Services to Adults with Developmental Disabilities

Engagement Summary

In December 2011, a committee of Deputy Ministers worked to address concerns expressed by individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.  After reviewing the operations of Community Living BC (CLBC) and related linkages to government ministries, a cross-ministry team that included representatives from Social Development and Social Innovation, Children and Family Development, Education, Health, the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee and CLBC, was tasked with developing an action plan for delivering on 12 recommendations outlined by the Deputy Ministers in their Report on Improving Services to People with Developmental Disabilities.
 
As a direct result of the report, discussion forums were organized to consult communities province-wide. Input from individuals with developmental disabilities, their families, service providers and advocates was used in designing and establishing the Services to Adults with Developmental Disabilities (STADD),  which included the introduction of Navigators and a Common Assessment Platform, and involves community outreach through school districts, health authorities, employment centres, MCFD and CLBC local offices, and Delegated Aboriginal Agencies.

Timeframe:

The community consultations began in the spring of 2012 and were completed by December of that same year.
 

Input Received:

• Consultations were led by 48 self-advocates representing 16 communities, asking people to provide input on services, supports and policy decisions that affect their lives;
• 14 large community sessions were held in October and November of 2012;
• Targeted consultation with families to identify specific service and transition issues;
• Maintained ongoing consultations with an external Reference Group, created to provide feedback on improving approach and relationships with families and individuals;

Input leads to action:

STADD was launched in January 2013 to assist youth with developmental disabilities when transitioning to adulthood. The program helps the youth and their family to coordinate supports and services from various government agencies and community organizations.  STADD Navigators help to develop a transition plan that connects the youth and their family to a broad range of government and community services. The following has occurred since the Navigator service launched:

• Over 940 youth and families have been supported in communities around the province;
• Navigator services will expand to cover the Fraser region throughout 2016-17;
• A Navigator will be co-located with the Granville Youth Health Centre in downtown Vancouver; and
• Additional Navigators will be added to provide virtual services to select rural and remote communities in the North, Interior and Vancouver Island regions to support individuals and their families who are not located close to an existing STADD site. This program will be supported by Collaborate, a secure, web-based system initiated by STADD, to share information and keep track of planning, activities and achievements.

 
Learn More:

• Information on Transition Planning for Youth & Young Adults
• Evaluation of STADD (December 2015)
• News Release: Expanded transition planning support for youth with developmental disabilities