Helping people with developmental disabilities
Ibecame premier on the commitment that I would put families first in British Columbia, and since then my government has been bringing this vision to life by focusing on changes that help families.
To help us in this work, we have been asking families about the challenges they face. One of the critical areas of concern we have heard about are problems with services for people living with developmental disabilities and their families.
Simply put, we heard that we can do more to strengthen and support these families – but innovation in service delivery is never a simple task.
Last week, we released to the public the comprehensive reviews we have undertaken of Community Living BC ( CLBC) and other supports for individuals with developmental disabilities, along with our plan of action to improve these services.
We are adding an additional $ 40 million in funding to provide services to people with developmental disabilities and their families. This funding will support: • Moving toward a “one government” policy that will help integrate government services.
• Increasing our capacity to help individuals transition through different types of care; supporting greater utilization of individualized funding.
• Increasing day programming options, with more focus on employment planning and support.
This plan will ensure that CLBC and other government agencies are using their resources in the most effective way possible, so that British Columbians with developmental disabilities have the opportunity to lead the meaningful lives that CLBC was conceived to support. It’s a plan that focuses on providing individuals and families with the flexibility to choose services that meet their own unique needs, and the security that the government will be there to provide support over the long term.
Everyone is different. Every family is different. We have to find ways to support the different needs and aspirations of these individuals.
Our plan is based on a careful review of the situation, engagement with affected individuals, and policy analysis to identify the appropriate response.
It is the type of work that typifies what I mean when I talk about “open government.”
An open government is transparent about the problems it faces.
An open government says: “We know we don’t have all the answers, but we also know that the buck stops here.”
Sometimes that means taking the tough route.
Given the global economic downturn, this is a challenging time to run a government. Governments around the world are facing cost pressures and are challenged to throw out old models to address today’s most pressing issues.
So these reviews are not a knee- jerk reaction to the challenges we heard about.
They’re not about throwing money at a problem and hoping it solves itself.
They are about pulling together resources and expertise from all across government, to work alongside families living with developmental disabilities and their advocates, to create sustainable solutions together.
This is a long- term problem that needed a long- term solution. We had to take the time to get it right.
With the launch of our plan, it is time for the real work to begin.
Nothing changes overnight, but we will continue to move forward with enthusiasm and diligence. To do this work, we have to stay engaged with people living with developmental disabilities, their families and their service providers.
The easy way is always enticing, but often it ends up being the wrong thing to do. When you study a problem, when you talk to people who are living the issues, and when you really listen to what they are saying, that hard work frequently reveals the right path.
It is that type of thinking that motivates me as your premier.