B.C. watchdog wants improved services for special needs children

The B.C. children's representative says the province has made little to no progress on improving services to families with special needs children.

Last February, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond issued a report that recommended numerous changes.

In an update to a legislative committee on Wednesday, Turpel-Lafond commended the Ministry for Children and Families for committing to make the changes, but said work has progressed slowly.

She said she is still concerned about children who lose support when they become adults.

Children's Minister Tom Christensen defended the government's efforts to support special needs children in provincial care.

Christensen said the government has tripled funding for special needs kids since 2001, and is continuing to improve care for such children.

"We appreciate the work done by the representative for children and youth," he said during question period in the legislature. "We take her report seriously. We will be looking very closely at this update and continuing to work to improve those services across the province."

Government dragging its heels: NDP

But New Democrat Leader Carole James accused the government of dragging its heels on the recommendations made earlier this year.

James said the government has no trouble finding resources for other areas of spending.

"We certainly found the government has lots of money to be able to spend on advertising campaigns," James said in question period.

"They certainly found the money within that ministry to fix up their boardrooms. But when it comes to vulnerable children it's another story altogether."

The two parties are facing a showdown during a provincial election campaign next spring.

The children's representative has requested another update on progress in January.

Recommendation not yet met

In her original report, Turpel-Lafond said the B.C. government should continue to care for developmentally impaired children until they reach age 24 a recommendation yet to be met.

Wednesday's update noted that the government has convened a group of experts and members from the disabled community to consider how best to serve adults who don't meet current criteria.

Turpel-Lafond noted that the ministry and Community Living B.C. are in the process of creating a protocol to ensure support for children as they transition into adulthood. That's expected to be completed by October 2009.

She noted Wednesday that planning is underway for a new system but no improvements have been made to the current system.

Turpel-Lafond also said there has been some limited progress in services to aboriginal children.