March 2005

Dear Families and Individuals:

We know that you will want to know what FamilyNet has been doing since the announcement of the new CLBC model and send this update to you.

Our board has written to the Deputy Minister of MCFD and the Chair of Community Living BC regarding our disappointment with the new service plan for Community Living BC, released on January 19th.  We have also requested meetings with the Minister and with the Deputy Minister to share feedback from families and self-advocates.  On Friday, Feb. 11, at the invitation of Lois Hollstedt, Chair of CLBC, we met with her and a few other members of the CLBC Board.  We still have many concerns but are open to continued dialogue with them. You can read about the service plan in the document "Transforming Community Living Services in British Columbia" at the following link:   http://www.communitylivingcoalition.bc.ca/PDF/transforming_cls_jan05.pdf

Please let us know your views regarding this new service model, and your stories on how service and funding cuts are affecting you. Our e-mail and website addresses are stated below. We want to discuss this important  feedback  in meetings with the Minister, Deputy Minister, and CLBC board.

Some of our comments and questions regarding the new service plan and it's impact are as follows:

Comments:

• There seems to be no change from the previous model  - many important questions and concerns raised in the past 3 years remain.
  

• One of the guiding principles of this plan states "Individuals and families are the decision makers", but this is contradicted by a statement on the same page states that families "may not always be the final decision makers' (because of constraints in the system, etc.).
  

• It's still not clear how this plan will be implemented in communities, how things will actually change for the better for children, youth and adults with developmental disabilities and self-advocates,and families.
  

• There should be more emphasis on the planning and support side.
  

• The focus should be on improving service delivery to individuals and families, not further restructuring.
  

• There should be no changes to services without individuals' and families' consent.
  

• The adult Community Living budget was cut at least  $50 million.  Although Government  has just announced that funding is to increase by a total of $91 million over the next three years, there is no indication this is sufficient nor how this is to be allocated.
  

• Budgets need to be restored, and there is a desperate need for long-term, stable funding.
  

• There needs to be a communication plan that is broader than the Internet, and that includes the opportunity for real input.
  

• Previous public meetings have not been consultation meetings; input has not resulted in any substantial changes to the plan. 
  

• A monitoring system is needed at the local level - one that holds government and service providers accountable to individuals and families
  

• Services and supports continue to shrink in local communities and service providers are expected to serve more and more people with fewer dollars.
  

Questions:

• How will this plan be funded?
  

• How will waitlists be addressed?
  

• What will happen to existing agencies?
  

• Will there be forced amalgamation?
  

• What will happen to group homes?
  

• What will the "network of community safeguards" will be?
  

• What is the plan for autism?
  

• What's happening with children's services and funding - how will transition issues for those over age 6 be resolved?
  

• Who will really be accountable when things go wrong? (the Ministry's policy is "shared responsibility")
  

• There seem to be too many layers of chiefs in the new structure - will this cost more than the previous structure?
  

We will continue to keep you informed as new information becomes available.

Sincerely,

Anita Dadson, President

BC FamilyNet

e-mail: info@bcfamilynet.org

website:  www.bcfamilynet.org