Community Engagement | Community Social Services Matter!

A network of family groups, advocacy organizations, unions, and service agencies—now operating under the name BC-Community Living Action Group (BC-CLAG)—began meeting together in the fall of 2010 to share information about the urgent situation in BC's community living sector.

Their first order of business was to coordinate a series of public meetings in Vancouver and Victoria to expose the issue and explore solutions.

In total, 330 people participated in the two meetings, including self-advocates, family members, front-line support workers, and other concerned citizens.

Meetings featured brief panel presentations followed by a small group dialogue session focused on the question:

What can we do to ensure that adults with developmental disabilities have the options, services, and supports that they need?

Group members shared personal experiences, listened to each other's views and concerns, and brainstormed solutions.

A summary of the meetings—including panellists' remarks, group dialogue sessions, and recommendations—is detailed in the report: Reaching Out/Weighing In: Report on the Skills & (Dis)Abilities Meetings to Address the Community Living Crisis in BC

Recommendations:

Increase provincial government funding to meet the support needs of adults with developmental disabilities, and allocate funding equitably and strategically.
Create an independent advocate with a broad legislated mandate to improve supports and outcomes for adults with developmental disabilities.
Raise public awareness through education, community outreach, and political advocacy.
Listen to individuals and families by re-centring the community living support system around adults with developmental disabilities and their families to ensure choice and inclusion.
Consult and collaborate with service agencies, front-line workers, disability advocates, and other stakeholders with key knowledge and expertise.
Introduce provincial legislation setting out the inclusion rights and support entitlements of adults with developmental disabilities.
Improve transparency and accountability in the sector and implement measures to ensure the government's community living infrastructure is held to account.
Develop and implement a multi-year provincial community living plan, in consultation with key stakeholders, for eliminating waitlists, transitioning youth to adult services, meeting rising demand for supports, and other priorities.
Regulate home sharing through a provincial framework that addresses service standards, training, and oversight.
Protect group homes by stopping cost-driven closures and service reductions.

Toolkit:

If your community is impacted by group home closures or other cuts to services and supports, consider organizing a public meeting. Here are some resources: