Issues & Trends from the Executive Director
After a colder and snowier winter, spring is finally here!
Our Reach for the Stars fundraising campaign and our 50/50 payroll lottery fund enabled us to distribute $8750 to 113 individuals & families so they could enjoy a good holiday season. The money raised through these campaigns are used throughout the year for activities and much needed items for the children, youth and adults we support.
Our Advocates & Ambassador’s group produced a wonderful video, “Living Your Best Life”, which focuses on people’s rights and has been distributed to each home and program at Community Living Victoria. Go to our videos on the website to watch this made- in- house production.
The 2017 budget increase for Community Living BC will help the provincial agency respond to expected growth in the number of adults with developmental disabilities requiring residential and community inclusion supports for the coming year. The increase is welcomed but it is not sufficient to meet the waitlists. Pressure continues for transitioning youth, aging adults and supporting individuals with more complex needs.
The number of adults requiring CLBC supports has been growing by 5 – 6% annually in recent years and CLBC expects that trend to continue. The budget increase for 2017/18 reflects that trend. However, budget increases for the following two years (2018/19 and 2019/20) amount to 0.5% and 1% respectively, far below expected growth in the number of people served by CLBC.
Disability advocates hoped for a more significant increase to PWD rates than the $50 a month in the 2017 budget. An annual increase of $600 will provide little real improvement to the lives of people with disabilities who depend on provincial assistance. Without further adjustments, people with disabilities will continue to live in poverty and that CLBC will continue to serve as a crisis response system instead of proactively building capacity to meaningfully fulfill its mandate to promote real community inclusion.
Our fifth CARF survey is April 24 – 26th. A team of four surveyors will be evaluating how we meet international standards of quality. This is an opportunity to showcase CLV, the great people we support and the awesome team of staff we have here!
Our 2016 Measurable Outcomes Report is available on our website. It provides a great deal of information about individuals and our services including results from our satisfaction surveys. It has specific goals for each service area that improve our efficiency and effectiveness, and contains many examples of the difference CLV is making in people’s lives! We encourage you to have a look.
Inclusion BC has compiled a toolkit for the May 9th provincial election, focused on putting people with developmental disabilities on the election agenda. The toolkit is targeted to people supported and organizations.
My thanks to our Board members, staff and supporters. Your ongoing efforts and commitment continue to enhance the lives of the people we support.
