Autism groups debate Province’s $20M investment in a provincial autism centre
A major debate is underway among BC autism groups and organizations over the Province’s plans to invest $20 million to help construct a new building in Vancouver to house a proposed provincial autism centre (Pacific Autism Family Centre or PAFC).
Last week, we circulated a position paper from BCACDI, which represents agencies and providers for early intervention services across BC, urging the Province to undertake a needs assessment to determine the best way to allocate available Provincial dollars -- a suggestion that has attracted significant comment. We've been urged to share the various perspectives via our networks to test the community pulse, so please share this link!
B ACKGROUND: When the proposal was made public in 2008, a poll of over 500 families in MOMS & other autism networks indicated:
- Strong preference that the promised provincial investment address program/service gaps vs. to construct a new building;
- Process concerns (no public consultation, needs assessment and/or competitive bidding);
- Strong concern that investing in a physical Vancouver centre was not conducive to supporting home- and community-based services, especially for rural communities
- Some felt that new investments should address gaps for other special needs as well.
After we shared this feedback with govt and PAFC’s principals, we were excluded from further community discussions as project development got underway.
In 2010, we received internal Govt documents about PAFC. After extensive further research & advice, we issued a statement noting information given to families during PAFC’s provincial consultations was not consistent with plans that government was discussing internally. Of particular concern were plans to use existing autism program budgets to subsidize PAFC’s operating costs. Ministry officials warned this would reduce access & effectiveness & increase waitlists for diagnosis, for example.
McMartin: ‘After we’ve gone, then what?’
A great headline to another great column from Pete McMartin in the Vancouver Sun today, because that's the one thought that's never far from mind for any of us!
"Clay Knowlton is 64. His wife, Susan, is 61. Their daughter, Erin, is 32. Erin, who is autistic, is classified as low-functioning. Time, for the Knowltons, is an enemy.
"Clay and Susan have just so many years left to make sure their daughter will be taken care of after their deaths. She'll need housing. She'll need supervision. The Knowltons need the assurance that when they're dead, their daughter will be safe.
"The Knowltons are not alone. There are thousands of families in B.C. who feel the same anxiety, and who worry over the same question: After we're gone, then what?
"The Knowltons cannot entertain the idea of Erin living on her own. Nor do they like the idea of her going into the government's home-sharing program -essentially, foster care for young adults with disabilities. The quality of that care, they felt, could not be assured." Read more
This story highlights the unintended but predictable failures of the CLBC experiment, particularly the key underlying commitment to "personalised" supports. When that philosophy butts up against the reality of underfunding, you're left with endless waitlists or forced moves to lower-cost adult foster care with inadequate oversight. The result is ever more desperate families turning to solutions like this - to the horror of CLBC's architects who see a full circle back to institutionalization.
More abuse revealed: BCACL urges enquiry into special needs foster care
The BC Association for Community Living issued a press statement today stating that the Province's foster care system is failing youth with special needs, following another horrific case of abuse in which the caregive was not appropriately screened.
MOMS applauds BCACL's leadership and strongly endorses the concerns, which reflect the feedback from our provincial family network.
Last year, the BC government, through CLBC and MCFD, undertook a major "service redesign" program that cut funding to group homes serving adults and youths with developmental disabilities, forcing many individuals to be moved against their will into cheaper private foster /home share arrangements. Moms and other groups urged the Province to reconsider the cuts in light of the significant risks to these highly vulnerable individuals, especially after revelations that students and others were being recruited to provide care via Craigslist ads offering free housing and/or easy money to caregivers.
A key concern, which was echoed broadly at two public community meetings hosted by a coalition of community groups last fall, was the lack of an independent ombudsman or representative to ensure that the interests of individuals were protected as the Province continues to severely cut back existing service contracts and support levels to address growing waitlists.
MOMS is part of an unprecedented consensus among community living groups that have been continuing to meet to develop a coordinated response to the funding challenges, with more details expected to be released shortly.
Link to BCACL Press Release: "Foster care system failing youths with special needs"
Province, city announce site for provincial autism centre – families’ voices ignored
Outgoing Premier Gordon Campbell made his final public appearance today, with Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, Children's Minister Mary Polak and Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid, to announce ( CORRECTION: Contrary to the announcement, we're told it's actually a property bordering ) Sunny Hill as the site of the proposed new Pacific Autism Family Centre (PAFC). The project is the long-time dream of Campbell's close friends and political funders, hoteliers Wendy and Sergia Cocchia, who along with the Aquilini family and others were charged with establishing a foundation to advance the project after Campbell's 2008 promise of $20 million in capital funding to help build a provincial residential school/centre of excellence.
No needs assessment
The Premier's commitment was made with no public consultation with families or professionals, no needs assessment, no competitive bidding and no public policy rationale offered by any provincial ministry. The promised provincial funding applies to construction costs only. Proponents have cited a long list of possible improvements to services in promoting the project. What they have not mentioned is that there is no funding to any of those things. Any of the centre's activities would have to be funded privately or by diverting funds from existing programs. The foundation promises to raise $14 million with the help of major supporters like the Canucks and other sports teams to help cover construction costs, but the total raised so far was not revealed.
The Province has to date never consulted with families or professionals, instead advising stakeholders to work with the PAFC proponents, whom the Province has charged with developing plans for the new centre. The strategic plan for PAFC would see the centre taking over responsibility for all autism services currently managed by the Ministries of Children, Health, Education and CLBC.