BC Association of Community Response Networks: Delta

Delta

Contact

Doug Sabourin Executive Director
Deltassist Family and Community Services
Email: dougs@deltassist.com

Lyn Bronker
Coordinator, Seniors' Services
Deltassist Family and Community Services
604 946-9526
www.deltassist.com

Maddie Addison (formerly Deltassist, now with Canadian Mental Health Association)
CMHA South Fraser
Phone: 604 543-1357
Email: maddie.addison@cmha.bc.ca

Background

In May of 1997, the Delta Inter-Agency Administrators Committee invited representatives from the Public Guardian and Trustee of BC (PGT), South Fraser Health Region, Ministry for Children and Families, seniors representatives and a representative from the Abbotsford CRN to orient members present to the Adult Guardianship Legislation and the benefits of establishing a Community Response Network, (CRN).

From this meeting a Steering Committee was established to initially monitor the progress of the Adult Guardianship Legislation and begin preliminary discussions on establishing a CRN in Delta.

In the fall of 1997, the Steering Committee was invited by the PGT to apply for funds to begin developing a CRN in Delta. After applying for and receiving these funds, the Steering Committee in the spring of 1998 contracted a Community Development Coordinator to initiate contact with agencies who supported and offered assistance to adults vulnerable to abuse, neglect and self neglect. Additionally, individuals from the community were also contacted and invited to become involved in the CRN development. Meetings were held to orient participants to the forthcoming legislation, (that was proclaimed and enacted by the Provincial government on February 29, 2000) and to begin the necessary work of establishing the Delta CRN and linking service providers.

The work conducted during this initial contract resulted in the Delta CRN developing:

A Mission and Vision Statement
Guiding Principles for the Delta CRN
Terms of Reference for both the Delta CRN and its Steering Committee.

While the legislation had not been proclaimed, the Steering Committee felt the benefits of establishing a CRN and working collaboratively with service providers and individuals served and effected by the legislation would enhance the community's awareness of the issues and to begin mapping out how service providers were currently responding/reporting adult abuse, neglect and self neglect.

In the fall of 1998, the Delta CRN obtained additional PGT funds to undertake a demonstration project that would provide Awareness Training for "Gate Keepers", (financial institutions, local businesses etc.) in the Community. The project was to encourage Gate Keepers to become aware of adult abuse, neglect and self neglect. In addition to the orientation/training offered, it was proposed that Gate Keepers be encouraged to display posters and/or brochures that would orient customers to the issues of abuse, neglect and self neglect and provide information on available resources in Delta.

It was felt that Gate Keepers would be an effective means of heightening public awareness on these issues. It was further felt that Gate Keepers should only act as a distribution point for resource information and not be placed in a position of having to violate the valued customer, Gate Keeper relationship.

With the support and assistance of the BC Coalition to Eliminate the Abuse of Seniors, (BC CEAS) The Delta CRN hosted two workshops that focused attention on Financial Abuse and Consumer Fraud. With the cooperation of Delta Cable, a series of videos were produced and have been shown periodically on Delta's local cable television station. These video's are also available for loan to groups, organizations and other CRNs.

In the winter of 1998/99 the Delta CRN again received funding from the PGT to recruit a second Coordinator to continue the work that had been started the previous year.

During the first six months of 1999, the Delta CRN along with other CRNs, community organizations and concerned individuals advocated to both the PGT and the Ministry of the Attorney General for provincial government proclamation of the four pieces of the Adult Guardianship legislation. Through numerous meetings and discussion stream lined portions of the four acts were proclaimed on June 29th and came into effect on February 28th, 2000.

In June, 2000, representatives from the the major financial institutions Delta Police, BC CEASE and other community organizations and individuals held discussions about hosting a series of seniors awareness workshops.

Working with these groups, three workshops were offered at seniors facilities in Delta to orient seniors to the issues of financial abuse and consumer fraud. Workshops were held in September and October and were well attended by seniors in the area.

During the early discussions regarding these three seniors awareness workshops, Delta's financial community requested and received an orientation from the PGT on their role with the new legislation.

Over the past couple of years, the Delta CRN has been instrumental in establishing an ad hoc South Fraser Regional CRN committee. The purpose of the committee is to stay in touch with developments taking place with the other three South Fraser CRNs.

In May 2000 this ad hoc committee organized a workshop for the region to look at the new legislation and get a better picture of its intent.

This ad hoc Committee is currently attempting to establish stronger working relationships with the South Fraser Health Region and the Ministry for Children and Families to discuss common areas of concern and to ensure that we are all working towards the same goal. With so many entities involved, there is a possibility of over lap or duplication of efforts.

In December 2000, the PGT once again provided the Delta CRN with funds to recruit its third Coordinator and in April the Steering Committee contracted with its third Coordinator. The initial priority was to help the Delta CRN clarify its role, responsibility and accountability as several questions around these issues were raised by Delta CRN members.

Additionally, with this funding, we were able to consolidate some of the work performed by earlier CRN Coordinators and updated the Delta CRN Brochure.

As a result of the consolidation of prior work, a Member Resource Guide containing a Constitution which includes: