Others have the $666 deducted from their benefits before they receive it.  Part of the issue is how residential contracts are structured – some include the MHR funding.  There needs to be a fundamental shift in the way all funding from MHR is directed to individuals.  All individuals should receive their benefits and then pay for their care from those funds.  Funds should not bypass the individual.
   2. Community Living Restructuring Fund is hoping for ongoing fund to allow proactive one-time supports to families across the Province.  CLRF has posted their second annual report on their website: www.clrestructuringfund.ca
5. Next CLBC Board Meeting: Volunteers are needed to attend CLBC Board meetings – upcoming dates are: July (no date confirmed yet), August 23rd, September 20th, October 18th and November 29th.
6. Federal Update:  Minister Hagen is meeting with other Social Service Ministers from across the country and Minister Dryden to move towards a national disability strategy.  Peter Julian – NDP MP from New Westminster has drafted a report on a national disability strategy as well.  This has been reviewed by local advocacy committees.
7. Four of Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network's (PLAN) founding members, Jack Collins, Joan Lawrence, Vickie Cammack and Al Etmanski will be awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by Her Excellency Governor General Adrienne Clarkson. The Meritorious Service Decoration civil division recognizes individuals who have performed an exceptional deed or an activity that brought honour to their community or to Canada. More information is available through our website: http://www.plan.ca/AboutPlan_NewsEvents.htm
8. New chairs are needed – we try to rotate chairs of the coalition every six months – in the past, there has been a service provider, family member and self-advocate.
   1. Service Provider: Richard Faucher
   2. Family Member: Nellie Wong / Carol Stinson
   3. Self advocates: Gerry Juzenas, Bryce Schaufelberger
   4. Liz Barnett will continue as the coalition representative at the Transformation Working group of Community Living BC.
9. 50^th Anniversary Conference for BCACL – September 29^th to October 1 in Richmond.  September 28^th – Official Launch of Climb for Community Living – 45 people are going to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in February 2006.
10. Update from CLBC – Brian Salisbury:
    1. Offer letters went to all current MCFD community living staff – they have until June 24^th to respond.  Most staff are responding positively of their intention to come to CLBC.  Workshops are occurring across the province to provide more information to MCFD staff on the new service model.  Module One and Module Two are workshops that have been presented to MCFD staff (admin and social workers).  Three more modules are to be offered to MCFD staff.  In the future, there is the intention to have more inclusive training, including some family members, self-advocates and agency staff.
    2. Quality Service Manager postings are up and Doug Woollard and Carol Goozh are interviewing for those positions.
    3. Transitional Business Plan is posted on CLBC website – outlining projects that will be completed by June 30, 2006 to transform the service model for community living.
    4. Bobbi Noble has been contracted with to develop a strategic planning process for Community Living BC.
    5. The Children’s MOU has been signed – it outlines which services will be administered by CLBC pending completion of the Children’s Agreement which will sort out which  services are eventually transferred back, along with any budget for those services and programs.
    6. Children’s Transformation Working Group will meet for the first time next week -  the basic role of the group is to act in an advisory capacity to CLBC with respect to children being served by CLBC –  chaired by John Kehler and Rick Mowles.
    7. Three year rolling service plans being developed as CLBC is a service providing Crown Agency. 
    8. Meeting yesterday in Victoria with full Transformation group within MCFD confirmed that all processes are in place to have the devolution occur on July 1, 2005.  All technology services, accounting, payroll and communications systems have been established to ensure ongoing stability of the services.  Order in Council (OIC) will proclaim the existence of CLBC effective July 1, 2005. Regulations that come with the Act will also be published when the proclamation is made.
    9. From Good to Great – Conference in Vernon – June 16,17, 2005.  Agencies, families, self-advocates and MCFD staff attended and focused on person-centred planning.  Over 200 people attended.  Michael Smull was keynote speaker.
    10. Letter should be arriving for all agencies, families and individuals outlining the transfer and what implications there are for families and individuals.
    11. Planning community information sessions in 20 communities in July 2005.
    12. QUESTIONS:

                                                               i.      Self-Advocate Advisory Committee to the Board of Directors is to be established. Brian is the staff person responsible for assisting the Board with establishing this group.  A self-advocate reference group was developed two years ago… Will the reference groups be consulted in the creation of the new committee?  The board will determine the composition and recruitment plan for the advisory committee.

                                                             ii.      Costs of Collective Agreements: Is MCFD covering the cost of increases in March 2006?  This question is best answered by Richard Hunter, Director of Finance.

                                                            iii.      Intention in recruiting Advisory Committee members – will there be representation from across the Province.  Yes, that is intention, but the Board has not determined the composition and recruitment plan for the Advisory Committee.

                                                           iv.      What does the MOU on children’s services mean to service providers and families?  The MOU will hopefully allow for a smoother transition between children’s and adult’s services for families and young adults.

                                                             v.      How does the CLBC respond to negative press articles like the Vancouver Sun article on Saturday? 

                                                           vi.      How do children with protection issues and disabilities get dealt with?  There is a special project on sorting out the issues for these children.

                                                          vii.      Coalition members thanked Brian for his commitment to the transformation by becoming an employee of the new Authority.

                                                        viii.      Brian pointed out that the effort is a result of the community vision for community living and that community needs to remain strong in their vision – to hold the Authority accountable.

                                                           ix.      Phase one of Individualized Funding Project: Is it continuing? CLBC is committed to building the policy supports for Individualized Funding and will bring forward IF once the supports in place.

11. Next Coalition Meeting: Thursday, September 15^th, 2005 Noon to 2pm