Community Living BC (CLBC) is developing a new Strategic Plan to guide our work from 2026 to 2029. This plan will help us:
- Set clear and realistic priorities
- Strengthen services
- Build stronger partnerships
To ensure the new plan reflects the voices and experiences of the people we serve, as well as families and service providers, we are taking a community-led engagement approach grounded in inclusion, transparency, and collaboration.
A Community-Led Approach to Planning
CLBC is committed to building its next Strategic Plan with the individuals, families, and communities we support.
Starting in Fall 2025 we will engage with:
- People who receive CLBC services
- Families and caregivers
- Service providers and sector partners
- Indigenous communities and advocacy organizations
- CLBC staff
Our goal is to listen deeply, learn from lived experiences, and make informed decisions together.
Our Framework: IAP2 Principles for Public Participation
CLBC is using the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) framework to guide the engagement process.
IAP2 outlines five levels of public participation:
- Inform – Share accurate, clear information to support understanding
- Consult – Listen to feedback and acknowledge concerns
- Involve – Ensure people’s views are understood and considered
- Collaborate – Work together on solutions and decision-making
- Empower – Place decision-making in the hands of participants
For this engagement, activities will generally fall between Inform and Collaborate, depending on the audience.
Our Commitment: IAP2 Core Values in Action
CLBC is committed to embedding the IAP2 Core Values for Public Participation throughout the strategic planning process:
- Everyone affected by a decision has a right to be involved
- Public input will influence decisions
- We will consider the needs and interests of all participants
- We will actively reach out to include diverse voices
- Participants will help shape how they engage
- We will provide clear, accessible information
- We will report back on how input influenced the final plan
Listening to People We Support and Their Families
Self-Advocacy Groups
CLBC is partnering with self-advocacy groups led by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Starting in September 2025 these groups can apply for funding to host feedback sessions and create safe, welcoming spaces for individuals to share what matters most to them.
Click here to learn how to apply and get involved as a self-advocacy group.
Community Councils
Our network of 12 Community Councils will host engagement sessions during late Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 —both online and in person—to hear directly from families of people eligible for CLBC services.
More information will be available soon.
Hearing from Service Providers and Sector Partners
CLBC will also hold targeted consultations with:
- Service providers
- Indigenous partners
- Advocacy organizations
- Other community agencies
These conversations will ensure the plan is informed by those who support individuals and families every day.
Supporting Broader Participation: Engagement Toolkit
To help more people and organizations take part, CLBC will provide an Engagement Toolkit to groups interested in hosting their own sessions.
The toolkit includes:
- Planning checklists
- Sample questions
- Promotional materials
- Feedback collection templates
This allows a wider network of partners to lead local conversations and contribute to the plan.
Open to Everyone: Online Public Survey
CLBC will launch an online survey open to the general public in Fall 2025. It will include the same core questions from the Engagement Toolkit and provide a space for:
- People with developmental disabilities, and those with FASD and Autism
- Family members and friends of people who receive services funded by CLBC
- Support staff, volunteers and
- Community members
to share their thoughts and shape the future of CLBC’s work.
Engagement Timeline
Public engagement will run from Fall 2025 to March 2026.
Details about the online survey, feedback sessions, and how to participate will be posted on this webpage and shared through CLBC’s Facebook page, and through other channels.
Want to Learn More?
For more information or to get involved, contact the Strategic Planning Team:
Email: CLBC.StrategicPlan@gov.bc.ca