Ministry Overview

Ministry Organization

Currently the ministry is organized into the following five child and family development service delivery regions:

• Northern
• Interior
• Fraser
• Vancouver Coastal
• Vancouver Island.

In addition, Provincial Services is responsible for specialized provincial programs, including overseeing the operations for the youth custody centres, youth forensic psychiatric services, Maples Adolescent Treatment Centre, Provincial Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, migrant services and CommunityLINK. Similarly, Community Living Services are delivered through five regions, co-ordinated across the province from a central office. These provincial and regional offices are responsible for delivering a variety of services to support better outcomes for children, youth, adults with developmental disabilities and their families.

These regionally delivered services include: community living supports for adults with developmental disabilities and children with special needs; child protection; residential and foster care; adoption for children permanently in care; family development; community child and youth mental health; community youth justice services; and programs to assist at-risk and/or sexually-exploited youth.

There is one Headquarters office located in Victoria organized into the six divisions below:

• Provincial Services
• Community Living Services and Services for Children with Special Needs
• Children and Family Development
• Transition Services
• Management Services
• Executive Operations.

These Divisions provide the infrastructure and support the work of the service delivery regions.

Key External Stakeholders

The ministry is changing the way business is done by redefining relationships with the individuals served, families, caregivers and service providers to create a sustainable service delivery system that is also flexible, innovative and responsible. The ministry is consulting with communities to develop plans that result in new roles and responsibilities, new and expanded partnerships, shared accountability and utilization of informal community supports within the context of an integrated co-ordinated service delivery system. In addition to service recipients, their families and caregivers, other key external stakeholders include:

• service providers;
• MLAs;
• advocacy groups;
• the general public;
• the Regional Transition Councils;
• Interim Authority for Community Living BC;
• Joint Aboriginal Management Committee;
• Joint Chairs Caucus;
• Aboriginal service providers and delegated Aboriginal agencies;
• the Children's Officer;
• the Provincial Health Officer;
• the BCGEU; and
• other ministries (Finance, Health Services, Education, Human Resources, Community and Aboriginal Services, Attorney General, Public Safety and Solicitor General).

Community Governance

The ministry continues a move to transfer the responsibility for the design and delivery of services and programs closer to the people and the communities who need them. Governance responsibilities will be devolved to a provincial authority and regional authorities, based on their readiness. Governance reflects a model where planning and decision-making authority exists with a board. These models are intended to permit greater flexibility and allow for greater sensitivity to local issues and needs.

The ministry also recognizes that there is a limit to the amount of change that can be successfully undertaken to the service delivery system, over a short period of time. The ministry will focus on service transformation and budget stability first, as a priority, with a view to moving to governance later, once readiness by all parties has been demonstrated. Service transformation means changing the way actual services are delivered, based on practices known to improve results for individuals and their families. All core business areas are involved at various levels in working toward these priorities.

The ministry has established a provincial interim community living authority, which is primarily responsible for planning the transition of community living service delivery from government to a permanent provincial authority. The interim authority will focus on a joint approach with the ministry to achieve the following readiness elements:

• meeting operational readiness as outlined by authority and ministry readiness criteria;
• working with the ministry to ensure service transformation is successfully underway;
• working with the ministry to achieve budget stability and sustainability;
• developing a service delivery plan;
• working with the ministry to achieve a high level of trust; and
• developing a comprehensive transition/implementation plan.

In fiscal 2004/05, a permanent provincial Community Living BC authority will be created, subject to the assessment of readiness.

Legislation

Currently, the ministry administers the following legislation: Adoption Act; Child, Family and Community Service Act; Community Services Interim Authorities Act; Human and Social Services Delivery Improvement Act (Part 3); Human Resource Facility Act; Secure Care Act (not proclaimed); the Social Workers Act; and portions of the Correction Act (to be replaced by the Youth Justice Act). The following legislation also guides delivery of ministry services: Child Care Subsidy Act; Community Care Facility Act; Family Relations Act; Mental Health Act; and Youth Criminal Justice Act (Canada).