nsacl response to northern region outreach team

7/28/2019 NSACL Response to Northern Region Outreach Team

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NOVA SCOTIA ASSOCIATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVINGwww.nsacl.ca

22-24 Dundas Street, Suite 100

Dartmouth, N.S. B2Y 4L2

Phone# 902 469-1174

Fax# 902 461-0196

RESPONSE TO THE PROPOSED

NORTHERN REGION OUTREACH TEAM

As announced by the Department of Community Services March 5th

,

2013

The Nova Scotia Association for Community Living (NSACL)Living inthe Community Committee, wants to express its concerns around the

recent announcement of the establishment of a Northern Region

Outreach Team based out of Riverview Home Corporationa

discredited institution that holds a troubling history and memories for

so many vulnerable people and their families. We believe that

institutionally based outreach teams are not well situated to provide

community-based solutions.

Community-based solutions promote community inclusion, accessing

generic services and building a supportive community around

individuals with intellectual disabilities. We understand that existing

outreach teams based at institutions such as Quest Society for Adult

Support and Rehabilitation (formerly Cobequid RRC) require the

individual to be admitted in order to be supported by the team. If the

Nova Scotia government is committed to community living and moving

away from institutions, then this approach does not make sense.

Individuals and families live real lives in their home communities and


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Phone# 902 469-1174

Fax# 902 461-0196

we have little confidence that services provided in an institutional

setting would be effective or provide long term solutions. In fact, the 5

year Strategic Plan entitled, Positive Behaviour Framework for

Supporting Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or Intellectual

Disability and Challenging Behaviours prepared by Colin G. Pottie PhD

and Susan Bryson PhD January 2013, states that the, Positive

Behaviour Support (PBS) team must be able to offer services in apersons place of residence and partner with key caregivers in the

persons life...and involve close collaboration between caregivers,

agencies and government departments that serve these individuals.

(p. 5)

Doctors Pottie and Bryson say that the treatment, management and

prevention of challenging behaviour are areas of immense clinical needin Nova Scotia (p. 2) and that in NS there is a lack of clinical capacity

to effectively support adolescents and adults displaying challenging

behaviours and no coordinated plan to ensure that scarce resources are

used efficiently. (p. 3)

Therefore, as a committee of stakeholders, family members and self

advocates we are outraged at this announcement from the Department

of Community Services. Only three years ago Riverview Home

Cooperation was subject to abuse and neglect allegations, a

governance model in disrepair, a lack of leadership and unqualified


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staff with little or no training, expertise or skill set. Riverview was

described as having disgraceful conditions by the Canadian Press (as

reported by Michael Tutton). Yet, after thoughtful consideration the

Department of Community Services honours Riverview with a contract

to develop an Outreach Team that will be implemented by the same

institution that abused and neglected

individuals with disabilities who are vulnerable and isolated. We are

left to wonder: How was this decision made? Who decided that

Riverview has the credibility and expertise to control the Northern

Outreach Team? Who will make up this outreach teamwhat skills

and experience do they have?

The announcement of the proposed Northern Region Outreach Team isdisheartening when we understand there are existing models of best

practice for community-based mobile outreach teams to learn and

draw from.

We would support the development of mobile, multidiscipline,

community-based outreach teams that would serve different regions of

Nova Scotia. Best practices suggest that outreach teams that are staffed

by skilled professionals in their areas of expertise can have a positive

impact on communities


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Fax# 902 461-0196

especially those in rural areas. They could work in collaboration with

regional hospitals, care centres and community-based mental health

centres.

Dr. Pottie and Dr. Bryson state, that, PBS is a set of empirically-

supported strategies used to increase quality of life and decrease

challenging behaviour by teaching new skills and making changes in apersons environment (pg.4), then goes on to say, that, the PBS team

is optimally delivered by a specialty team. (p. 5)

A specialty mobile team would enable people to continue to live in

their home communities and familiar neighbourhoods, stay in touch

with family and friends and strengthen those communities at the local

level by creating capacity such as jobs and networking with volunteergroups, medical services and community-based agencies.

We implore the government to reconsider this decision, if indeed, we

are moving towards inclusive communities for individuals with

intellectual and physical disabilities.

Respectfully,

Barb Horner

Chair, Living in the Community CommitteeNova Scotia Association for

Community Living


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Phone# 902 469-1174

Fax# 902 461-0196

Cc:

Hon. Denise Peterson-Rafuse, Minister, Department of Community

Services

Mr. Rod Wood, Deputy Minister, Department of Community Services

Ms. Lorna McPherson, Director, Services for Persons with Disabilities

nsacl response to northern region outreach team

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