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For The Record

FACTS ON CHANGES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Oct. 29, 2009
Ministry of Children and Family Development
 

Here are the facts on changes the Ministry of Children and Family Development is making regarding children and families with special needs.

Claim: The B.C. government is not standing up for B.C.'s vulnerable children. It is cutting millions of dollars from core programs, including Autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Mental Health, Infant development and Supported Child Development programs.

FACT: The Government is not cutting millions of dollars from core programs. The Ministry of Children and Family Development has increased its budget by $12-million over last year.

  • Autism funding has increased ten-fold from $4.1-million in 2001 to more than $46-million today - including an additional $1.6-million this year. Across government - Health Services, Education, MCFD - we will invest $120 million for children and youth with an ASD diagnosis.
  • It's important to recognize that five years ago, children waited a year-and-a-half for an ASD diagnosis - today the wait is six to seven months. Unlike other jurisdictions, there is no waitlist for individual funding.
  • Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder funding has not been cut.  The ministry's budget for FASD has doubled to approximately $5.6 million since 2005/06.
  • There's been no funding cut to mental health services, but there has been a restructuring in administrate costs to protect direct front-line services. Since 2003, spending has more than doubled from $42 million to about $85 million on mental health services for children and youth.
  • There will be no loss or interruption in Infant Development and Supported Child Development programs. Both programs have seen an increase in their budgets to approximately $75-million overall.
  • The contract of the Aboriginal Infant Development Provincial Advisor has been extended until 2010.

Claim: Families who rely on Early Intensive Behavioural Programs are being cut adrift by this government with no support in place and nowhere to go.

FACT: This is not true. We have made significant investments in programs and services for children diagnosed with autism and are working with service providers and the families to ensure that a smooth and seamless transition plan is in place for every family enrolled in the program.

  • Families of all children currently enrolled in the EIBI program will receive $22,000 in funding for autism intervention services as will the more than 800 families with children age zero to six with diagnosed autism.
  • A provincial outreach program will be established to help improve access to professional services, especially in rural areas, and to help offset increased demand. This will ensure that families have the continued support they need.
  • EIBI programs are currently delivered in seven communities serving 70 children at an annual cost of almost $5-million. Every dollar from the program is being put back into the autism budget to serve more children in more regions.

Claim: The Ministry is cutting $32-million from essential roles which assures for child welfare and safety.  The Ministry has also forced front-line service providers to cut over $3-million in funding.

FACT: We have already redirected $32-million this fiscal year by reducing administrative costs like travelling, consulting fees, and office expenses to protect front-line services. The ministry has announced that over the next three years $110-million will be redirected to services for children and youth with special needs, children in care, and the child care subsidy program.

  • It is incorrect to say that front-line service providers were forced to cut over $3-million in their funding. We worked closely and in consultation with our service providers to find savings and administrative efficiencies where we identified $3.6-million in savings. This included not filling many administrative positions that were vacant or where someone was retiring.

Claim: The Ministry is, again, re-structuring itself. This will further put a strain on supporting vulnerable children and their families.

 FACT: In 2008, the Ministry released its Strong, Safe and Supported plan which establishes a blueprint to improve and enhance every aspect of ministry work. This will achieve better outcomes for vulnerable children, youth and families.

  • As part of this plan, a new practice framework is being developed which will provide a consistent, strengths-based approach that puts the needs of families at the centre of all Ministry work.
  • B.C. is not alone in developing this approach. Other jurisdictions who are adopting this approach include: Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, some U.S. states, and other international jurisdictions.

Claim: Alberta spends twice as much on autism than B.C. despite fewer children with ASD.

FACT:  This is incorrect. Alberta spends, on average, $22,000 per child – the same amount B.C. provides. Alberta serves 2,375 children and youth diagnosed with ASD; whereas B.C. serves 6,000 children and youth with the diagnosis. As well, B.C. has no waitlist for funding for families.