Members of the board of BC FamilyNet Society met with the new Minister for Children and Family Development, Tom Christensen, on October 4 to discuss current challenges in community living.
The discussion focused on our updated "Key Issues" document, a copy of which is now posted on our Website (www.bcfamilynet.org -see links under “Bulletin Board” section). We also discussed Questions about the Residential Options Review and presented the Minister with a copy of our recent pre-budget Submission to the Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services (both also now posted on our Web site). In addition to reviewing the many current issues, we stressed the need to cater to the diversity in our community, the urgency of budgets and waitlists, the need for a clearer & stronger community living mandate and accountability, frustrations related to endless change and the need to shift the focus from abstract visions and models to addressing the serious gaps in front-line services.
We greatly appreciated the receptive audience we received from Minister Christensen and made it clear that families look forward to working with him--indeed with all parties--to tackle the many current challenges in community living in ways that will bring the most tangible benefits to struggling individuals and families.
We hope to hear at least some answers shortly from the new Minister, particularly on the Residential Options Review, and will post these on our Website as available. Our thanks to the many families and individuals who shared their experiences and concerns to help us develop this advocacy initiative.
Note: Please let us know if you have any problems viewing the above documents on our website (which are in PDF format), or with opening any links in this e-mail or on our website.
BC FamilyNet Society
e-mail: info@bcfamilynet.org
website: www.bcfamilynet.org
