I want to assure everyone in the community-living sector that our government is fully committed to improving supports for people with developmental disabilities and their families.
We’re midway through implementing the 12 recommendations in the deputy ministers’ report released last January. This includes the development of an integrated service-delivery model to better serve people with developmental disabilities.
Once the 12-point plan is fully implemented and a new integrated service-delivery model is established, we will be able to reliably substantiate service demands and associated costs and budget accordingly.
In the meantime, my ministry is closely monitoring this work and has responded, and will continue to respond, with additional dollars as required.
Since last January, we’ve made progress around improving services in some key areas.
All families with youth turning 19 now receive a minimum of $2,800 to pay for some respite services or another service if preferred, such as an employment program. We created an integrated services support team to give people with developmental disabilities and their families a dedicated place to turn to when they have concerns about the services they are receiving.
We continue to engage extensively with families, self-advocates, communities and stakeholders, and we have put together a reference group to gather feedback from the broader community-living sector on the work we are doing to create a more integrated approach to service delivery.
The feedback from all of the consultations is helping to shape the design of an integrated service delivery model — which I anticipate being ready for review by government and cabinet later this year.
While we are making every effort to maximize the resources already available through Community Living B.C. and across ministries for individuals with developmental disabilities, we anticipate that the new integrated service delivery model will require additional funding.
Again, our government is fully committed to improving supports for people with developmental disabilities and their families. Until that new integrated service delivery model is rolled out, we will ensure CLBC has the money it needs to provide supports and services to individuals and families. We have flexibility within the budget to do this. We will spend the money necessary.
Moira Stilwell is B.C.’s minister of social development.
