Transcript of Video Message by Minister Jablonski on the release of the PDD Administrative Review Report
Hello, I’m Mary Anne Jablonski, Minister of Seniors and Community Supports, responsible for Persons with Developmental Disabilities, or PDD. One of my most rewarding experiences as Minister is meeting with individuals and families. And I also appreciate it very much when they take the time to share inspirational messages with me, like this poster from the Camrose Association for Community Living: “live your best life!”
My focus, as always, is on the well-being of the people this program supports—to help them Live Their Best Life. It’s with this in mind that we announced an administrative review of the PDD program. Keep in mind that this review only focused on administrative spending – NOT the supports and services that individuals receive. I’m very pleased to announce that the report has been released, and is available on our website. You can see the address on the screen right now:
The KPMG report made recommendations about what we can do to improve the administrative efficiency within the PDD program. That’s why we are moving forward immediately on some of the recommendations that government has approved. We are looking to provide more help to families who manage their own supports through Family Managed Services, a voluntary option that provides more flexibility and choice. Other actions will focus on common processes, a single website for the PDD program and the development of a new technology system to ensure the program is delivered consistently right across the province.
The other area in the report that we are working on is the introduction of a new contracting process for service providers. I can assure you we will be taking a careful, measured approach in how we proceed with this recommendation.
That’s why, before we introduce a new contracting process in a couple of years, I want to consult with service providers, individuals, and families to get their ideas and feedback on how we can do this in the most effective way. We need to make sure the new approach works well and improves services for individuals before we start using it in the spring of 2013.
I’ve decided not to accept the recommendation to dissolve the six PDD Community Boards. I firmly believe that a change of this magnitude would be too disruptive to the people this program supports. Overall, the Boards work very well within their communities. However, I have written to the Boards to ask them to work together to create more consistency across the province and to improve administrative efficiency. Their progress will be critical to any success we achieve, and I will be monitoring this progress.
The PDD program is very important to me. Since I became Minister in 2008, I’ve been working hard to make sure this program is effective, efficient, and sustainable, so that it’s the best it can be, now and into the future.
I don’t have to tell you that it’s a complex program, and changes shouldn’t and won’t happen overnight. I know that all of us who are involved in this program want the same thing: the best possible independence and community inclusion for Albertans with developmental disabilities.
During the administrative review there was no disruption in services, and there will be no disruption in services as we move forward. And I want to thank individuals, their families, service providers, staff, and Board members for the energy and commitment they’ve given to this program.
PDD is a very important program, and we’re going to make it even better. Together we are going to make a difference!
You know, they say a picture is worth a thousand words – And just as this picture illustrates: “together, we’ll shine!”
Thank you very much.
