Released on May 9, 2014
In response to recommendations by the Valley View Centre Transition Steering Committee, the province is expanding the supports available to people with intellectual disabilities through new services to be offered in Saskatoon and Moose Jaw.“The Steering Committee told us that one of their recommendations requiring immediate action was to expand the ‘safety net’ for people with intellectual disabilities to ensure that services are available to support them in the community,” Social Services Minister June Draude said. “We have made this recommendation our priority, and we are putting these critical services in place.”
The “safety net” for people with intellectual disabilities consists of short-term assessment and stabilization services. The Ministry of Social Services has purchased a home on McCallum Lane in Saskatoon, expected to open in early fall following renovations, to provide these services for up to five people.
“Having crisis prevention and support services in place is necessary to help people be successful in their moves from Valley View to new homes in the community,” Valley View Centre Family Group Co-Chair June Avivi said. “The Family Group is very pleased that the government has acted quickly on this priority recommendation.”
“Ancillary supports are crucial for people with intellectual disabilities, including those moving from Valley View as well as those already living in the community,” Saskatchewan Association for Community Living President Gloria Mahussier said. “Expanding these safety net services will strengthen the entire provincial service system.”
In addition to the renovation of the Saskatoon property, designs are being finalized for the home on Brigham Road in Moose Jaw that was announced in August 2013. As well, a home on Athabasca Street in Moose Jaw has been purchased and is being renovated to replace the current South View Home. Once the new home is operational this summer, South View will be used as a temporary short-term stabilization and transition resource while the Brigham Road home is under construction. In all, these initiatives will provide assessment and stabilization supports for up to 15 people with intellectual disabilities.
Along with the development of these homes, the ministry will expand outreach services to support the transition of individuals to new homes, including community-based prevention, comprehensive behavior support planning and respite, all designed to help people with intellectual disabilities remain in their community homes.
“This announcement is very timely, as the first person has recently left Valley View to reside in his home community,” Draude said. “We expect another two people to move this summer, and as many as 20 by the end of March.”
Planning meetings have been completed with 126 of the 186 individuals living at Valley View. While this work continues, the ministry is working with a number of community-based organizations, private groups and individuals who submitted proposals through a recent Request for Information process. Forty proposals were received for developing services for those moving from Valley View as well as others with intellectual disabilities. The ministry has started reviewing the proposals, ensuring they align with the person-centred plans for residents at Valley View Centre, and will begin moving forward with new initiatives in the coming months.
“We are now seeing the results of the thoughtful planning that has taken place over the last several months, both in terms of moving residents from the Centre and having the necessary supports in place,” Draude said. “This is significant progress.”
More information is available on the website at http://socialservices.gov.sk.ca/Transition-from-Valley-View.
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For more information, contact:
Trish Alcorn
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0916
Email: trish.alcorn@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-536-1479