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Community living services are undergoing a transformation in B.C. We are now at a sensitive and critical point in the transition process. At the end of September 2002, the Transition Steering Committee (TSC) of 25 people presented their report and recommendations to the Minister of Children and Family Development. This report will be available to the public sometime in October on the TSC website at www.cltsc.bc.ca. The next stage is up to you. Ahead of us are many months of negotiating and advocating for the vision of community living that the TSC report recommends. It is important for the Minister to know that the community supports this vision. How can I ensure the Minister knows I support the recommended changes? You can:
How can I support the efforts of the Community Living Coalition? · Join the Community Living Coalition. To find out more about our goals and who we are, see our website: www.communitylivingcoalition.bc.ca, or contact us by email at communications@communitylivingcoalition.bc.ca. By becoming a member you will keep informed and help guide the transition process. · If you can reach the Lower Mainland, attend Community Living Coalition meetings. Meeting notices are posted on the website and sent out to members by email. · Organize meetings of self advocates, families and service providers in your area to discuss the TSC recommendations and write letters of support. · Distribute this bulletin to any gatherings of families, self advocates or service providers that you attend. Become a local contact person for the Community Living Coalition. We need your support! If you can help distribute information and be a contact person for people in your area, please let the Communications committee know by filling out the mail-in form attached to this bulletin, or by email at: communications@communitylivingcoalition.bc.ca
· What is the Community Living Coalition? The Community Living Coalition is an open and inclusive gathering of family members, individuals with disabilities, service providers and other advocates who came together in the fall of 2001 with two primary goals: 1. to address the government's budget cutback announcements and 2. to develop a new vision for community living services that would empower individuals and families to make decision about how they lead their lives in the community. In November 2001, the Community Living Coalition presented a proposal to the Minister for Children and Family Development, the Hon. Gordon Hogg. The key pillars of that proposal were to: · make system-wide changes in the way community living services and supports are provided by shifting control of the services to a community governance body · provide individualized funding as an option · stop the cutbacks · allow the community governance body to achieve savings through administrative efficiencies, and to reinvest those savings in supporting individuals and families on waitlists for services · ensure that self-advocates and family members always comprise 50% plus one of committees, boards and the new governance model Early in 2002 the Coalition mounted a campaign urging the government to stop the cutbacks to community living services. The government then reduced the planned cuts from 35% to 17%. While not the end of the struggle over the budget, this was an encouraging first victory for the Coalition. What is the Transition Steering Committee? In April 2002, Minister Gordon Hogg showed his support for the new directions suggested by the Community Living Coalition by appointing a 25-member Transition Steering Committee (TSC) of community representatives and government staff. Of the 25 members on the TSC, 13 were nominated by the Community Living Coalition. Their task was to develop detailed plans for the transition of services to a community governance body that would offer individualized funding as an option. They presented a report and recommendations to government on September 30, 2002. The TSC worked extremely hard from April to September to develop a plan for community governance that is consistent with the vision that is supported by the community. The TSC's recommendations have been discussed at length by the Community Living Coalition, as well as by the TSC members. The people who have made these recommendations are dedicated to ensuring that community living services are flexible, responsive, innovative and portable.
AGAIN, WE EMPHASIZE THAT THE COMMUNITY LIVING COALITION NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT AND INPUT! The new service delivery model must reflect the many and varied needs of the communities of the province, and we must ensure that government is aware that families speak as one strong united voice. Please volunteer to be a communications facilitator in your community by: Ø emailing us at communications@communitylivingcoalition.bc.ca, or Ø completing the form below and sending it via fax to the Community Living Coalition, c/o 604-875-6744. THANK YOU FOR HELPING US SUPPORT THE VOICE OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN COMMUNITY LIVING.
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