CLBC increases minimum direct funded respite rate for families
Community Living BC is increasing minimum direct funded respite rates for families from $2,800 to $3,080 per year effective April 1, 2020. This is made possible thanks to $1 million per year in new funding announced in the provincial budget on February 18, 2020.
Respite funding is provided to family members who are caring for eligible individuals. It typically funds a worker to provide support to an individual allowing family caregivers time to rest and recharge.
“I am pleased we can provide this additional support to individuals and families going forward,” said Ross Chilton, CEO, Community Living BC. “Families provide love and support to their loved ones and we need to invest in their well-being. This support contributes to resiliency and benefits all family members.”
CLBC currently offers a minimum of $2,800 per year in direct funded respite to all youth transitioning into CLBC services. Individuals and families can expect to hear from CLBC soon about how the new funding will be implemented. If you have a question, please contact CLBCInfo@gov.bc.ca.
Home sharing rates receive second increase
As of April 1, 2020, all home sharing rates are being increased for a second year. Every CLBC funded home sharing provider will receive a minimum increase of $100 per month, and many will receive more depending on the level of support needs. This is made possible thanks to $9.5 million in funding from the government in 2020. You can find the new rates and a Q and A on CLBC’s web site here.
This is in addition to $8.8 million in increases directed to home sharing providers in the past year. By increasing rates for the second time in two years, the government and CLBC are recognizing the important work home sharing providers do to provide homes and support to more than 4,200 individuals living with developmental disabilities in our province.
CLBC is aiming to update contracts with coordinating agencies by August 31, 2020, and we expect coordinating agencies will update contracts with home sharing providers by October 31, 2020, with all increases retroactive to April 1, 2020.
CLBC and the BC CEO Network are also co-chairing a Home Sharing Working Group. The Working Group is currently working on a Home Sharing Handbook, improving the process for home sharing referrals, and strengthening resources for responding to crises. If you have questions about the increases or the Home Sharing Working Group, email CLBCInfo@gov.bc.ca.
New information collected as part of employment services
In 2019, the provincial and federal governments announced they have a new agreement for employment funding. It is called the Workforce Development Agreement (WDA) and CLBC and our employment service providers need to start reporting back on the use of these funds in April 2020.
Under the WDA, the federal government now requires CLBC employment service providers to collect mandatory identifying information for CLBC to report to provincial and federal governments. This mandatory information includes:
- first and last name
- home address
- birth date
- social insurance number
For those who are receiving CLBC funded employment supports, service providers will begin asking to provide the mandatory information before April 2020, as well as explaining the purpose for which this information is collected.
CLBC has developed a provincial encrypted secure file transfer service to maintain the privacy and security of people’s information.
Inclusive housing plan comes to life
The Inclusive Housing Task Force, co-chaired by Community Living BC and Inclusion BC, is making progress on a number of initiatives to reduce barriers to housing, including:
- collecting data to better understand the number of people we serve who need housing, for a report to be launched this spring;
- creating a public awareness campaign, website and video to equip families and service providers to talk to city planners, council members, and property developers, which will also launch this spring;
- developing a toolbox with planning resources to help families begin discussions about housing, as well as information on topics such as financial planning, renting, home ownership, and developing skills and supports to live in inclusive housing.
CLBC CEO Ross Chilton will be leading inclusive housing sessions at the upcoming BC Non-Profit Housing Association (BCNPHA) Regional Education, Networking & Tradeshow (RENT) housing conferences in Nanaimo (April 16), New Westminster (May 14), Terrace (June 11) and Cranbrook (September 17).
You can join these workshops, where you will find other partners in this cause, by visiting bcnpha.ca/events/rents.
Next open CLBC Board meeting takes place March 12
Individuals, family members and members of the public are invited to attend CLBC’s next open board meeting on March 12, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CLBC will post the agenda for the meeting about one week in advance.
Anyone can ask to present questions to the board at open board meetings. You can learn about how to do that here, where you will also find information for those who live outside of the Lower Mainland and are unable to attend in person. See the full list of open board meetings for 2020 here.
Read self advocate stories of accessibility in latest Celebrate Diverse ABILITIES magazine
The Winter Edition of “Celebrate Diverse ABILITIES” magazine is now online here, and printed versions are available in CLBC local offices.
The magazine is created under the guidance of the CLBC Editorial Board, and the theme for the current edition is “The Future is Accessible.” The stories in this edition, submitted by self advocates from across B.C., show that accessibility has many aspects. It includes not only physical access to buildings, spaces and transportation, but also access to employment, information, social connections, services, recreation and technology.
I hope you enjoy these stories, and please share with anyone you know who may be interested in reading them as well.