In the story ‘Carrier Sekani Family Services supports decision to transfer family programs’ published in the Lakes District News’ Dec. 16, 2015 issue, Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS) had issued a press release saying they were supportive of the decision of the College of New Caledonia (CNC) to transfer the family programs offered at the Lakes District campus.
According to CSFS, the hub model at the Lakes District campus is not the most effective model of service delivery.
“We applaud CNC for concentrating on its education mandate,” said Warner Adam, CEO of Carrier Sekani Family Services. “CSFS believes in order to improve access, services should be delivered where people reside rather than a hub that people must travel to.”
However, according to Bernice Magee, member of the Lakes District Post-Secondary Education Committee, the hub model of service delivery does not necessarily require people to travel to the campus. In fact, CNC staff has been reaching out to clients in areas such as Granisle, Tachet and Southside.
“All programs reach out to clients in their homes, or wherever the client feels most comfortable,” said Magee. “The family support workers and the therapists have home visiting as a regular, and in many cases, a daily requirement for their jobs.”
Magee explained that CNC staff travels every Tuesday to Tachet to deliver the healthy babies brighter futures program; the family centred program runs every Thursday at Grassy Plains School; and the early intervention services team is involved in different daycares and goes to Granisle twice a month and Southside once a week. In addition, transportation is often supplied to healthy babies brighter futures clients for appointments, trips to the food bank, and sometimes even a ride home.
“Working in a hub does not limit outreach,” said Magee. “Outreach is a critical part of the hub model.”
The hub model of service delivery, which took over 25 years to develop, is an integrated approach to multiple issues that affect many of the clients including poverty, mental health issues, domestic violence, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and alcohol/drug dependency.
Earlier this year, the CNC board of directors decided to transfer all family programs offered at the Lakes District campus before March 2016, sparking concerns from many community members.
The family programs have been funded through contracts with government agencies such as the ministry of children and family development.
On Nov. 20, 2015, the ministry issued requests for proposals for early intervention and school age therapies, and protective family support services. The ministry also issued a notice of intent to work with a specific service provider that is already familiar with providing quality services to children and youth with special needs.
While many community members are still concerned that some programs and services might be lost in the transition, the ministry has said it is working to ensure that services will not be interrupted as a result of these changes.
Contradictory information about the request for proposals
Information provided by the ministry of children and family development (MCFD) contradicts the information on the request for proposals (RFPs) that have already been issued for the family programs.
Although the MCFD claims that there will be no cutbacks to the family programs, they have not explained why last year’s RFPs were worth approximately $1 million, but this year they are worth $866,000 – a reduction of $114,000.
In addition, the RFP for Healthier Babies Brighter Futures (now associated with the ministry’s ‘building blocks’ contract) does not state it will provide FASD prevention to at-risk mothers and children zero to three, which is a vital part of the FASD program.
Furthermore, according to the RFP for complex developmental behavioural conditions, there will no longer be diagnostic support available.
The MCFD has not responded to any of these questions by press time.
