·        There is opportunity here and it is a good place to start.  The framework we presented can be found in their presentation.

5.                  Steps to Take.

 a.                   Clarification  -  We need to meet quickly with the Minister and ask for clarity on a number of specific issues: Cuts to services, Immediate funding pressures of labour agreements and children in care turning 19 yrs, and Children with special needs being included in a governance model with adults with developmental disabilities.

 b.                  Seize the Opportunity to Create.

o       The establishment of working groups to target specific issues.

o       To be created in the short term: terms of reference, time line and budget.

o       We need to ensure that there are resources to do the research to help us in this work.

o       We propose that the Transition Team will have 75% community representation.

o       We need to ensure that the structure is designed to rely on resources in the community and not dependant on the bureaucracy.  That is, to convert the system so that it contributes to capacity.

o       We need clarity on issues / information.  Where are the ‘trip points’ or ‘bottom lines’?  This is critical.

o       We need to know where we are in solidarity with others.

 6.                  Key Issues Identified

 a.                   No changes before transition occurs, governance model is in place or, changes made are approved by the coalition.

b.                  What are specialized resources and what are complex needs?

c.                   What are the time lines?

d.                  When are funds benchmarked?

e.                   What will happen with special needs children?  Who are “special needs children?  Special needs children are part of community living in the absence of an argument to the contrary.

f.                    What are the supports available to families that wish to keep their adults in the family home for as long as possible?  Will the money come from existing services?  Is shelter portion of disability benefits lost for people at home?

g.                   Who is “in” community living?  Who is “out” [mental health, dual diagnosis, extended care]?

h.                   What do they mean by income testing?

i.                     What are considerations for funding for other known costs [19 years, labour]?

j.                    Request definition of the long-term funding formula for governance model.   And, a long-term relationship between government and the corporation?

k.                  How does the budget for the governance body get identified year after year?

l.                     What is the ongoing relationship between government and governance and how will it occur?

m.                 Eligibility and portability of funding.

7.                  Enabling Transition Framework Documents.   Doug Walls recommended that we need to have in place an enabling vehicle, such as a Memorandum of Understanding, that is based on the coalition proposal that was presented to the Minister in November, 2001.  We also need to define the structure.  This structure would be defined in the framework document and  would define the composition of the Joint Transition Planning Group; the specific funding requirements of the Joint Transition Planning Group; define the mandate and set the timelines.

It was agreed that the Transition Planning Group would oversee all policy, services, financial and other resources associated with supports and services to people with disabilities during the life of the process.

The Terms of Reference will define the reporting structure directly to the Minister or Deputy Minister.

Benchmarks need to be based on funding envelope as at December 31, 2001, that is before change.

 8.                  Upcoming Opportunities to Meet with the Minister.   It was agreed that Al Etmanski, Doug Walls, and Laney Bryenton will meet with the Minister in the next 5 days.  Laney will confirm date and time.

 9.                  Formalizing the Coalition.   Al Etmanski suggested that our process could adopt a similar mechanism as the Guardianship Coalition.  The Guardianship Coalition was always a coalition of organizations and individuals with a common interest or focus on one issue.  It was not a formal organization.

             Some of the elements of the Guardianship Coalition that we could consider adopting:

a.                   a rotating chairperson

b.                  a clear understanding of who would be spokesperson on different issues;

c.                   had working groups;

d.                  invite as many as possible from around the province to be involved and to serve on committees;

e.                   meet monthly - suggest a 4:00 meeting time [or 6:00 to allow attendance by more family members]

f.                    questions are invited at meetings - no question is not relevant or too basic.  It is important to always take time to orient new people.

g.                   at meetings - working groups reported.

h.                  Guardianship Coalition adopted the model of behaviour of the Canadian Coalition on Acid Rain: All groups are able to leave unrelated issued at the door.

i.                     How do folks get to the table?  All are welcome.  We don’t want to be exclusive.

 10.              Proposed Structure of Coalition:  Al, Tim and Cathy will develop and get a draft structure to Doug Woollard for circulation before the January 31^st meeting.

 11.              Communication.  It was agreed that we need to create a ‘formal’ coalition website.  Agreed that this would be an appropriate vehicle to provide information to the media.  It was agreed that the Communications Committee needs to develop ‘solid’, ‘key’ responses to media.  This working group will consist of Brian Salisbury, Maria Glaze and Linda Perry. (Ernie Baatz was recruited after first committee meeting)

 12.              Code of Ethics.  The IF Family Coalition has developed a draft Code of Ethics.  This will ensure that, when coalition members start working within the new structure that there is a transparent vehicle to disclose interest and identify any areas of potential conflict.  Doug has drafted this and he will circulate this for review by coalition members.

 13.              Membership on the Transition Team.  There was discussion on the total number of individuals that will comprise this team.  It was agreed that we need to consider regional representation and include self-advocates.  It was suggested that we consider membership on the Transition Team be comprised of: 4 - family members & self-advocates; 1 representative from BCACL; 2 service providers; and, 3 government representatives for a total of 10 members.  It was agreed that we may need to enhance these numbers to reflect regional representation.

 14.                 Next Meeting.  The next meeting of the coalition will be held on January 31, 2002 from 9:30 to 12:30 at the Burnaby Association offices.