Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 5:08 PM
Subject: CLBC $1.7mil.plan-Move people out of group homes/New Service Plan
NEWS ALERT TO BC FAMILYNET SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP
Copied below is a CLBC News Release we found posted on their website last week regarding a new CLBC 3-yr service plan. This includes undertaking a group home review, for which $1.7 million has been allocated, to identify individuals living in group homes whose needs might be better met by moving to a lower-cost alternative residential setting.
The News Release is copied below, and the new service plan can be viewed at the following link:
Further details from the service plan regarding CLBC's plan to move people out of group homes are also copied below.
We would appreciate hearing your reaction to the $1.7 million group home review and/or other issues in the News Release or Service Plan. If you can do this quickly within the next few days, issues and questions can be raised by the Opposition critic for MCFD during budget debates in the legislature which begin Monday, March 6. We will also inform CLBC of issues brought to our attention.
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"2. INCREASE UTILIZATION OF ALTERNATIVE RESIDENTIAL MODELS
The goal is to actively support individuals, where they choose, to move from higher-cost residential settings to more person-centred, cost effective residential options, thus freeing financial resources for the needs of other individuals. This requires CLBC to:
- In collaboration with individuals, families and service providers, complete a comprehensive review of individuals living in group homes to determine if an individual’s needs can be better met in an alternative, community-based residential option
- Expand alternative options including individuals living in family type settings; caregivers living in a person’s home; room mate models in which people provide support in exchange for room and board and/or a small payment; living with a room mate who acts in a more formal, paid caregiver role; and cluster arrangements which share a live-in caregiver and other options as they are identified
- Maintain existing group home vacancies to allow opportunities to consolidate those homes where residents choose an alternative model. This will increase costs in the short-term but create an opportunity to re-allocate resources in the longer-term.
- Where a review indicates an opportunity to make a change, individuals and families will be offered an informed choice to pursue an alternative option, CLBC will begin a dialogue with those individuals, families and service providers to explore the opportunity and help develop a support plan for each individual and start the recruitment and training of an appropriate alternative residential provider. This will be supported by developing partnerships with community agencies to identify cost efficiencies and new, more innovative ways to provide needed services."
(RE NEWS RELEASE below, ***note reference to "additional" $111 mil for 3 years: Gov't. is not restoring $111 mil. of the $150 million that they cut per year. It's actually something like $70 mil. total over 3 years, which works out to a restoration of $24 million annually for three years [plus the $30 mill fund] vs an overall cut of $150 million annually from Community living services under MCFD.
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“NEWS RELEASE
February 21, 2006
Community Living British Columbia
COMMUNITY LIVING BC MOVING FORWARD WITH TRANSFORMATION
BURNABY – Community Living BC today delivered its three-year Service Plan for fiscal years 2006/07 through 2008/09. This is the second three year plan for CLBC, since its creation as a Crown Agency on July 1, 2005.
With an additional ***$111 million over three years, CLBC will continue development of new approaches to the delivery of community services, already underway in communities throughout BC”, said Lois Hollstedt, Chair of the CLBC Board. “The focus of CLBC’s new model is to enhance person-centred service planning and encourage innovation in the development of alternative support and service delivery approaches.
$30 million is earmarked for the Family Independence Fund. This fund will provide one time only grants to families to assist them in keeping their family members at home. Grants will be made through a community foundation, to those families who meet established eligibility criteria for expenditures such as home renovations and making vehicles accessible to developmentally disabled individuals.
$1.7 million has been allocated for CLBC to undertake a group home review that will identify individuals living in group homes who wish to move to alternative living arrangements.
The review will enable CLBC to collect the very best information related to current needs in order to plan effectively for the future. It is about providing choice for those people who have expressed a desire to move out of group homes or large proprietary homes into another living situation.
In the coming year, CLBC will begin to offer Individualized Funding to people with developmental disabilities and their families. Individualized Funding will give people increased opportunities to exercise greater control over the supports and services they choose, or develop, and how they are provided.
“CLBC is committed to implementing supports and services, based on personal choice, that respond to the unique needs of those individuals and families served in an innovative and responsive manner”, added Rick Mowles, CLBC CEO. “Increasing the range of choices beyond current supports and services is necessary for individuals and families to enhance their quality of life.”
British Columbia continues to be a leader in developing community-based services for adults with developmental disabilities. Community living services include respite and relief care for families and caregivers, community residences, semi-independent living, intensive adult care, and training and support services.
CLBC is a Crown Agency of Government and is classified as a “Service Delivery Corporation”. CLBC is accountable to the provincial legislature through the Minister of Children and Family Development and is mandated by legislation to provide community living supports and services, subject to available funding, for children and adults with developmental disabilities, and their families. CLBC is responsible for developing policy, directing operations, enforcing standards, and managing funds and services.”
