Community Living Coalition

Meeting Minutes

September 15, 2005

1. Introductions
2. Update from CLBC - Brian Salisbury
   1. Three Year Service plan now available on the CLBC website:
      1. http://www.communitylivingbc.ca/pdfs/serviceplan_05-08.pdf
   2. Strategic Plan - will be presented in draft -
      1. Feedback will be sought from key stakeholders in 10 communities around the province.
   3. Staff Conference for social workers - March 2 and 3, 2006 tentatively.  
   4. Things are on track for a start of later October for the development site which will operate in Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Langley area
   5. CLBC continues to hire its complement of regular staff, including its field managers, administrative and human resources staff – 4 Manager positions in the lower mainland remain unfilled
   6. Information Gathering: CLBC is attempting to gather more information on people being served, people waiting for services and people who have no services.  They don't have formal waiting list info from the transition from MCFD.  CLBC is developing a formal waitlist policy.  They are also trying to expand their information on where people live, who their family contacts are, and services they are receiving.
   7. Advisory Committee to the Board - Proposal has been drafted and will go to Board at their next meeting.
      1. Self Advocates clarified that they would like to meet separately from Family members on the advisory committee so that they can ensure they understand information that is presented to them, so that they can discuss issues that affect them, and formulate presentations on those issues.  The coalition supports the self advocates in their request.
      2. Board members who are Self Advocates report that they are getting good support from CLBC in terms of participation in CLBC Board Meetings.
      3. Will Community Living Centres have a resource centre for self advocates?  There needs to be dedicated space and resources for self advocates.  First Community Living Centre is being developed in the Mission / Abbotsford area.  Self Advocates need to provide input and then feedback when the centre is developed.
   8. What is happening with policy development?  In particular, the policy development around children with autism.  MCFD retains control of policy development for services for children with autism.  CLBC received the staff and funding for those services as an interim measure.  When MCFD develops their child development service delivery system, services for children with autism will transfer back to MCFD.
3. Update on Letters sent in July 2005
   1. Disability Benefits: Minister Claude Richmond of Employment and Income Assistance (MEIA) is aware of the issue.  Government announced a $70 increase to disability benefits in December 2004, but many people on disability benefits have not seen that increase due to administrative issues between MCFD and MHR (now MEIA).  They are committed to resolving the issue but it is a difficult business process to sort out between MEIA and MCFD.  BCACL will be meeting with Minister Stan Hagen in a few weeks and will raise the issue with MCFD as well.  They say the funding for the permanent resolution of the problem is in the 2006-07 budget, but there is still hope they can come up with a resolution in this budget year.
   2. Community Living Restructuring Fund: Lorraine introduced the two Consultants that worked for CLRF, Freda and Shairose have supported the Committee in managing the application process.  All funds ($24 Million) have now been disbursed to applicants and MCFD has not expressed any ability to provide more funding.  Over 1,000 families were assisted across the Province.  There will be final report presented by the committee to the Ministry and the public.  There were many families and individuals whose proposals arrived to late.  
      1. MOTION: That the coalition supports Lorraine Ward acting as the sponsor of Shairose Jinnah in her Thesis project. Moved by Laney, seconded by Ernie Baatz.  CARRIED
      2. Lorraine Ward will be acting on behalf of the coalition as her sponsor.  A copy of the thesis will be presented to the coalition when it is complete.  The intellectual property in the thesis will remain the property of Shairose Jinnah.  Thesis title is Sustaining Services and Supports for Individuals with Disabilities and their Families.  Tim Stainton is her faculty supervisor.
4. Discussion of future role of Community Living Coalition: This topic needs more time - (2:10pm) - some coalition members provided their feedback - things they have heard from family members:
   1. Some families say that the purpose has been completed - CLBC exists, independent planning coming, families on board of directors, individualized funding soon.
   2. Some families express comfort in the CLBC management team - they are people that are trusted in the community.
   3. Principles being sought when the coalition was created were:
      1. Self Advocates and Families must have a leadership role in community living services
      2. Independent Planning
      3. Individualized Funding as an option for Individuals and Families.
   4. Each of these principles - although now promised or present in some form - still need work to make them active and effective.
5. Next Meeting: November 16, 2005 - Noon to 2pm  - Primary Issue will be the future of the community living coalition.  Is there a reason to continue? POSTPONED: Next Meeting now scheduled for Jan 12, 2006 Noon to 2pm -BACI
6. Adjournment at 2:20pm