At today's demonstration of the technology, Social Development Minister Stephanie Cadieux underscored how CAYA's innovative technology solutions help people with communication disabilities participate more fully in their communities.
For people who do not have the capacity for functional speech, CAYA provides the ability to communicate. Using technology, these individuals can do things that most take for granted - speaking on the phone, ordering food in a restaurant, using Skype and participating in group conversations. Communication devices like Dynawrite, Vantage and other tools help CAYA clients work, volunteer, learn and build friendships that contributes to greater independence and an improved quality of life.
The Province has committed $5.7 million in funding over the next three years, bringing the total provincial contribution for CAYA to more than $15 million since 2005.
CAYA provides equipment and services to adults and youth aged 19 or older with complex communication disabilities. Since 2005, CAYA has provided approximately 630 British Columbians with communications technologies.
The goal of CAYA is to ensure that eligible individuals have access to the communication tools and professional support to enable them to create an adult life to the best of their abilities.
Quotes:
Minister of Social Development Stephanie Cadieux -
"By using the equipment and services that CAYA provides, people with communication disabilities are able to participate more fully in the social and economic life of B.C."
"For people who have previously been unable to speak, this is amazing technology. It gives them a voice and lets them be more involved in community life."
Jeff Riley, manager, Communication Assistance for Youth and Adults -
"The stable funding for CAYA announced in the 2012-13 B.C. Budget is excellent news for British Columbians who cannot speak. The inability or loss of speech is perhaps the most isolating disability an individual can ever face."
"Talking with others is how we build family, friends, and lives. The restoration of functional communication through modern technology and professional supports, opens the doors to participation in the human family, and shows the world who we truly are."
April Proudlove, CAYA client -
"Without my communication device, no one would know what I have to say."
Quick Facts:
Learn More:
For more information on CAYA, visit: http://www.cayabc.org/
For more information on the Employment Program of British Columbia, which provides services to individuals with disabilities, visit: www.workbccentres.ca
Contact:
David Haslam
Communications Manager
Ministry of Social Development
250 356-1670
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To date, 192 of the referrals to the team have been resolved with 142 of those individuals now receiving additional services.
The Client Support Team (CST) was created in October, 2011 in response to concerns raised by individuals with developmental disabilities and families about the level of services provided by Community Living BC (CLBC). Individuals and their families can request the CST to review their situation to ensure that they are receiving all the appropriate services from CLBC and across government for which they are eligible.
The team brings together staff with experience working with adults with developmental disabilities and their families from CLBC and the ministries of Social Development, Children and Family Development, and - when required - Health and Education.
The Client Support Team has been successful in problem-solving at the local level first - finding timely and local solutions and connecting people and families with the appropriate supports and services in their communities. CLBC supports nearly 14,000 adults with developmental disabilities and their families in B.C.
Until the permanent appeal mechanism is in place, the Client Support Team will continue to work with individuals with developmental disabilities and their families who have expressed concerns about current services or feel these services no longer address their needs.
Anyone who would like to have a representative of the Client Support Team contact them can email info@communitylivingbc.ca or call toll-free 1 877 660-2522.
Contact:
David Haslam
Communications Manager
Ministry of Social Development
250 356-1670
250 361-7989 (cell)
Since the release of the comprehensive 12-point plan in January, an inter-ministry team - including the ministries of Social Development, Children and Family Development, Education and Health, along with Community Living BC (CLBC) - has been working to develop an integrated delivery system to provide a long-term resolution for individuals, families, home-care providers and others. A number of initiatives and changes are underway to address the 12 recommendations outlined in the plan.
The Province is providing an additional $179 million over the next three years to improve supports for people with developmental disabilities and their families. Part of the new funding will be allocated to families with transitioning youth, providing a minimum of $2,800 annually for respite services, or an equivalent amount of money where another service is preferred. Approximately 750 families are eligible for this new minimum level of support, with additional funding and services available to young adults with higher needs.
CLBC is also increasing community inclusion supports, including employment-related services, for approximately 200 young adults as a direct result of increased funding.
Over the next two months, a series of targeted self-advocate consultations will take place throughout the province, giving people with developmental disabilities input on decisions and policies that affect their lives. This is the first step in a broader consultation process, with the next phase planned for the fall. That step will include family members, service providers, self-advocates and community representatives.
In addition, CLBC has recently distributed a call to action for the Community Action Employment Plan to individuals, families, service providers and community councils. Thirty community facilitators will help lead consultations to strengthen employment supports for individuals with developmental disabilities in B.C. These conversations will assist the Province and CLBC to deliver on the recommendation to increase employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.
The inter-ministry team is also creating a volunteer reference committee and website to ensure individuals and their families have the opportunity to be engaged and informed. The volunteer reference committee will provide advice and feedback to government on the development of an integrated service delivery model to ensure that the work being done to deliver on the remaining recommendations in the action plan meets the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. A call for volunteers will be issued in the coming weeks.
To keep people informed, a fully accessible website will provide regular updates about the continuing progress government is making toward completing all 12 recommendations to improve services to people with developmental disabilities. The site is expected to launch in early June.
Contact:
David Haslam
Communications Manager
Ministry of Social Development
250 356-1670
The advisory panels will monitor the new employment program to ensure that the needs of job seekers continue to be met. The External Advisory Panel will oversee the implementation of the Employment Program of B.C. by service providers throughout the province, and the Expert Advisory Panel on Specialized Populations will review results, monitor data and ensure that clients from specialized populations are receiving the services they need. Panel members, selected by the Province's Board Resourcing and Development Office, will share their advice and recommendations with the Employment Program of B.C.'s ministry steering committee.
The Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC) will create the new Centre for Employment Excellence, along with their partner, The Training Group at Douglas College. The Province selected SRDC as the successful proponent following a Request for Proposals process.
The Centre for Employment Excellence will provide support for the employment services sector, employers and service providers. The centre will provide a single co-ordination point for employment research and innovation, tools and training. Resources will include a research and development program, website, and system by which to share best practices throughout the sector. The centre, which is set to launch in September 2012, will also act as a critical resource for analysis and evaluation in support of the advisory panels.
For more information on the advisory panels and Centre for Employment Excellence, please visit: www.hsd.gov.bc.ca/ministry/boards.htm
A backgrounder follows.
Contact:
David Haslam
Ministry of Social Development
250 356-1670
BACKGROUNDER
Advisory panel members and centre developer selected
External Advisory Panel Members:
Expert Advisory Panel on Specialized Populations Members:
More information on each of the advisory panel members is available at: www.hsd.gov.bc.ca/ministry/boards.htm
Centre for Employment Excellence Proponent
The Social Research and Demonstration Corporation was selected as the successful proponent to create the new Centre for Employment Excellence. SRDC is a national non-profit research organization with a strong presence in British Columbia that develops, field tests and evaluates innovative government policies and programs.
SRDC specializes in social experiments and projects that test government policies and programs. Most of SRDC's projects have included an evaluation of the implementation of a new program, as well as an impact analysis and cost-benefit analysis.
SRDC became the successful proponent for the Centre for Employment Excellence based on their extensive background in research, training delivery and provision of expert advice and technical assistance in the following related areas: access to post-secondary education, adult learning and literacy, labour market information, employment insurance, community-based employment, welfare-to-work, population health, and programs for persons with disabilities.
For more information on the Social Research and Demonstration Corporation, visit: www.srdc.org/
Contact:
David Haslam
Ministry of Social Development
250 356-1670
The plan charts out a course for government, businesses, non-profits and communities in British Columbia that sparks action now, while providing a strong foundation for the future.
The BC Social Innovation Council incorporated feedback from individuals and organizations in the community and non-profit sectors, as well as youth, academic, business and government stakeholders in its recommendations, which focus on five key areas:
The council was established in February 2011, to assist the Province in seeking new and innovative ways to help B.C. communities tackle some of their most pervasive social challenges. The council represents government, community and business agencies that are interested in social entrepreneurship, including credit unions, foundations, academics, local and provincial governments, along with business, investors, and social entrepreneurs and innovators. All council members have volunteered their time and expertise to move social innovation forward in B.C.
The Province has also established a Social Innovation Assistant Deputy Minister's (ADM) Committee, with the goal of maximizing social innovation within government and acting on the recommendations of the new council and previous committee recommendations. Both the BC Social Innovation Council and the ADM Committee report to Gordon Hogg, B.C.'s first parliamentary secretary for social innovation.
The council's work complements the Non-Profit Partnerships Summit: Collective Impact through Social Innovation, which was held in November 2011. The summit brought all sectors together for the first time to discuss innovation and create a made-in-B.C. model for social innovation, and fulfilled a throne speech commitment to host a summit on social innovation with non-profit organizations.
To read the BC Social Innovation Council's action plan or for more information on the BC Social Innovation Council, visit: www.socialinnovationbc.ca
To get involved in social innovation discussions, visit: www.innovatebc.ca
For information on an upcoming social innovation challenge in the province - BC Ideas - visit www.BCIdeas.ca
A backgrounder follows.
Contact:
David Haslam
Communications Manager
Ministry of Social Development
250 356-1670
BACKGROUNDER
April 30, 2012 Ministry of Social Development
BC Social Innovation Council
BC Social Innovation Council recommendations
Social Enterprise Investment Tax Credit
The B.C. government should establish a social enterprise investment tax credit to attract new investors and capital for non-profits and social enterprises and to help build a network of new enterprises.
Social Procurement
Government, business and non-profit sectors should implement social procurement requirements to encourage private- and community-sector organizations to develop innovative solutions that benefit the public.
Social Impact Bonds
The private and non-profit sector should partner with the provincial government to create social impact bonds, which are performance-based contracts between social investors, foundations, social enterprises, non-profits and government.
Small and Medium Enterprises (SME)
The Province should include social enterprises under eligibility criteria for government-sponsored business development - programs that target small and medium enterprises and help strengthen the business acumen of charities, non-profits and cooperatives.
Community Contribution Companies (CCCs)
The B.C. government should complete the work to establish CCCs as new corporate structures that combine benefits to the community and limited investor returns within the context of a traditional for-profit company. In March 2012, the Province introduced changes to the Business Corporations Act to allow for the creation of CCCs: http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2009-2013/2012FIN0011-000240.pdf
Non-Profit Charitable Sector Issues
British Columbia should place social innovation and the sustainability of Canada's non-profit sector as ongoing agenda items for meetings with their federal, provincial and territorial partners.
Social Innovation Labs
Government, community, social enterprises, business and academic sectors should continue to work together to explore the best social innovation labs and design processes from around the globe and begin to apply them to social challenges in B.C.
Online Community Platform
Community, business and government partners should build on B.C. Ideas to establish a permanent online community platform that would showcase B.C. solutions to the world and help stimulate the creation of innovative enterprises and programs throughout the province.
Targeted Strategy for BC First Nations and Aboriginal Communities
First Nations leaders, Aboriginal businesses and organizations, together with government, community organizations, social entrepreneurs, business and academia, should partner to develop a targeted strategy to build social entrepreneurship and social innovation capacity in B.C.'s First Nations and Aboriginal communities.
Build a Network
Partners in the research and education sector should implement a network of education, training, learning, capacity-building and community-based research to develop and support students, youth and Aboriginal entrepreneurs, and social entrepreneurs and innovators.
Partners for Social Impact
A multi-sector group of partners should form Partners for Social Impact, which will expand and continue the work of the council, assist with the implementation of the council's recommendations, identify new opportunities or gaps in the social innovation landscape, support youth and Aboriginal entrepreneurs and innovators, and co-ordinate the collective and independent work being done by social innovators and entrepreneurs in B.C.
Contact:
David Haslam
Communications Manager
Ministry of Social Development
250 356-1670
The project will focus on eligible young families on income assistance, and youth transitioning from care or involved with the child welfare system who appear at risk of transferring onto income assistance. Using a "key worker" model to create individual case plans, this project connects individuals and families to available services and supports, and follows up with clients to ensure that they are well supported to be successful.
The Family and Youth Partnership pilot project:
The two-year pilot project between the ministries of Social Development and Children and Family Development was launched earlier this year in five pilot locations - Kelowna, Prince George, Vancouver, Victoria and Surrey.
The Family and Youth Partnership is based on the successes of the Homelessness Intervention Project where the integrated approach to service helped surpass original targets of housing 1,800 people, resulting in 3,800 formerly homeless people receiving housing in 18 months.
Quotes:
Stephanie Cadieux, Minister of Social Development:
"Helping youth and young families build the foundation for a healthy, happy future is what the Family and Youth Partnership project is all about. By working with communities using experience already in place, the project connects youth and families to existing supports and services, like the Employment Program of BC, that will help them become more independent and self-sufficient."
Mary McNeil, Minister of Children and Family Development:
"By partnering with municipal governments, local community organizations and service providers, we will be better positioned to provide the wraparound services required by young families and youth transitioning out of government care to prepare them for employment and avoid dependence on income assistance. The Family and Youth Partnership is an example of how collaboration can be used to provide the tools young families and at-risk youth need to succeed."
Lorena Pilgrim, interim executive director of the Federation of BC Youth in Care Network:
"Young people leaving care have consistently identified the need for support during their transition to adulthood so they can thrive and become the people they want to be. The Family and Youth Partnership is an exciting opportunity to offer the healthy relationships and services that aid young families and youth transitioning from care with their educational and employment pursuits. We look forward to learning from the results of this important work."
Learn More:
More information on the Family and Youth Partnership is available at: http://www.sd.gov.bc.ca/programs/fyp/index.htm
For more information about the WorkBC Employment Services Centres and information on ministry services for unemployed British Columbians, visit: http://www.workbc.ca/workbccentres/welcome.htm
For more information on the Homelessness Integration Project, visit: http://www.housingmattersbc.ca/strategy1.html
Contact:
David Haslam
Communications Manager
Ministry of Social Development
250 356-1670
250 361-7989 (cell)
The new Employment Program of BC will provide unemployed British Columbians with the supports and services they need to do just that - get back to work and be self-sufficient.
Each of the 85 new WorkBC Employment Services Centres and 114 satellite offices that opened across the province on April 2 offers a full suite of employment programs while ensuring quick and easy access through a single door.
When job seekers visit one of the centres, they will meet with an employment advisor to help identify the supports and services they need to find - and keep - a job. Then, depending on their eligibility, they will get help building their resume, taking additional training, or building other skills that will help them find success in their job search.
Knowing that not everyone's needs are the same, service providers are responsible for ensuring that everyone - including specialized populations and people living in smaller communities - has access to the full suite of employment services. Specialized populations include immigrants, youth, Aboriginal peoples, Francophones, people with multiple barriers, survivors of violence and/or abuse, people with disabilities and people living in rural and remote areas.
Before any contracts for the new Employment Program of BC were awarded, service providers had to demonstrate a clear understanding of the specific needs of the people living in their local area and identify how they were going to meet the needs of their communities.
For example, in communities where language barriers exist, services are being offered in multiple languages and job seekers are providing access to translation and interpretation services as needed. Under this new program, people with English as a second language are receiving the same or better services as were previously offered, but with increased access and choice.
People living in rural or remote locations may access services through satellite centres or through mobile, online or outreach services. All locations are fully accessible.
To ensure no one falls between the cracks, a comprehensive performance management system is in place to ensure the program delivers on its promise. Two external advisory panels - one of which focuses exclusively on the needs of specialized populations - are being set up to provide advice and recommendations to the Ministry of Social Development. This will help the ministry assess and adjust the program on an ongoing basis to ensure that people's needs are being met.
As well, a Centre for Employment Excellence will launch in the fall that will offer resources, training and technical assistance to the employment services sector with the goal of improving employment outcomes for anyone looking for work in the province.
Through the new Employment Program of BC, we are delivering on our commitment to ensure all British Columbians have the supports and services they need to find a job and get back into the workforce quickly.
]]>Cadieux officially launched the program, which began April 2, 2012, with a visit to two WorkBC Employment Services Centres - a storefront centre in Coquitlam operated by Back in Motion Rehab and a YWCA youth satellite office in North Vancouver.
Service providers are delivering the Employment Program of B.C. through 85 one-stop WorkBC Employment Services Centres throughout the province. Job seekers will be able to access services through these centres, as well as through satellite offices and mobile and outreach services in their communities.
These new centres integrate all of the services the Province currently offers, combining programs that were formerly operated separately by the provincial and federal governments. The new program is about reduced administration, better efficiency and more program dollars being spent on direct services to British Columbians.
All service providers are responsible for ensuring effective service delivery to specialized populations and smaller communities. As a result, specialized populations will continue to receive quality services through the new integrated centres. These specialized populations include immigrants, youth, Aboriginal peoples, francophones, people with multiple barriers, survivors of violence and/or abuse, people with disabilities and people living in rural and remote areas.
The new Employment Program of B.C. will include a comprehensive performance management system to help the ministry assess and adjust the program on an ongoing basis to ensure that people's needs are being met, and a Centre for Employment Excellence that will offer resources, training and technical assistance to the employment services sector, employers and service providers.
In 2012-13, the Ministry of Social Development will invest $343.5 million in employment programs and apprenticeship training, of which nearly $280 million will come from the Canada-B.C. Labour Market Development Agreement.
The new Employment Program of B.C. is part of the BC Jobs Plan. 'Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan' builds on the Province's solid foundation of prudent fiscal management to attract investment and open new markets for B.C. products and services, and to create jobs for British Columbians. As part of the plan, B.C. is making smart investments in infrastructure and is working hard to ensure British Columbians have the right skills for tomorrow.
Quotes:
Minister of Social Development, Stephanie Cadieux -
"British Columbians want to work and take care of their families. The new Employment Program of B.C. provides the training and support people need to get back into the workforce. With WorkBC Employment Services Centres now open across the province, people will get the supports they need to help them find - and keep - a job."
Minister of Canadian Heritage James Moore -
"Our Government's top priority is job creation and economic growth. These new centres will streamline employment services and make it easier for British Columbians to reintegrate into the workforce."
Brent Mulhall, VP of business development, Back in Motion Rehab Inc. -
"The new WorkBC Employment Services Centres are a unique and positive way forward for B.C. job seekers."
"In this model, clients will have access to a wide range of case managers and professional employment counsellors who have experience with new immigrants, persons with disabilities, Aboriginal people and general job seekers and all under one roof. We are excited about the opportunity to be part of this. We think this is a real win for anyone looking for support and resources to help them get to work or have a greater connection with their community. Everyone wants to work, and have a job, and this program will help them with that goal."
Janet Austin, CEO, YWCA Metro Vancouver -
"The YWCA has over 20 years experience providing employment services in Metro Vancouver and our staff are deeply committed to helping our clients find meaningful, long-term employment."
"Through the new Employment Program of BC, people in this community can continue to access the services they need to help them re-join the workforce - and we're thrilled to be a part of that. Our North Vancouver WorkBC Employment Services Centre is already serving our residents, providing the supports and services they need to find work."
Quick Facts:
Learn more:
For more information about the Employment Program of B.C. or to find a WorkBC Employment Services Centre near you, visit: www.WorkBCCentres.ca
For more information on Canada Starts Here - The B.C. Jobs Plan, visit: www.bcjobsplan.ca
Two backgrounders follow.
Contact:
David Haslam
Communications Manager
Ministry of Social Development
250 356-1670
BACKGROUNDER 1
April 4, 2012 Ministry of Social Development
Full suite of services offered through new employment program
WorkBC Employment Services Centres provide a full suite of information, employment services, programs and supports to help unemployed people find - and keep - jobs in B.C.
Every unemployed British Columbian, who is eligible to work in B.C., can visit a WorkBC Employment Services Centre. Trained staff will help individuals find the services they need to start and succeed in their job search, including:
Job Search Resources
Every WorkBC Employment Services Centre has free tools and resources available, including:
Personal Employment Planning
For individuals who need extra help getting started, Employment Centre advisors will be available to help build personal employment plans to identify what is needed to help ensure success in the work search. Services include job-search assistance and employment counselling. Financial supports help people get skills training, work experience or launch self-employment opportunities.
Workshops and Training
Every WorkBC Employment Services Centre has workshops for people who want to learn more about finding a job and starting work. Both short- and long-term training programs are available, depending on the needs and the skills required. Employment Centre advisors will help clients determine which workshops or training programs are most appropriate for them.
Specialized Services
Every centre offers special resources for immigrants, youth, Aboriginal peoples, francophones, people with multiple barriers, survivors of violence and/or abuse, people with disabilities and people living in rural and remote areas.
Contact:
David Haslam
Communications Manager
Ministry of Social Development
250 356-1670
BACKGROUNDER 2
April 4, 2012 Ministry of Social Development
Advisory panels monitor program,
Centre for Employment Excellence shares best practices
The Ministry of Social Development is putting in place two performance measures to monitor the success of the Employment Program of B.C. and will also be launching a new Centre for Employment Excellence.
Two external advisory panels will provide advice and make recommendations to the Ministry of Social Development, ensuring that the needs of job seekers continue to be met. As well, a Centre for Employment Excellence is being established to provide support for the employment services sector, employers and service providers under the new program.
External Advisory Panel
An external advisory panel will oversee the implementation of the Employment Program of B.C. by service providers across the province and will:
Expert Advisory Panel on Specialized Populations
An Expert Advisory Panel on Specialized Populations is being set up to review results, monitor data and ensure that clients from specialized populations are receiving the services they need.
The Expert Advisory Panel on Specialized Populations will be able to identify the numbers of clients receiving specialized services and oversee the program from the perspective of eight specialized populations:
Advice from the advisory panels will be shared with the Employment Program of B.C.'s ministry steering committee. Recruitment for the external advisory panels is being managed by the government's Board Resourcing and Development Office: http://www.fin.gov.bc.ca/brdo/
Centre for Employment Excellence
A new Centre for Employment Excellence will be set up to help support the employment services sector, including employers and service providers, with the goal of improving employment outcomes for all unemployed job seekers in the province.
The centre will provide a single co-ordination point for employment research and innovation, tools and training. Resources will include a research and development program, website, and system by which to share best practices throughout the sector. The centre will also act as a critical resource for analysis and evaluation in support of the advisory panels.
The Province has posted a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Centre for Employment Excellence, which is set to launch in September 2012.
The centre's maximum budget over three years is $2 million, and is funded through the Canada-B.C. Labour Market Development Agreement.
Contact:
David Haslam
Communications Manager
Ministry of Social Development
250 356-1670
ICM is a modernized system that is needed to support critical social services, including child-protection services, child-care subsidies, income and disability assistance and the Employment Program of BC, that are vital to thousands of British Columbians.
This long-overdue technical upgrade will ensure that critical case information is safe, secure and accessible, thus protecting and supporting people's privacy. Using the upgraded system, staff will be better able to appropriately share and protect information and manage individual case files between ministries, which will result in better, faster service for individuals and families.
ICM is being implemented in five phases. Phase 1 of ICM was implemented in November 2010. Phase 2, which has been under development since then, is now ready to launch - on time and on budget.
Introducing Phase 2 requires a temporary suspension of existing information systems. As a result, all Ministry of Social Development employment and income assistance offices will be closed on Friday, March 30, 2012. Regular phone service and online application services (via the Self-Serve Assessment and Application) will also be unavailable.
Anyone with urgent needs, who cannot wait until offices reopen on Monday April 2, should contact Service BC at:
These numbers are also posted on the Ministry of Social Development's website at: http://www.gov.bc.ca/hsd/
Implementation is expected to be successfully completed before ministry offices reopen on the morning of Monday, April 2. Ministry of Children and Family Development offices will maintain their regular hours of operation.
ICM is a partnership between the ministries of Social Development, Children and Family Development, and Labour, Citizens' Services and Open Government.
For more information on ICM or to view an online demonstration of the system, please visit: www.integratedcasemanagement.gov.bc.ca
Contact:
David Haslam
Ministry of Social Development
250 356-1670
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The Client Support Team was created to provide individuals and families with concerns about services provided by Community Living BC (CLBC), a place to turn to for assistance. To date, 149 of the referrals to the team - 66 per cent - have now been resolved.
The Client Support Team brings together staff with experience working with adults with developmental disabilities and their families from CLBC and the ministries of Social Development, Children and Family Development, and - when required - Health and Education. This team provides an avenue for individuals and their families who are concerned with the level of supports they are receiving to have them reviewed to ensure they are receiving the appropriate services.
On Jan. 19, 2012, the Province unveiled a comprehensive plan to address issues and concerns around CLBC and the government-wide system of supports for British Columbians with developmental disabilities. One element of this plan is to establish a permanent appeal mechanism based on the model of the current Client Support Team.
Until the permanent appeal mechanism is in place, the Client Support Team will continue to work with individuals with developmental disabilities and their families who have expressed concerns about current services or feel these services no longer address their needs.
Anyone who would like to have a representative of the Client Support Team contact them can email info@communitylivingbc.ca or call toll-free 1 877 660-2522.
Contact:
David Haslam
Communications Manager
Ministry of Social Development
250 356-1670
250 361-7989 (cell)
The plan comes as a result of a rigorous and wide-ranging review of CLBC and the network of government supports available to adults with developmental disabilities. To ensure adequate funding is available to implement the recommendations within the plan, the Province is providing an additional $40 million in funding to increase capacity and improve services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
"British Columbians with developmental disabilities and their families can have confidence that their government has listened," said Premier Clark. "Our plan will ensure that these individuals and families have the support that they need from their government to lead full, rich lives."
"After spending the past months meeting with the individuals and families served by CLBC, it is incredibly rewarding to be able to come back to them with a plan that addresses their concerns, provides them with the help they need, and demonstrates that they're not alone in meeting the challenges before them," said Minister Cadieux. "They can feel confident that this government is here to help them."
The plan, which government will begin implementing immediately, includes:
A cross-ministry team is being established with CLBC to begin discussions on the best way for the Province to implement these recommendations. As part of that process, they will consider and soon identify the steps for government to engage with individuals, families, service providers and advocates on key actions.
"CLBC began as a collaborative effort between government, families and advocates," said Cadieux. "In order to succeed as we move forward, we need to re-commit ourselves to moving forward together."
Together, these steps address the concerns that have been expressed by British Columbians and represent a renewal of the original vision of the advocates and families that drove the creation of CLBC, along with the Province's commitment to British Columbians with developmental disabilities.
The Deputy Ministers' Review of CLBC and the Internal Audit can be found at http://www.sd.gov.bc.ca/pwd/clbc_reports.html
Media Contacts:
Rebecca Scott
Deputy Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
250 589-9722
David Haslam
Communications Manager
Ministry of Social Development
250 356-1670
BACKGROUNDER
Summary of Recommendations
1. Develop a coherent "one government" policy framework for persons with developmental disabilities. As part of this change, families can expect more consistent levels of support when they transition from MCFD to CLBC.
2. Implement a more consistent assessment platform across the Ministries of Children and Family Development, Health, Education, and Social Development, along with CLBC, to ensure consistency and clarity of needs assessment and planning for individuals and their families. This will allow for better identification of individual needs, improving individual planning.
3. Use a coherent and integrated system to track demand, wait times and service delivery across relevant ministries and CLBC. A better system needs to be developed and implemented that more clearly identifies actual, real-time need for services.
4. Improve cross-government planning for individuals who are transitioning through different types of care, to reduce stress on them and on their families. This includes engaging earlier with youth transitioning to adulthood, but also focussing on older adults who may be transitioning to seniors' care.
5. Maintain CLBC as a Crown Agency. Implement changes to address mandate tension created by generational change, and improve approach to and relationship with families and individuals.
6. Implement new government capacity focused on transition supports. New capacity is being identified to focus on the transition to adulthood, to address the gap created when youth leave high school.
7. Increase employment services planning and supports, as well as alternative day programming options.
8. Support greater use of individualized funding. The move to individualized funding will give families a greater say in the way their loved ones are supported and provide greater stability to families over the long term. This transition, which has already begun, will be made possible through the development of community capacity and increasing funding to CLBC.
9. CLBC and Ministry of Health to assess and model needs of the older cohort of individuals with developmental disabilities and develop a three-year plan to meet those needs and ensure early planning with families.
10. Reinforce government's accountability and responsibility for CLBC through more effective use of legislative authorities. The Province will require the development of standards for tracking and prioritizing service requests and identification of assessment tools.
* A permanent appeal mechanism will be established for families.
* The Office of the Advocate for Quality Service will continue to provide support to families and individuals.
* Where the Representative for Children and Youth has been involved in supporting a young person before the age of 19 or their family, she will be given the capacity to continue supporting them through their transitioning years.
11. Recognizing the nature and growth of caseload, and the need to provide different types of programs for a new generation of individuals with developmental disabilities, government has been tracking the funding requirements in the contingency allowance, and will draw down the contingencies vote by $40 million starting in 2012/13 to implement these recommendations.
12. Support ongoing innovation in the sector, and recognize and support the innovations developed, championed and undertaken by families and individuals.
About the reports:
Deputy Ministers' Review of CLBC - Improving Services to People with Developmental Disabilities
The Deputy Ministers' Working Group was created in September, 2011, in response to growing concern about the operations and management of CLBC. The group was directed by the Premier to review CLBC and to make recommendations to improve the way in which adults with developmental disabilities and their families are supported and served in British Columbia.
Internal Audit - Review of Community Living British Columbia
The Internal Audit was launched in September, 2011, by the Ministry of Finance, to investigate CLBC's budget and management. This is the same team that conducted the review of BC Hydro. The auditors reviewed CLBC's caseload, Request for Service List, operating costs, cost pressures and other areas.
Client Support Team Update
The Client Support Team was created in response to concerns raised by British Columbians about the services being offered by CLBC. This team has provided an avenue for individuals and their families who are concerned with the level of supports they are receiving to have them quickly reviewed by experienced case workers who can ensure that the services are in place to meet each individual's unique needs.
Queenswood Report - Report on CLBC's Progress and Efficacy to 2011
In August, the Province began working with the Queenswood Consulting Group to launch a review of CLBC, as a follow-up to their 2008 report on CLBC. Queenswood focused on reviewing and assessing CLBC's operating model; reviewing Government's role in supporting people with developmental disabilities; and analyzing whether CLBC had taken appropriate action on recommendations from its previous report in 2008.
Media Contacts:
Rebecca Scott
Deputy Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
250 589-9722
David Haslam
Communications Manager
Ministry of Social Development
250 356-1670
The Client Support Team was created in response to concerns raised by families and advocates about Community Living BC (CLBC) services. To date, 113 of the referrals to the team - more than 62 per cent - have been resolved.
The Client Support Team brings together staff with experience working with adults with developmental disabilities and their families from CLBC and the ministries of Social Development, Children and Family Development, and - when required - Health and Education. This team provides an avenue for individuals and their families who are concerned with the level of supports they are receiving to have them reviewed to ensure they are receiving the appropriate services.
On Jan. 19, 2012, the Province unveiled a comprehensive plan to address issues and concerns around CLBC and the government-wide system of supports for British Columbians with developmental disabilities. One element of this plan is to establish a permanent appeal mechanism based on the experience of the current Client Support Team.
Until the permanent appeal mechanism is in place, the Client Support Team will continue to work with individuals with developmental disabilities and their families who have expressed dissatisfaction about current services or feel these services no longer address their needs.
Anyone who would like to have a representative of the Client Support Team contact them can e-mail info@communitylivingbc.ca or call toll-free 1 877 660-2522.
HIGHLIGHTS (as of Jan. 12, 2012):
The Client Support Team has received 180 referrals
113 referrals have been completed
69 referrals involved increasing funding and supports from both CLBC and government, where circumstances require. Increased services provided include*:
18 referrals involved new funding from both CLBC and government, where circumstances require, for individuals previously not receiving services. New services provided include*:
26 referrals were resolved with the level of funding and supports maintained.
67 referrals are currently in process towards resolution
48 referrals are at the regional level
16 referrals are at the senior client support team level
Three referrals are at the executive client support team level
Of the 180 referrals received to date:
Of the 113 completed referrals, most were resolved at a regional level
Contact:
David Haslam
Communications Manager
Ministry of Social Development
250 356-1670
250 361-7989 (cell)
Because adults with developmental disabilities often receive services from more than one area of government, the Client Support Team brings together staff with experience in casework from the ministries of Social Development, Children and Family Development, and - when required - Health and Education. Together with Community Living BC staff, they can review all of the services from across government that these individuals and families are receiving, or that might be available, to ensure that they are receiving the best-possible services.
The Client Support Team was created in response to concerns raised by British Columbians about the services being offered by CLBC. This team provides an avenue for individuals and their families who are concerned with the level of supports they are receiving to have them quickly reviewed by experienced case workers who can ensure that the services are in place to meet each client's unique needs.
The results of the Client Support Team's work - along with the results of an internal audit and the Deputy Ministers' Working Group's report examining supports for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families - will be shared with the public in the new year. Together, these reports will help to inform the government's plan to improve services and better support British Columbians with developmental disabilities.
For more information about the Client Support Team, please visit: http://www.sd.gov.bc.ca/pwd/clbc_client_support.html
To find out more about other initiatives undertaken by government to help understand not only the situation at CLBC, but the full spectrum of services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities from across government, please visit: www.sd.gov.bc.ca/pwd/clbc_reports.html
Media Contact:
David Haslam
Communications Manager
Ministry of Social Development
250 356-1670
250 361-7989 (cell)
"On behalf of the Province of British Columbia, I am honoured to recognize Dec. 3 as the United Nations International Day for Persons with Disabilities, with the theme 'Together for a better world for all: Including persons with disabilities in development.'
"In 1981, the United Nations observed the first International Year of Disabled Persons under the theme 'Full Participation and Equality'. Over the past 30 years, greater public awareness and understanding of disability issues has helped to ensure that individuals with disabilities are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.
"The use of people-first language acknowledges that people with disabilities are, first and foremost, people. They are mothers, sons, sisters, husbands, friends, and co-workers - all of whom have individual abilities, interests and needs.
"B.C. is proud to join other provinces and countries around the world in creating a system of supports to ensure all individuals with disabilities are given the opportunity to participate fully in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
"There is still much work to be done, but together I am confident we have the skills and the drive to continue to better our communities, our province and our world for all people."
Contact:
Cindy MacDougall
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Social Development
250 920-8534
This summit is the first time all sectors have been brought together to discuss innovation and create a made-in-B.C. model for social innovation. It also fulfils a throne speech commitment to host a summit on social innovation with non-profit organizations.
"The province is a participant and supporter of social innovation and entrepreneurship in B.C.," said Premier Clark. "We need to find new ways of doing business - one that involves working with the private, volunteer and non-profit sectors to create solutions that make a real difference in people's lives. Working together, we make real change."
In 2008, the Province gave $2.2 million to Vancouver Foundation to support social enterprise. Using this funding, the Vancouver Foundation and Vancity jointly developed the Resilient Capital Program. The Resilient Capital Program has now achieved its initial target of $10 million and has made its first investments in B.C.-based social enterprises.
To drive social innovation in B.C to a level that's never been seen before in Canada, the Province is partnering with the Advisory Council for Social Entrepreneurship, Ashoka Changemakers, LIFT Philanthropy Partners, Telus and the UBC Sauder School of Business to launch a "collabetition" in 2012. This collaborative competition will invite British Columbians to submit their solutions to our social problems, rewarding community-led innovations that show the most promise of improving the lives of British Columbians.
Vancouver Foundation, United Way of the Lower Mainland and LIFT Philanthropy Partners are the Province's non-profit partners for the summit. IBM, Cisco and Telus are corporate partners and the UBC Sauder School of Business is a public partner.
For more information about B.C.'s Non-Profit Partnerships Summit and testimonials from leaders in social innovation and social enterprise, visit: www.innovateBC.ca
Partner Quotes:
Delyse Sylvester, director of community, Ashoka Changemakers -
"I have an unwavering belief that my province is filled with changemakers - youth, neighbours, elders making a difference in their homes, towns and cities. This collabetition provides us an opportunity to hear everyone's ideas, what's new, what's developing and what innovations are ready to scale provincially and even globally. The visionary leaders supporting this initiative are providing an entirely new way of working - offering the necessary tools and a transparent environment to create our future together."
Bruce Dewar, CEO of LIFT Philanthropy Partners -
"At LIFT Philanthropy Partners, we pride ourselves in advancing social change, and this collabetition offers an opportunity to discover and nurture made-in-B.C. social innovations to address the social and economic challenges currently facing our province. We are proud to partner on this project, which will certainly bring about effective social impact in communities throughout B.C."
Two backgrounders follow.
Contacts:
Chris Olsen
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
604 220-1640
Cindy MacDougall
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Social Development
250 387-5635
BACKGROUNDER 1
Resilient Capital Program highlights
In 2008, the Province provided a $2.2-million grant (seed capital) to the Vancouver Foundation to create a social enterprise investment fund.
The Vancouver Foundation partnered with Vancity to create the Resilient Capital Program, which is funded by Resilient Capital term deposits. This impact-driven program makes debt and equity investments in social enterprises - allowing them to address social and environmental challenges, and build resilient communities. All deposits come with the added peace of mind of unlimited deposit insurance.
Program objectives
Program size
Impact themes
Resilient Capital Term Deposits
Vancity
Vancity manages the Resilient Capital Program through its Community Capital team program founders. In addition to financial prosperity, Vancity is also focused on social justice, environmental sustainability, and community well-being. Vancity is Canada's largest credit union, with more than $15.5 billion in assets, more than 418,000 members and 59 branches throughout Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Victoria and Squamish. For more information, visit: www.resilientcapital.ca or www.vancity.com
The Vancouver Foundation
The Vancouver Foundation is Canada's largest community foundation. Its mission is to harness the gifts of energy, ideas, time, and money to make meaningful and lasting impacts in communities. For more information, visit: www.vancouverfoundation.ca
Contacts:
Chris Olsen
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
604 220-1640
Cindy MacDougall
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Social Development
250 387-5635
BACKGROUNDER 2
Collabetition Sparks Social Innovation
The Province is partnering with the Advisory Council for Social Entrepreneurship, Ashoka Changemakers, LIFT Philanthropy Partners, TELUS and the ISIS UBC Sauder School of Business to launch B.C.'s first collabetition in 2012.
A collabetition is a collaborative competition - a thoughtful social media strategy that invites British Columbians to submit their solutions to our social problems, encourages a friendly 'competition' and rewards them with the resources to improve, perfect and spread their innovation around the province and beyond.
This project will seek innovative solutions that will work in B.C. at the local level and across the province. It will help raise the profile of B.C. innovators who are developing new approaches to care for one another in their communities.
LIFT Philanthropy Partners is contributing $350,000 toward the collabetition. Up to $600,000 in total will be provided from the partnership. The Province is contributing $30,000 toward prizing.
Ashoka Changemakers will manage the logistical aspects of running the collabetition, and more details about the project will be announced when the project is ready to launch in the New Year.
Advisory Council for Social Entrepreneurship
The Advisory Committee for Social Entrepreneurship was established to ensure direct consultation, advice and feedback on proposals to support social innovation in B.C. The council will make recommendations to government on how to maximize social innovation in the province, with an emphasis on social finance and social enterprise.
Ashoka Canada
Along with its global network of Fellows, business entrepreneurs, policy makers, investors, academics, and journalists, Ashoka is working collectively to ensure that social entrepreneurs and their innovations continue to inspire a new generation of local changemakers to create positive social change. For more information, visit: www.ashoka.org
Ashoka Changemakers
Ashoka's Changemakers is an online community of action that connects social entrepreneurs around the globe to share ideas, inspire, and mentor each other. Through its online collaborative competitions and open-source process, Changemakers.com is one of the world's most robust spaces for launching, discussing and scaling ideas to solve the world's most pressing social problems.
Changemakers builds on Ashoka's three-decade history and vision for an "Everyone a Changemaker" world by creating a place where the best ideas in social innovation can be shared, refined and funded. For more details, visit: www.changemakers.com
LIFT Philanthropy Partners
LIFT Philanthropy Partners uses a venture philanthropy approach to support not-for-profit organizations to become sustainable and more effective at delivering measurable social impact that improves the health and productivity of Canadians and their communities. LIFT provides these not-for-profit organizations with a valuable combination of skills, expertise, resources and funding to improve their operations and impact. LIFT evolved from 2010 Legacies Now, which leveraged the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to create social and economic benefits for B.C. communities. For more information, visit: www.liftpartners.ca
TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, T.A; NYSE: TU) is a leading national telecommunications company in Canada, with $10.3 billion of annual revenue and 12.6 million customer connections, including 7.2 million wireless subscribers, 3.6 million wireline-network access lines, 1.3 million Internet subscribers and more than 450,000 TELUS TV customers. Led since 2000 by president and CEO Darren Entwistle, TELUS provides a wide range of communications products and services including data, Internet protocol (IP), voice, entertainment and video.
In support of their philosophy to give where they live, TELUS team members and retirees will, by year-end 2011, have contributed $245 million to charitable and not-for-profit organizations and volunteered 4.1 million hours of service to local communities since 2000. Eleven TELUS Community Boards across Canada lead TELUS' local philanthropic initiatives. TELUS was honoured to be named the most outstanding philanthropic corporation globally for 2010 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, becoming the first Canadian company to receive this prestigious international recognition. For more information about TELUS, visit: telus.com
UBC's Sauder School of Business
ISIS at the Sauder School of Business is focused on leveraging business tools to advance social innovation and sustainability, through research, incubation, and application. ISIS defines social innovation as a new approach which fosters initiatives that contribute to solving existing social, cultural, economic, political, and environmental challenges. This encompasses concepts such as social enterprise, social finance, and strategic corporate social responsibility. What it does not involve is simply throwing money at a problem. Rather, ISIS aims to build institutions designed to create value rather than dependency. For more details, visit: http://isis.sauder.ubc.ca/
Contacts:
Chris Olsen
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
604 220-1640
Cindy MacDougall
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Social Development
250 387-5635