#LandonWebb is MISSING

Oct 30, 2015 Response from Tim Houston Progressive Conservative MLA for Pictou East

Houston to Bernard: Reviews can wait,  focus on finding Landon Webb now

 

October 30, 2015

For immediate release

 

HALIFAX, NS – Progressive Conservative MLA for Pictou East, Tim Houston is calling on Community Service Minister Joanne Bernard to trigger whatever resources possible to find Landon Webb.

 

Minister Bernard said yesterday that she’s reviewed the case and found nothing wrong.

 

Houston says Bernard’s comments are cold comfort to a family whose son is still missing.

 

“The Webb family is desperately trying to find their son. The Minister’s efforts should be focussed on finding Landon, rather than protecting her department,” said Houston. “There will be lots of time after he’s found to look at what went wrong and how the system failed the Webbs. Right now, we need everyone’s help locating Landon.”

 

Webb has been missing since Oct. 15. He has several medical conditions, some which require medication. The longer he is away from his medication, the more concerning the situation becomes.

 

Houston says the Minister is in a position of authority. She should be focussed on doing whatever she can to raise awareness about Landon and get the public engaged in locating him.

 

“We must put ourselves in the shoes of the Webb family. It’s  completely heart-wrenching,” said Houston. “This situation requires immediate attention and compassion. The Minister must take this more seriously and take action.”

MISSING 
DAY 15 - Urgent!
October 30, 2015


The update for Landon Webb is that his family still has not heard from him.  They are very worried and concerned as one would expect.  Joanne Bernard is more concerned with how her department looks (see link below) than the fact that someone she is responsible for is missing.  If you have any information about Landon, not matter how small, please contact the RCMP.


Joanne Bernard Minister of Community Services via CTV News

*** UPDATE ***

PRESS RELEASE

Landon Webb has been missing for 13 days with no leads.

Darrell and Brenda Webb are not sure if their son is still alive and are making a plea to the public. 

Advocating Parents of Nova Scotia is holding a press conference with Darrell and Brenda Webb

DATE:  Wednesday October 28, 2015

TIME:   1:30pm

LOCATION:     

SCRI Society The Club,   

St. James Anglican Church

2668 Joseph Howe Drive,

Halifax, Armdale Roundabout, Between Joseph Howe Drive and

St Margaret’s Bay Road.  The Club can be seen from the roundabout. Go to the white doorway next to the painted power box.

For further information please contact:

Brenda Hardiman

902-324-4215

Landon Webb lives in the care of the Department of Community Services and has gone missing.  He may not want to be found but Landon has serious health problems which require medications. Landon also deals with intellectual deficits that limits the insight he has to his own needs. If you have any information, please contact the RCMP

NS RCMP Contact Information

 Twenty-five-year-old Landon Webb was last seen on October 15 at 4:00 p.m. in the area of County Home Rd., Waterville, Nova Scotia. Landon is white, 5'7" and weights approximately 145lbs. Landon has brown hair and hazel eyes.

Choice, Equality and Good Lives in Inclusive Communities

A Roadmap for Transforming the Nova Scotia Services to Persons with Disabilities Program 

This is the document that the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services put out in June 2013.  It's a good document.  You should read it.

Roadmap Document

The NDP government started this process. When the Liberal government came into power, DCS Minister Joanne Bernard @JoanneDNLIB made a commitment to follow through on these changes.  Every plan takes time to implement.... we all know that.  The only way for people in Nova Scotia affected by this document to see change is to GET STARTED!

Goal I: Self‐Direction, Choice and Control p.7
 At the end of the explanation for this goal is: Proposed Actions 

1. 1)  As of April 1, 2014, implement an 18‐month pilot initiative on person‐directed planning and navigation in order to determine most effective and efficient delivery mechanism:
   
   1. (a)  Central Region – Create and fund an independent planning support and navigation function that is by a community‐based agency (given numbers on waitlist in the Central Region, it seems most reasonable to add additional planning capacity here). Pilot agency to be secured via a RFP process.
      
   2. (b)  Region 2 ‐ Restructure role of departmental care coordinators to minimize administrative duties and enable greater emphasis on the planning function.
      
   3. (c)  Regions 3 and 4 – No change in delivery structure.
      
2. 2)  Undertake evaluation of pilot initiatives and comparative analysis with current approach and consider implications for wider‐scale implementation of selected models.
   
3. 3)  Develop training materials and resources related to principles, standards and practices for person‐directed planning and navigation.
   
4. 4)  Provide training and orientation in person‐directed planning to care coordinators, independent planners/navigators, and residential and vocational providers.
   
5. 5)  Develop an online system for access to information and planning resources – provided in plain language and accessible formats. Information would be developed for use by individuals, families and planners.
   
6. 6)  Initiate person directed planning/navigation process starting with all people on the waiting list and persons currently residing in Residential Care Facilities (RCFs).
   

Rationale and Assumptions p.8

• Person‐directed planning/navigation accountable to the person and/or family will lead to innovation, use of non‐traditional options and increased use of generic community supports.
  
• Independent planners/navigators may require disability‐specific training, taking account of distinct realities of people with intellectual, physical/sensory and mental health disabilities.
  
• The SPD program should enable person‐directed planning/navigation to be undertaken in a variety of ways – from individuals and families doing their own planning (with support from online and print resources), to accessing a community resource centre for necessary support, to having the assistance of an independent planner/navigator.
  
• New mechanisms for delivering independent planning/navigation need to be tested in order to develop best approaches/models for Nova Scotia context.
  
• Prioritization for delivery of person‐directed planning:
  
  • −  Individuals currently on waiting list
    
  • −  Those residing in Residential Care Facilities (given recognition in the 2008 review of residential services of the need for alternate arrangements for those individuals residing in this option).
    
• Person‐directed planning/navigation should become the norm for all individuals and families accessing SPD services. 
  

I've highlighted a couple key points.  When will they get started?

Amanda Murphy is in an emergency living situation and the only option that DCS is giving her family is to institutionalize her.  Isn't the mandate to get people out of institutions starting April 1, 2014?

Her family was given only one option.  Why is DCS not working with the Murphy family to find a suitable solution?  Why would they put Iris and Victor's child somewhere that they so strongly oppose? What if this was your child?  It could be.  Not all people are born with a disadvantage.  Some people get an illness or brain injury and have to rely on the province for their care.  

 personal stories 

Department of Community Services
8th Floor, Nelson Place
5675 Spring Garden Road
P.O. Box 696
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 2T7

Phone: (902) 424-4304
Fax: (902) 424-3287

E-mail Minister Joanne Bernard

Let the Department of Community Services know that this excellent plan should not wait!

T.Haney