Some facts about Community Living BC

• The care and well-being of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families is a government priority.

• Community Living BC (CLBC) was established in 2005 as a Crown agency to provide disability-related services and supports for adults with developmental disabilities.

• CLBC provides support for 15,076 individuals - an addition of 224 since June 2012. This support ranges from needs assessment, liaison with community organizations and crisis response to direct services, residential care and home sharing.

• For 2013-14, CLBC's total operating budget, which includes operating contributions from the B.C. government, is $756.7 million.

• Government is mid-way through implementation of the 12 recommendations included in the Deputy Ministers' report released last January.

• Once that plan is fully implemented and a new integrated service delivery model is established, government will be able to reliably substantiate service demands and associated costs and budget accordingly.

• Until then, government is closely monitoring CLBC funding and will respond with additional dollars as required.

• Government is committed to ongoing funding and support for CLBC and to ensuring we're putting individuals with developmental disabilities and their families first.

12-point plan

• Since the release of the 12-point plan in January 2012, significant progress has been made towards improving services to people with developmental disabilities and their families.

• The B.C. government and Community Living BC (CLBC) have been working together to make changes to ensure individuals with developmental disabilities are receiving  appropriate supports and services to encourage greater independence and community inclusion.

• An inter-ministry team - including the ministries of Social Development, Children and Family Development, Education and Health, along with CLBC - has been working to deliver on the recommendations.

• Changes have been made to improve transition planning for youth, the overall delivery of services and collaboration across government.  While work continues on an integrated service delivery model, an important part of addressing the recommendations, changes have been made to address specific recommendations.

• An integrated service delivery model puts the person with a developmental disability at the centre of assessments, planning and provision of service. Government coordinates access to the range of services, rather than individuals and families having to navigate through all of the supports and services available.

• The proposed model is being developed following extensive consultations with individuals with developmental disabilities, families and the broader community to determine what an integrated model should look like.

• The feedback from all of the consultations will help shape the design of an integrated service delivery model - which is expected to be ready later this year.

Engagement and consultation

• A number of engagement and consultation activities have taken place this year that are fundamental to addressing the 12 recommendations to improve supports for people with developmental disabilities.

• During October and November 2012, the Ministry of Social Development held community engagement sessions in 14 communities with 766 people to get feedback on an integrated service delivery model.

• In May and June 2012, a series of targeted self-advocate consultations took place with 48 individuals in 16 communities, giving people with developmental disabilities input on decisions and policies that affect their lives.

• The most common theme to come out of the self-advocate consultations was self determination and choice - choice in where a person lives and who the service providers are.

• To gain feedback from the broader community living sector, a reference group of 19 people have been put together - comprised of individuals, family members, service providers and community members.

• The reference group provides ideas and feedback to government to ensure that work being done to create a more integrated approach to service delivery meets the needs of individuals and their families.

• CLBC is working to strengthen the relationship with Community Councils to ensure more involvement and communications between Community Councils, the Provincial Advisory Committee, and CLBC board and staff, and implementation of recommendations in the task force's report, Strengthening Community Councils.

Youth transitioning to CLBC

• CLBC offers funded supports to all families with transitioning youth who are eligible for CLBC services due to a developmental disability.

• Each year, about 550 young people transition from children and youth with special needs to CLBC adult services.

• The Ministry of Children and Family Development and CLBC begin planning with families as early as the young person's 16th birthday and works with the youth, families and care providers to plan for adult transition.

• A minimum of $2,800 annually for respite services, or an equivalent amount of money where another service is preferred, is available for all families with transitioning youth as well as to families of youth who turned 19 in the previous two years if they are receiving no or limited CLBC-funded services. Based on assessments, additional funding will be available for those with more significant health and safety needs.

• The Ministry of Social Development is creating more opportunities for employment and training supports with investments in programs such as the Canadian Inclusive Lives Learning Initiative, STEPS Forward, and working with CLBC and local agencies to assist individuals who can and want to work.

• The Ministry of Social Development is working to simplify the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation process for youth eligible for CLBC supports - in collaboration with the Ministry of Children and Family Development and CLBC.

• Since January 2012, an inter-ministry team has been working together to improve supports for young people with developmental disabilities who are transitioning to adult services.

• One part of the proposed service delivery model is early planning, including integrated assessments, and proposes strengthening the transition supports for the 16-24 year old age cohort.

Integrated Services Support Team

• The Integrated Services Support Team (ISST) gives individuals with developmental disabilities and their families a dedicated place to turn to for assistance when they have concerns about services provided from multiple ministries and agencies including from CLBC.

• The ISST, which replaced the Client Support Team, brings together staff from the ministries of Social Development, Children and Family Development, Health and, when required, Education and Advanced Education. Together with CLBC staff, they will review all of the services that an individual receives to ensure they are receiving the appropriate level of services.

• The creation of ISST completes recommendation six in the 12-point plan and brings the B.C. government one step closer to improving supports for people with developmental disabilities.

CLBC policy

• CLBC is a voluntary service that provides supports and services to meet individuals' disability-related needs.  The B.C. government works closely with CLBC to ensure people receive appropriate supports to address their needs.

• The criteria for eligibility to receive CLBC supports for a developmental disability is based directly on the DMS-IV, an internationally recognized manual used throughout North America and other parts of the world. To establish eligibility for CLBC services, government relies on independent psychologists, who apply the internationally recognized criteria for developmental disabilities in the DSM-IV.

• In cases that involve health care, mental health or legal issues, CLBC staff work with a variety of agencies and organizations to ensure all partners are working together to provide the appropriate level of supports.

• CLBC has strengthened its conflict of interest policy and practice to ensure conflict, or perceived conflict, is resolved, and making sure that CLBC employees who provide home sharing are not in a position to influence funding decisions impacting the person they are supporting.

• CLBC has launched a more responsive complaint resolution process with clear timelines and an enhanced tracking system.

• CLBC has updated its whistleblower policy to ensure CLBC achieves a high standard of ethical reporting. The policy includes a formal role for CLBC's internal auditor and quality assurance manager.

• CLBC has implemented an individual and family preference procurement policy throughout the province that empowers individuals and families by providing people with the opportunity to express a preference for a pre-qualified service provider if they wish.

• CLBC has rigorous requirements that individuals interested in home sharing must meet before having someone placed in their home. As part of its ongoing quality assurance, CLBC is reviewing its home share program to ensure this popular option is meeting individuals' needs.

Stay Informed

• For regular updates about the progress government is making toward completing all 12 recommendations: www.sd.gov.bc.ca/pwd/isst.html

• For more information about the Integrated Services Support Team: http://ow.ly/byR08

Media Contact:    

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Social Development
250 508-5030