The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has led significant consultations throughout the past year, as an essential part of delivering on the recommendations to improve supports for adults with developmental disabilities. An online discussion forum is available to continue the conversation and opportunities for feedback. Join the conversation and share your ideas! 

This webpage will keep you informed of engagement and consultation activities and we encourage you to check back often for updates.

April 2013 – Moving Forward

Work has now been completed on two reports that are critical to moving forward on providing more integrated services and supports for people with developmental disabilities. These reports are the result of extensive community engagement and consultation with representatives from the ministries and authorities involved in supporting individuals with developmental disabilities.

The Integrated Service Delivery Model is a detailed analysis of the current service delivery model as well as opportunities for change, improvement and innovation going forward. Click here to read the Integrated Service Delivery Model report.

The Navigator Model report outlines the roles and responsibilities of dedicated positions (navigators) within government. A navigator is someone who can act as a single contact and help coordinate planning for and access to the range of services and supports available. Click here to read the Navigator Model report.

What’s Different

The proposed service delivery model and the introduction of a navigator role reflect a commitment to a person-centred approach that is consistent across the range of ministries and authorities that touch the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities. 

The proposed model puts the person with a developmental disability at the centre of assessments and planning. 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 model incorporates this new approach by clarifying roles, confirming specific partnerships and accountabilities at the service level, and streamlining collection and use of information for early and effective planning and development of supports.

The navigator function is an essential element of the model. Navigators will undertake responsibilities and functions that are closely associated with all ministries and agencies involved in the life of a person with a developmental disability. This is a unique role and is intended to complement rather than duplicate or add to existing capacity in each of the ministries and authorities currently involved.

The ministry will launch five early implementation sites later this year to test, refine, evaluate and finalize the model, including the role of the navigators, prior to full implementation.

January 2013 - Self-Advocate Reference Group Session

On January 29, 2013 the ministry consulted with the same reference group of self-advocates in June 2012. This group reviewed results of the consultations held during 2012 regarding services to people with developmental disabilities in BC. This group's responses were also documented to help guide the ministry in moving towards the right direction.

A report was developed to describe the work of the reference group including an overview of the process they followed, their feedback on topics addressed in the consultations and a set of recommendations. Click here to view the final report.

November 2012 - Progress on the new Service Delivery Model

Since the release of the 12-point plan in January 2012, extensive community engagement consultations have taken place with individuals, families, advocates, service providers, health practitioners, educators, local government staff and others on what a new integrated service delivery model should look like.

The Integrated Service Delivery Structure report provides an overview of the stakeholder engagement and provides context for discussion on the new service delivery model. Click here to read the report.

October 2012 - Services to Adults with Developmental Disabilities Working Session

On October 4, 2012, a working session was held in Victoria involving participants from multiple government ministries and organizations that provide services to people with developmental disabilities. This group was gathered together to identify cross-government opportunities for improving services to adults with developmental disabilities and to examine the impacts of the new service delivery model. Click here to view the presentation material.

This session included representatives from school districts, Community Living BC, and the Ministries of Health, Education, Children and Family Development, Social Development and Finance.

Part of the session was dedicated to focussing on transitions. The participants were divided into two working groups: youth transition to adulthood (16-24 years old) and transitions for adults (24 years old and over).   The transitions were examined within the context of five anchor points: early planning; key workers; information and service coordination; community; and quality assurance.  The working groups discussed issues related to their specific transitional stage and then reconvened as a whole, discussed the findings and then determined short-term improvement opportunities.

During this session, attendees' highlighted new opportunities, provided feedback on the proposed model and reconfirmed their commitment to identify potential changes within each ministry or organization to allow for service integration.  Click here to view the information collected from this session.

August 2012 - Community Reference Group Announced

It is important that the integrated service delivery model reflects the needs and interests of individuals and families from a broad range of backgrounds and in many situations.

To help achieve this, a Community Reference Group was created. This group:

• represents a broad range of individuals and families with a variety of cultural backgrounds
• represents both urban and rural BC
• includes service providers and others who have knowledge and experience
• provides advice and feedback to the inter-ministry team

Who is on the Community Reference Group and how will it work?

There are 19 members on the Reference Group. Click here to view their names and communities. We were very pleased with the interest and response we received to the call for 'volunteers'. Although it was not possible to select all applicants for the group, we do want to assure those who were not selected that there will be many future opportunities to participate on small working groups as we move forward. Click here to view the Terms of Reference for this group.

The Reference Group is chaired by a member of the Project Team and will meet every 4-6 weeks for approximately 2 hours per session. These sessions will provide an opportunity to discuss project activities and gather input and ideas from the members to assist the Project team.  In turn, this will help inter-ministerial partners move towards a well designed integrated service delivery system for adults with developmental disabilities.

July 2012 - Improving Services to Adults with Developmental Disabilities Workshops

On July 24 and 25, 2012, a workshop was held in Vancouver to gain insights and perspectives from a diverse range of stakeholders to assist in the design of an integrated service delivery system for people with developmental disabilities. Specifically, participants provided input on three topics:  the integrated service delivery model, individualized funding, and a common assessment platform. 

Workshop attendees represented a wide range of regional and provincial stakeholders involved with the community living sector including families; service delivery agencies; advocates; health care professionals; educators; academics; and government agencies. In addition to the three topic areas outlined above, discussions also included improved transition planning, co-ordination of services, and continuing education and employment access. Participants were encouraged to share their thoughts on all aspects of service delivery which led to stimulating and productive discussions.

This group was brought together for a follow up workshop on September 21, 2012. This workshop focussed on Network Mapping - a visual process to guide families through planning and accessing services with particular focus on transition points. The STADD project is using Network Mapping as a basis for initiating discussions with a representative sample of families and individuals as part of the larger engagement process. Participants reviewed the process and identified challenges, opportunities and additional ideas for consideration. 

The information collected from these workshops will contribute significantly to the design of the improved service delivery model. Click here to read the final report.

June 2012 - Self-Advocate Engagement

The ministry contracted with Fred Ford to conduct consultations with a number of self-advocates across the province.  Fred has a long history of professional and personal involvement in the community living sector. The objective of this work was to provide individuals receiving supports with an opportunity to directly advise government of their concerns with current systems and services.  Fred worked with a small group of self-advocates who helped design the interview format and themes of the report and reviewed the final results.  The ministry will use these ideas and recommendations as a starting point for the broader discussions on improving supports and services that we will be having in community with other individuals, families, advocates, service providers and government representatives.

Fred conducted these discussions throughout June and the final report is attached here. 

Click here (26.8MB MP3) to listen to the audio version of the Self Advocate Engagement Report.

We have also added a video conversation between Fred and Barb Goode who co-chaired the reference group discussing the report and the process as well as an audio version of someone reading the report.

More information about:

• Improving Services To People With Developmental Disabilities - Short Explanation and Video
• ISST - The Basics - Short Explanation and Video
• ISST - The Details - What is ISST? How it can help you?
• Integrated Services Support Team - About the Team