Families, groups, MLAs step up pressure: Community Living gaps highlighted
BC-CLAG marks key anniversary
MOMS will join a delegation of BC-CLAG reps and families at the BC Legislature on May 18 to mark a key milestone in CLBC's history and remind the BC Premier and elected representatives that families have been waiting for seven years for their promises to be honoured.
On May 19, 2004, then Deputy Premier Christy Clark introduced legislation to create Community Living BC, promising that:
" ...This legislation gives British Columbians with developmental disabilities and their families better options and more opportunities in their communities. They'll be able to look forward to a safer, healthier and better quality of life."
Today, Premier Clark''s 2004 promises remain unfulfilled, with fewer options and opportunities, cuts, denial of support and growing alarm over the safety, health and quality of life of vulnerable adults and families.
The anniversary coincides with Ms. Clark’s mandate to return to the Legislature as British Columbia’s new Premier and MLA for Vancouver Point Grey. Despite promises to listen and to put families first, Premier Clark and her Minister for Community Living have so far not agreed to meet with or respond to the concerns and reccomendations shared by families and community living stakeholders through BC-CLAG. Read the BC-CLAG press release
Recent media reports
The Victoria Times Colonist has a story here and an excellent letter to the editor on the concerns about cuts in adult community living and how the Minister misrepresented the increasingly vocal concerns voiced by community groups.
In the Fraser Valley, meanwhile, parent groups were also instrumental in helping to generate a series of reports in the local papers highlighting the dire challenges facing families who find thmselves in a "black hole" with all supports cut off once their children turn 19.
But Minister Harry Bloy responded that there would be no help forthcoming until provincial revenues increase (this despite revelations that the supposedly "revenue neutral" HST is actually bringing in millions more in revenues to Provincial coffers).
What you can do
Last week we asked families to come forward with their stories, and we want to thank everyone who contacted us - we were overwhelmed by the stories of enormous hardship and the brave efforts of families who continue to fight on. We will keep the contacts of all those who connected with us so that we can let you know of any further media opportunities.
Minister Bloy dismisses CL concerns
Opposition MLAs questioned Minister Harry Bloy on the BC Community Living Action Group report in Question Period today, as the Legislature resumed sitting.In responding, Minister Bloy demonstrated a deeply troubling lack of understanding of community living, with a number of statements that were factually incorrect, misleading and shockingly insensitive.
BC CLAG wrote to Minister Bloy six weeks ago asking to meet with him to discuss issues and concerns in community living. He has not yet acknowledged or responded to that request. Had Minister Bloy demonstrated some interest in listening to families, self-advocates and community groups, he might not be so shockingly ignorant of the issues and challenges that fall within his responsibility for community living.
Below are some of the false or misleading statements made to the Legislature today:
Minister Bloy stated:
"CLBC has a budget of well over $700 million a year."
"In fact, we have increased our budget every year."
FACT: According to CLBC's Service Plan CLBC's budget is less than $700 million a year. CLBC's Operating Budget has been frozen at $681 million since 2010 and the Provincial budget calls for it to be frozen at that level until 2014. Between 2002 and 2004, the community living budget was cut by 12%.
Community Living Action Group issues report, solution for growing crisis
Premier Clark urged to listen, put families first again
MOMS' Dawn Steele speaking at the launch of the BC-CLAG report and recommendations, April 2011
MOMS joined other family and community living organizations today at a media event to launch a major report and recommendations urging BC's new Premier, Christy Clark, to honour promises to listen and to start putting families first again.
The report was the result of broad community discussions, including two major public forums hosted in Victoria and Vancouver last fall, when community living groups came together to respond to growing complaints about cuts, forced relocations, denial of services and choices, and the exclusion of adults and their families from crucial life decisions.
The report reflects an unprecedented consensus among all major partners in community living -- agencies, families, self-advocates and employee groups -- and focusses on solutions that emerged from the community dialogue launched last fall. (See more details below)
Please visit the website of our community partnership, the BC Community Living Action Group , to view the report, recommendations and other information about this initiative.
Please join us!
We urge families to support our campaign by calling on BC's new Premier, Christy Clark, to honour her promises to start listening and to put families first again.
On May 19, 2004, Ms. Clark, who was then BC's Deputy Premier and Minister for Child & Family Development, introduced Bil 45, the legislation that created Community Living BC. In doing so, she promised:
"This legislation gives British Columbians with developmental disabilities and their families better options and more opportunities in their communities. They'll be able to look forward to a safer, healthier and better quality of life."
MOMS restores leaked ministry document disputing claims re PAFC plans, benefits
Several days ago, MOMS removed links to leaked Ministry documents discussing the proposed Provincial Autism Family Centre (PAFC), at the request of Ministry officials who claimed that we were violating confidentiality requirements.
After further investigation, we have declined the request, as the documents do not violate the privacy of any individual and further, because we believe that sharing the contents is in the public interest. We have restored the links and the Ministry briefing notes can now also be accessed directly at this link .
However, we wish to emphasize that the best way to ensure that families and the public are fully and accurately about the Province's plans to address major gaps in services for children with autism and other special needs is for Provincial authorities to demonstrate greater transparency and openness than has been true to date.
Background: We received these documents last summer. After months of further research and investigation, we requested in an Open Letter dated Oct 7, 2010 that the Province clarify several issues and concerns raised in the documents.
In particular, we noted contradiction relating to claims by Provincial authorities that public funding support for PAFC would improve services for children with autism. The leaked Ministerial briefing notes discussed plans to reallocate budgets for existing autism programs to cover PAFC's operating expenses, despite warnings from provincial policy advisers that this would negatively impact access to diagnosis and assesment, for example. In our open letter to Premier Campbell, MCFD Ministry Mary Polak and Rich Coleman, Minister responsible for BC Housing (the source of the promised $20 million capital contribution to PAFC) we raised the following questions:
Unresolved complaints highlight need for independent Rep for adult services
We have received a number of enquiries recently from families expressing alarm and frustration with the failure of CLBC's complaints resoultion mechanisms. I thought it might be helpful to share a recent question received via our Website, along with some helpful advice kindly provided by BCACL staff and others, along with links/resources that others may find useful.
QUESTION: "Does CLBC allow outside (CLBC Quality Control) non-partial investigations into abuse and if so how do I make a request for one? I requested an investigation by CLBC Quality Control but was told I couldn’t access the results. They also have not done a proper investigation because they have not contacted anyone directly involved (ie: witnesses). Any ideas would be appreciated."
MOMS RESPONSE: I discussed your question with staff at the BC Association for Community Living, who have a better understanding of the legal & policy requirements than we do, and here is the response:
“My experience with investigations of abuse is that the third party should be the RCMP or local police. Once there is the involvement of police all other processes should stop pending the outcome. If you feel that the CLBC investigation has not been sufficient and you have concerns about harm done and/or safety of a person then involving the police is appropriate. The involvement of the police is not a matter of choice for CLBC or any other body, agency or service provider.”
UPDATE: Here's some additional advice from another veteran service provider:
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.
CLBC, agencies farm out disabled adults on Craigslist, Advocate can’t intervene
A long list of ads has been running for months on Craigslist, some offering “Free Rent!” and salary to anyone willing to share their home with people with developmental disabilities ("You get to live RENT FREE" - and collect a salary! - "no special training or experience required!").
CLBC is forcibly moving adults who can't speak up for themselves from group homes where they have lived happily in some cases for over 20 years and farming them out on Craigslist to students and other opportunists seeking free rent or a mortgage helper who won't talk back.
Unlike professionally staffed group homes, which are licensed, inspected and subject to independent oversight, home share contractors are not subject to any independent oversight. A series of reports commissioned by CLBC have confirmed that the potential for abuse and risks are significant and that such placements are not appropriate for all adults.
What's perhaps most alarming, however, is the lack of any independent oversight, investigation or reporting mechanism to provide the necessary checks and balances.
Just today, BC’s Advocate for Service Quality responded to growing community concerns by refusing to intervene or offer advice on the risks involved, stating that her mandate only permits her to offer advice to the minister in response to specific complaints about service quality if an individual files a formal complaint. She referred the concerns about CLBC's actions to CLBC's CEO, Rick Mowles. The Advocate for Service Quality answers to Minister Rich Coleman (the minister who ordered the cuts).
Read the Craigslist home sharing ads here
More about the group home cuts, forced relocations and other community living cuts here .