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Date: Wednesday,
September 17, 2003 Minutes
Interim Authority Update: David Driscoll provided an overview of progress from the Interim Authority Board and an update on the strategic issues identified by the Coalition. Last week, the Board met for three days to review their progress and chart future directions. This review was in the context of evaluating their progress on the community’s original objectives and to consider possible strategies to address the concerns raised by the Community Living Coalition. He advised that at a meeting with the Minister set for Friday, September 19th, the Interim Authority would advise that they feel continuity is important but they also want to ensure the Minister feels freedom to appoint who he chooses to the new board. They also feel it is important to address the Minister’s and government’s interest in the corporate governance model, meaning that members must have understanding of legal, financial and contractual issues. The current I/A Board agrees, but also says that the new board must have credibility with the community - meaning that the board must include members that understand community living and must represent the diversity of the Province of BC. Accordingly they would be recommending 8 current I/A directors from which the Minister would appoint 4 to the next board of the Interim Authority to be appointed November 12th. Doug Allen, a principal with Sage Consulting, has been appointed to conduct a review of the Ministry governance projects, both the community living and the Children and Family services initiatives. It is expected that his report will be released next week when the Minister meets with the Interim Authority Board and with the Regional Planning Chairs for CFD and Aboriginal services. The Board wants to use the Allen Report and the recommendations to work with the Minister to broaden support and confidence for this governance initiative within government, Cabinet and the Caucus. The Board recognizes that confidence is the issue and without confidence the movement towards community governance is at risk. Summary of Key Issues Raised by the Coalition: 1) Timing of legislation 2) Content of legislation (board composition), 3) Children and Adults together 4) Uncertainty in the community because of mixed messages from gov’t There was acknowledgement that all three issues are critical to community and have become symbolic of the government’s commitment to governance. There was lengthy discussion. Various suggestions were made and considered. Cathy Anthony presented a letter to the I/A Board representatives addressing issues discussed by the Coalition. She prefaced her remarks by thanking all the members of the Interim Authority Board for their hard work and confirming that the Coalition stands behind the Interim Authority as community members. She summarized the debate and discussion by saying that the community understands the need to be responsive to the Minister and to government but that the community is firm on the need for a board that is community - based and absolutely firm on children and adult remaining together and both moving from the Ministry to Community Living British Columbia at the same time. Parents would never accept a delay as anything other than unacceptable. IF Implementation Plan: Targeted to serve 150 adults and 60 children, services to begin between October 31, 2003 and March 31, 2004. Application Form and Frequently Asked Questions page will be issued by government within a few days and posted on the Interim Authority and MCFD websites. The funding is not new money for community living, but will use existing funding in new ways. Interim Authority is responsible for all policy development and also the on-the-ground implementation. Dan Collins is the Project Leader on this initiative. This is not a pilot project – it is Phase One of the Individualized Funding Implementation Plan, giving a learning opportunity for the authority leading towards a broader introduction of Individualized Funding as an option for individuals and families. The Interim Authority will be leading training for up to 30 current MCFD social workers to become facilitators for the IF Implementation plan. In some areas, there may be an emphasis on program funding, giving families receiving support from a program the option to receive the funding individually and then work through the process of unbundling the funding, while protecting the services of those who don't want individualized funding. The Community Presentations Schedule has been delayed over and over as the Ministry has not been able to approve their own participation in the process. The Board has decided to create their own evaluation process and communications strategy that doesn't require Ministry participation as the board feels it is essential to be communicating and discussing with the community the development of the new authority. Mental Health Services: Over the summer, Nancy Hall has been working on understanding the needs of individuals who are at Willow and why they were sent to Willow in the first place. She has been working with Caron Byrne, Cam Dore, Dr. Brian Plain and Brian Roberts, the social worker at Willow to analyze the needs of people in crisis in the community to develop plans for tertiary community-based services. Recommendations will be made to the Tertiary Services Committee. Nancy brought up an example of how the integration of Children's and Adults' services would be beneficial as currently some children aren't receiving appropriate mental health services and reach adulthood requiring extensive resources to address their needs. Earlier appropriate intervention would be much better for the individual, the family and the budget. Ken Pook is heading up the project to close Willow Clinic and was present to answer specific questions planning for individuals currently living there.. Strategic Directions: What are the top priorities right now as the Interim Authority goes into negotiations with the Ministry towards the creation of Community Living BC? The Coalition was clear that the number one priority is the necessity to keep children's and adults' services together in community living from the beginning of the new authority. A plan to phase in Children's services later when the Children and Families authorities are created is not acceptable. Doug Allen's recommendations next week may include a recommendation on this issue and the Interim Authority must understand this is not acceptable to parents and family members. If Children's services are included right away, then no further advocacy is required, but if his recommendation is to hold back Children's services for a year, then the Coalition needs to decide on strategies. There are two groups of opponents to the inclusion of Children's services: 1) there is significant resistance from staff within the ministry 2) some Child Development Centres oppose the move to community-based governance generally or the transfer of services to Community Living BC specifically. People asked if ministry staff had articulated reasons why they wanted to go back to a segregated system of services. It was suggested that the Coalition position on why children's services should be included in CLBC should be written in to a position statement so that the Ministry and other opponents are forced to clarify their reasons for their position. Another suggestion was to reach out to CDC’s as many are now becoming supportive of CLBC as the planning work of the Interim Authority is becoming better known and understood in the community. Motion Cathy / Arlene: It is position of the Community Living Coalition that Children's and Adults services must transition together at the time that Community Living BC begins to deliver services. CARRIED Unanimously In support of the motion it was agreed that a letters be sent to Doug Allen and the Minister outlining the Coalition position and requesting a meeting with a Coalition working group on this issue. Working group to get letters out is Cathy Anthony, Mike Keating, Roberta Scott and Angela Clancy. After the Doug Allen report has been released, if it contains the recommendation to delay the transition of Children's services, then further political action must be taken. There was discussion about what political action might be taken. Working group to develop specific strategies and to continue the communications process is the above group plus Caron Graham. Community Living Restructuring Fund: A one time grant of $20 Million from the government to the Victoria Foundation is administered by a committee chaired by Lorraine Ward and John Groom. There are still funds available and they are requesting further proposals for innovative uses of this funding. There will be a simplified application form and the committee will meet monthly to consider requests that improve the quality of life of individuals, create innovative options for services for individuals, or make renovations to houses or facilities to increase accessibility. The funding is for one-time costs only. Watch for further information on how to apply. Compensation Funding Issue: There is a meeting coming together over the weekend trying to establish a mutually agreeable process to resolve this matter involving the Ministry, service providers and the Interim Authority. No formal response has been received by the coalition to their letter to the Minister on this issue. Supported Child Care: A small working group wrote a letter to the Supported Child Care Refocus group that was reviewed by the members present. The letter was revised and will be sent to the Refocus Working Group tomorrow. (watch for a copy to be posted to the website). Motion: Laney/ Arlene: That the coalition supports sending of the letter to the Refocus Group on Supported Child Care. CARRIED Unanimously. Community Engagement Meetings: October 16, 2003 - 1pm to 4pm: Meeting with John Lord for Community Engagement, probably at the BACI office. Motion: Jeff Moulins, Cathy Grant: That the coalition supports the Community Engagement meetings planned over the next few months and acts as a co-host for the meetings with the Interim Authority and BCACL. CARRIED. Next Meeting of the Coalition: Friday, September 26th 2003 - 10am to Noon. There was a request for an upcoming meeting to be scheduled in the afternoon - 2pm to 5pm. That request will be considered when future meetings are planned. Adjournment at 1:20pm |
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