Effective March 15, 2007, Member Updates will now be emailed through the Executive Director, Communications, and Presidents email lists.

We hope you will find the following updates on our various initiatives informative and exciting! Looking for articles for your upcoming newsletters? These updates may be of great interest for your staff, volunteers, and families. Feel free to reproduce any of the content in this update. We’ve also highlighted some content with an asterisk ( * ) as suggested material you may want to select for your publications. Content may be reproduced without further permission in the proper context and with the following credit line: “Reprinted from Community Living Ontario Update, March 2007.” Please send us a copy so we know the information provided has been helpful to your organization.

Transformation Process

Community Living Ontario continues to represent our members at the Partnership Table that the Ministry of Community and Social Services has established as part of the developmental services sector transformation process. While we remain confident that the process will result in positive changes with respect to supports available to people who have an intellectual disability, we recognize the anxiety that many of our members are feeling given uncertainties about what lies ahead. We have spoken with the representatives of the Partnership Table, the Deputy Minister and Minister Meilleur about these concerns and our suggestions for moving ahead on transformation. We have spoken with the ministry about the need for more regular communications about the transformation process, and we are pleased to see that the Ministry has recently released the first of a regular newsletter to provide such information. We have also expressed our concern about the need for strategies and investments that will provide families, individuals, service providers and communities with the information and resources they need to function in a transformed system. The Ministry has acknowledged the need to address these issues.

Long-Term Care

Community Living Ontario has expressed to government our serious concerns about the protocols for long-term care released by the Ministry of Community and Social Services and the Ministry of Health last year. We have called upon both ministries to address our concern that the protocols promote the placement of people who have an intellectual disability into long-term care facilities. The government has confirmed that the intent of the protocols is not to promote placement, but to ensure that if a person desires and is in need of long-term care supports, there are no barriers to them receiving this support. The ministries have agreed to revisit the protocols to ensure that they accurately express government policy.

Community Living Ontario is currently gathering information on the extent to which people who have an intellectual disability are being directed into long-term care. It appears that the numbers of people in long-term care facilities who have an intellectual disability are disproportionately high, including disproportionately high numbers of young people. We are working to understand why this is the case and to what extent the shortcomings of resources in the developmental services sector are contributing to people seeking support from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. We will soon have a policy paper outlining our positions on these matters.


Upcoming Provincial Budget

On March 22, the Minister of Finance, Greg Sorbara, will table this year’s Provincial Budget. Community Living Ontario has worked very hard this year in cooperation with its members and other partners in the sector to express the need for a significant investment in supports to people who have an intellectual disability. Community Living Ontario met recently with the Minister of Finance through the assistance of Community Living York South, which is within the Minister’s constituency. Minister Sorbara made it very clear that he had heard the needs of the sector through the strong representation present at all of the pre-budget consultations that took place this year and from the many MPPs who have been visited by representatives from the sector. We would like to thank everyone for their tremendous effort in getting our message out this year. We are more confident, than ever, that the budget on March 22 will provide much needed relief to our sector.

Deinstitutionalization

To allow for a smooth transition of people leaving facilities, and to ensure they are treated justly and as equal citizens, we believe it is imperative the government address some key issues related to institutionalization as listed below:

1.  Outreach to families so they can be united – to include easily accessible individualized funding.

2.  Independent planners or facilitators should be available to assist people returning to the community. Lessons can be learned from regions such as Windsor, St. Mary’s, and Durham Region where independent planning and facilitation is well developed.

3.  Flexible service and funding mechanisms should guide the development of community resources. In the previous 13 closures for people with developmental disabilities in Ontario, service development and funding was mostly limited to “block funding” for community agencies to design services for people returning from the institution. More flexible approaches are required for the developmentally disabled community.

4.  Engaging workers and communities in the closure process. There are understandable concerns being expressed by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union about the future of Smith Falls, Orillia, and Blenheim. Workers as such need to be involved in the closure planning and be given an opportunity to apply for community jobs.

Our work in the months ahead and leading up to 2009 will focus on bringing attention to these issues and demanding responses from government.

*Local Health Integration Networks

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care of the Ontario Government plans to establish 14 Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) – what are known in other provinces as “regional health authorities.” Read More.

*Call for Oversight of Ontario’s Ombudsman Over Long-term Care Facilities

Community Living Ontario welcomes the provisions set out in Bill 140: An Act Respecting Long-Term Care Homes, 2006, which aim to strengthen abuse prevention of people with an intellectual disability in long-term care homes, we are however deeply concerned with other provisions that place a cloud of uncertainty over the ability of these homes to effectively deliver adequate care and services.

The Ontario’s Ombudsman needs to be urgently modernized. Research by Community Living Ontario’s Policy department shows that the Ombudsman's authority, as established by the Ombudsman Act to oversee the delivery of public services, has not been modernized in over 30 years, and is one of the most limited in comparison to other provinces where the Ombudsman has jurisdiction over long-term care homes. Read More.

Fair Wages Task Force

As we await the budget announcement on March 22 and hope for the best while preparing for the worst, we want to encourage everyone to keep the pressure on your MPPs and government over these next few weeks.

We have been tabulating the results of the Labour Status surveys that were sent out in mid-February. So far, we have received 56 completed surveys. The breadth of information provided is extremely helpful, however, it would have much more impact with a greater degree of input. For example, being able to inform government of the total number of lives impacted by labour disruption and associated costs would be very powerful. If you have not yet sent in your survey, please do so as soon as possible or if your status has changed significantly since you submitted your information, please send us an update. Email submissions to Nadyne Esson at .

Some of the other information that we have gleaned from the surveys received thus far is the consistency of demands that have been proposed for those organizations currently in negotiations. Wage demands are ranging between $23.32 and $25.90 per hour, with a heavy concentration at the $25.44 rate. It also appears that there is renewed pressure to support the move to Central Bargaining in the sector. Some members have been asking as whether or not there is a common position being taken on this issue. Some time ago, the Fair Wage Task Force was getting information on the pros and cons of this approach and it seems that we should revisit this work.

Provincial Network Human Resources Committee

At its next meeting, the Provincial Network Human Resource Committee will review presentations from potential consultants to assist with the development of a human resource strategy for the sector. The Deputy Minister, Kevin Costante, has been invited to attend this meeting as we hope to collaborate with the Ministry of Community and Social Services on this project rather than duplicating work the Ministry is already undertaking.

The Ministry has responded to our enquiries about how the $11 million targeted wage funding was allocated and has listened to our presentations about what went wrong and why the money did not necessarily meet its intended goal of closing the wage gap. Kevin has committed to meeting with us if future funding becomes available for wages prior to any distribution process is determined.

Self-Advocacy Support

In one of the final roll out stages of our organizational restructuring, Gail Malcolm has been appointed to provide support to Community Living Ontario’s self-advocacy initiatives. This will include support to the Self-Advocates’ Council as well as taking on (over time) the broader mandate of ensuring Community Living Ontario is inclusive in all of its activities and operations. Read More.

On Board to Social Change - Conference 2007!

Join us for this year’s national Community Living conference, Re-Inventing Community Supports, co-sponsored by the Canadian Association for Community Living and Community Living Ontario.

Re-Inventing Community Supports promises to cover a lot of ground in what’s sure to be three unforgettable days. Session topics will focus on the following key areas:

·  System Transformation: How local agencies are transforming themselves to deliver more inclusive and individualized supports.

·  Community Development: Opportunities to engage with one another to learn from the experience of diverse communities.

·  Rebuilding the Grassroots of our Movement: Beyond services and support to social change.

The conference also features an exciting line-up of plenary and keynote speakers including Judy Rebick, social justice activist and author; Dr. Sharon Manson Singer, president of Canadian Policy Research Networks; and Sherri Torjman, vice-president of the Caledon Institute of Social Policy.

Re-Inventing Community Supports run from May 30 to June 1st. Register Today!

The conference will take place at Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel. To reserve your accommodations, contact the Sheraton Centre directly at 1-888-627-7175 or,

over the web at www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/res?id=0701043925&key=D87BE

Be sure to reference Community Living Ontario to receive the best rates.

To register for the conference, pre-conference workshops and AGM go to:

http://www.communitylivingontario.ca/index2.html

For those who do not have access to the internet, contact Anna Marchionda at 1-800-278-8025 or 416-447-4348 to register by phone.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to meet and share experiences with your colleagues and peers from across the country.

Training and Development

This spring, Community Living Ontario presents two important workshops for families about inclusive education and engaging school staff and administration:

1. School Inclusion Works – A Two-Day Workshop with Darcy Elks

Defining and exploring what real inclusion is all about and making it happen within our schools! This workshop will be of special interest to parents and advocates of school-aged children who have a disability. Read More.

2. Meeting the Management at Your School – a Seminar presented by Lindsay Moir

Parents: Have you ever had to meet with the Principal to discuss your child’s place within his or her school community? Were you unsure about what approach to take and what to say? Let Lindsay Moir’s seminar, Meeting Management offer you some answers. Read More.

Look forward to more of these training events in 2007 -2008 in various parts of the province.

Annual Communications Strategies Workshop

The workshop was a fabulous success. We surpassed our attendance goal with 161 people registered for the event. Sally Armstrong gave a stirring speech Wednesday evening urging Community Living to “go to the barricades.” She believes it is an injustice that people supported by Community Living are still not fully included and afforded the same opportunities as everyone else in society. Thursday morning was kicked off by a keynote address from CBC radio host and long-time supporter of Community Living, Michael Enright. Michael continued Sally Armstrong’s challenge to ‘get out there’ and tell more stories about Community Living including some of his own personal reflections as a father of someone who has a disability.

New this year was the R & R (Rob and Replicate) Handbook, a book detailing a variety of awareness and public relations events and initiatives held by associations across Ontario. Be sure to get your copy of this invaluable resource. The handbook is free to workshop participants and associations who sent in an entry and it is available for $25.00 to all other associations. Contact Arlene Robinson at (ext. 231) to order your copy. Read More About the Workshop.

Communications Plan

Laurie Lashbrook has conducted some initial consultation for the development of the communications plan. She has talked with specific people across Ontario as well as held a session at the workshop. She is now in the midst of developing a survey which will be sent out. Results should be compiled by the end of March.

French Language Crisis Communications Manual

This is a translation of the English version that was released a few years ago and should be completed shortly. If you would like to reserve a copy, please contact Arlene Robinson at .

Website Updates

Just a reminder that if you have a job posting that you would like added to our website, please forward it to Nadyne Esson at:

Remember that you can also list your special event on Community Living Ontario’s Calendar of Events. With Community Living Month just around the corner, be sure to forward the date and name of your event to Nadyne. We are also pleased to list any training or self-advocates’ events as well. Check it out at: http://www.communitylivingontario.ca/calendar/cal07.html

Page 1 of 5