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Present
The meeting was chaired by Doug Woollard. Updates and Information Sharing
Maria Glaze · receiving great response to her letter to Minister Hogg which she has distributed widely via email · the Minister called Maria to ask if he could read it in Cabinet meeting; Maria agreed · Maria has been communicating with the Minister by email and will try to continue this
Mildred DeHaan · has written a letter to minister Hogg as is willing to share this with members; Mildred will email this to the Minister today
Doug Walls · has heard treasury board has lowered cuts for MCFD from 35% to 30% · it was reported that during the presentation to GCC Nov 15, Minister Hogg said the up to 200 people would benefit from congregate care · Minister Hogg met with BCBC regarding building 8 large residential resources · sensing growing unease within MCFD
Ernie Baatz · families from Spectrum have met with MLAs Collin Hanson, Ken Johnson and Lorne Mayencourt
Melinda Heidsma · information from BC people First and BCACL out to 400 families · AiMHi will send similar info package to employees · have met with MLAs Shirley Bond, Pat Bell and Paul Nettleton’s office · finding it difficult to involve self advocates due to sensitive nature of congregate care issue
Jack Styan · are trying to meet with MLAs · have a meeting with Minister Hogg set for December 14 · advised that groups from Okanagan region may be developing a video to raise awareness re cut backs
Cathy Anthony · has sent letter to MLAs requesting meetings
Ellen Tarshis · Met with Ida Chong Nov.9 · meetings confirmed next week with Brian Kerr, Jeff Grey, Arnie Hamilton, Murray Coell, · have connection through member to Gary Collins and are trying to secure a meeting with him · met with columnist Jodi Patterson Nov 14; expect 2nd column week of Nov 19 · CKVU will interview Ellen, VACL president and family next week; will tour group home to get a sense of the impact cuts will have · met with HEU reps; may be worthwhile considering common interests · concerned the Minister Hogg has added to the misinformation in media by using “voucher system” · need people form around province to keep pressure on MLAs
Dawn Proudlove · mailing out to Family support Institute this week · has contacted MLAs Rich Coleman and Lynn Stevens
Jule Hopkins · is hearing that a “big announcement” will soon be made about Linda Reid
Bruce Sandy · the BC Association for Child Development and Rehabilitation (BCACDR) has taken the position that services for children who require extra support would be better positioned with other children services, but not with child protection · the BCACDR federation has recommended to the MCFD Deputy Minister that a new “early childhood division” be created, minus child protection and that the health services related to children be transferred from the Ministry of Health Services to this division · this position varies from the coalition’s position that services for children with special needs and adults with developmental disabilities must stay together · BCACDR’s position includes protection of funding, preservation of local boards, recognition of core services and an increased allocation of the National Children’s Agenda funding to this sector · considerable discussion occurred around this issue. A few members of the coalition offered to meet with representatives form BCACDR as soon as possible to discuss the risks surrounding this position. Bruce agreed to contact Laney Bryenton to follow up on this offer.
Doug Woollard § has calculated what a 35% cut will mean to his association § information detailing the impact of cuts has been shared with families, staff § is hearing increased likeliness of children’s services being separated form adult community living services § has written to MLA Val Roddick,; has meeting with MLA Reni Masi November 23
Laney Bryenton (BCACL) § met with Gordon Hogg Nov9th ; delivered clear messages that cuts are unacceptable and the children and adults community living services must stay together at all costs § concern with Minister’s continued use of congregate care language § addressed media reports re amalgamations, high costs of supports for some people, voucher system § Minister did watch the “From the Inside/OUT video after the meeting and sent a note to Patty VanPelt (board member) § BCACL media strategy at this time is to focus on person stories, local impact, may build towards press conference at a later date § Seeking family meeting with Premier Campbell § Will begin telephone campaign within federation to reinforce importance of families and self advocates getting to MLAs § Asked that members of the coalition help other executive directors understand this importance of the coalitions messages and to encourage participation in delivering key messages to MLAs MLAs contacted to date
Committees
The group broke out into committee meeting and reported back to the whole coalition.
Operating Model / Savings / Labour Relations Chair: Doug Woollard Ø will meet again November 19 (9:30 - 1:00) and November 28 (12 - 3:30) at BCACL Ø a list of creative and innovative services will be generated. The list will include benefits to individuals and families and savings that may have been realized Ø need to prepare a list supports and services that are provided by associations without any government funding and attach dollar amounts (BCACL member associations will be surveyed for this) Ø need to determine hard numbers of how much money may be saved. Doug Woollard will begin to gather data
Communications Co-Chairs: Linda Perry, Pat Tesan Ø need to increase awareness of BCACL and BCCPD work re DBII Ø encourage families to write letters to local newspaper editors, call CBC Talkback line Ø Patty Gibson will develop a backgrounder for families Ø The committee will develop a Question & Answer” sheet Ø Linda Perry will collect names of family members who are willing to speak with the media – please pass names and contact info to Linda Ø Please copy Linda and Maria Glaze on any letters, notes from discussions with MLAs etc…This will help in tracking what MLAs have been approached and results Ø Linda Perry will connect with Militant Moms on the Move
Governance Chair: Doug Walls Ø Next meeting is November 27th at BCACL from 9:30 – 12:30 Ø Doug Walls will circulate two background/discussion papers asap and before Nov.27 Ø Details of a governance model need to be discussed, but a broad model will be considered
Discussion Regarding Additional Coalition Members
Ø Considerable discussion occurred about inviting and welcoming new members to the coalition. It was agreed that additional family members in particular would be encouraged to participate at the coalition and that it would be best if service providers participated through existing committees. Members will make every effort to discuss the coalitions positions with new participants before they attend their first meeting. Ø It was agreed that it would be best to have representative from private providers included in the coalition. Ø It was agreed that Ellen Tarshis would invite Karl Egner to attend the next meeting as a representative of contractors on the island. Ellen agreed to review the coalitions’ positions with Karl before the next meeting. Ø It was agreed that Laney Bryenton would invite a representative from Family Care Model Homes (this federation is the Community Residential Services Providers of BC)
Involving Families and Self Advocates It was agreed that regional meetings would be facilitated by coalition members November 26 and 27th to inform as many self advocates and family members as possible about the Coalition’s positions, to increase awareness of the impacts of budget cuts and to encourage people to contact their MLAs as soon as possible. Ø Melinda Heidsma and Bill Fildes will coordinate a meeting in Prince George Ø Linda Perry will make some contacts with the hope of coordinating a meeting in the Kootenays (FSI may have contacts) Ø Jordan Thurston agreed to host a meeting in the Lower Mainland Ø Ellen Tarshis will facilitate a meeting in Victoria Please share other meeting that may be organized with coalition members as soon as possible. Other Actions Ø Laney Bryenton will contact Minister Hogg’s office on behalf of the coalition and request a meeting. Next Full Coalition Meeting: November 29, 2001 9:30 – 12:30BCACL
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