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Thursday, July 13rd, 2006 from Noon until 2:00 PM. Co-Chairs: Carol Stinson, Gerry Juzenas 1. Introductions 2. Agenda - additions – added BC Benefits, added Provincial Assessment 3. Minutes of last meeting: a. Changes and additions: i. BC Institutional Legacy Legacy Trust Fund: a) The minutes were revised to clarify the name of the fund and the approximate per person payout (around $400 per resident of Woodlands, Tranquille, Glendale and Endicott). b) There is a new update from the fund – June 30, 2006 – giving information on how to ensure people are included in the funds disbursement and outlining a plan to send out cheques in July & August 2006.
c)
Anyone wishing to ensure that an eligible person they know is on
the list can forward an email to the following email address:
anita.nevistic@gov.bc.ca with the following
information about the former resident: b. Items brought forward from Minutes: i. Name Survey/Vote – results of online survey were reviewed – two names were preferred – Alliance for Community Inclusion – ACI and Alliance for Community Living, Advocacy, Inclusion and eMpowerment - ACLAIM. After some discussion, people thought the best option would be to modify the second choice – ALLIANCE for Community Living – Advocacy, Inclusion and Empowerment. The second part being a tagline to the formal name. People liked the logo. Ernie will explore new website name and bring info to next meeting.
1. Alliance of Advocates for Community
Inclusion AACI - ONE vote Plus extra suggestions: Community Living
Alliance of British Columbia (CLABC) ii. Who We Are Statement – amended by adding name Alliance instead of coalition – approved by all present. 4. Correspondence (from previous meetings) a. Hagen (budget) – nothing heard yet. b. Hollstedt (communication) We wrote a letter in April requesting an improvement to the communication strategies of CLBC and MCFD – that press releases are often contradicted by staff and then a revised announcement is released. A response has been received by the CHAIR and was circulated. LINK TO LETTER FROM CLBC c. Advisory Committee BC Institutional Legacy Trust Fund (funds administered by the public trustee) – see note above about June 30 update. d. Letter to Social Development Canada regarding funding from Roeher Institute – Response received from the Office for Disability Issues, Government of Canada. LINK TO LETTER e. Previously in the minutes, there was a request to write a letter to the Institutional Legacy Trust Fund expressing our concern that former residents whose funds are managed by the Public Trustee may never see funds. If this letter hasn’t been written yet, we’ll get it written in the next months. 5. Legislation for Community Living: where are we now? a. We have regularly discussed the need for enhanced legislation around community living services. If there was legislation that compelled government to provide community living services, would people’s access to services improve? b. BCACL did research on what exists across North America and found that there are few examples of successful legislation. LINK TO BCACL RESEARCH DOCUMENT Ontarians with Disabilties Act (ODA) is an example. It began with broad coalition of folks from disability groups across Ontario and ended up being a broad act that speaks primarily to physical accessibility. c. October 26, 27, 2006 – BCACL is holding a forum on disability supports. There will be a discussion topic on legislation for disability supports. STILL WAITING FOR INFO FROM BCACL 6. Updates: a. BC Benefits - $70 increase from 2005 – no increase yet for some folks. People in residential settings who receive comforts ($90 per month) have not received the increase. MCFD and CLBC are working with Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance to resolve the contracting issues around ensuring people receive the increase. There is no commitment to retroactivity. b. Provincial Assessment Centre – Willow Clinic moved from Woodlands grounds to Willingdon and Canada Way – Provincial Assessment Centre – this is only a temporary location. $3 Million has been budgeted to replace this service. One of the options would be to create one provincial centre for tertiary care – assessment of individuals who are in crisis. Other options would see the development of regional resources around the Province to help people who are in crisis at a regional resource, rather than a provincial resource. This is a CLBC project. Comments on this project should be directed to …(Doug Woollard?). Greg will provide an update at the next coalition meeting. Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology – Out of the Shadows at last – National Post – May 23, 2006 -
Out of the Shadows at Last - Final Report
- Part One (1.2Mg PDF - 308 pages) c. Individualized Funding: The only information people have is that an announcement is coming in the fall. d. Provincial CLBC Advisory Committee: Advertisements have been circulated for people interested in sitting on a Provincial Advisory Committee to CLBC’s Board of Directors. Here is a link to the invitation. e. Group Home Review/Residential Options Review – People have been communicating that they are not clear on the purposes. The former “Group Home Review” has been renamed “Residential Options Review” and is now focused broadly on asking all folks who receive residential services – not just group home residents – how satisfied they are with their current services. Many agencies have had this discussion with folks over the years, but many people have had the opportunity to have this discussion and review their options. The question is not the problem. The concern is who is asking the question, and the concern that the individual’s circle of support is included in the question and the answer. Elaine Murray has been discussing this project with service providers and has said that Jacinta Eni will be assisting her. e. Provincial Research Initiatives: Tim Stainton conducting a project – notices for requests for participants linked below: - Transition Research Recruitment Flyer - Seniors Research Recruitment Flyer - Residential Research Recruitment Flyer f. Updates from attendees: - MCFD hosted a Therapy Services consultation last week – Carol and Karen attended – felt that many questions from attendees were placed in the parking lot, with most of the consultation focused on a review of 1995 guidelines. A summary of feedback will be circulated in August we will circulate the summary when it is received. g. Class Action Lawsuit of former Woodlands Residents: there is a rumor that there is an out-of-court settlement being discussed. This settlement may be restricted to people who were in care after August 1974 – due to Supreme Court ruling stating that government can’t be held liable for wrongs committed prior to August 1974. - common pain experience – a method of identifying claimants without requiring them to individually testify and prove their experience of abuse. - the rumored settlement will have the requirement that each individual making a claim will have to testify before a tribunal and prove their abuse. - BC Coalition of People with Disabilities is attempting to bring together a group of people with a lawyer to challenge this tentative settlement. - More info on the class action suit: http://www.poynerbaxter.com/Woodlands.htm h. Woodlands Memorial Garden – opening was delayed because construction has been delayed and the Ministry did not want to open a park still under construction. Opening will probably be re-scheduled to October – part of Community Living Month. - More info on BCACL website at: http://www.bcacl.org/Woodlands_Cemetery i. Volunteer Incentive from Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance – MEIA – has re-opened a program for folks on Disability Benefits – they can receive an additional $100.00 per month if they volunteer for a non-profit agency. Contact their Employment Assistance Worker for more information on criteria and applications. This is a limited offering – there are only limited funds available. (Apparently only one member of a married couple can apply). - See Section 47 of Regulations: http://www.eia.gov.bc.ca/PUBLICAT/VOL1/Part3/3-5.htm#47 j. Eligibility and CLBC: The government and CLBC were sued by a parent whose son was ruled ineligible for services because his IQ was over 75. The courts ruled that CLBC could not use the arbitrary eligibility guidelines that were different from what was in the legislation.
Next Meeting: Friday, September 15, 2006 – 11am to 1pm - Education Room - Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion (BACI) - 2702 Norland Avenue, Burnaby, BC |
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