Addressing Abuse

Unfolding PDD’s Strategic Plan Update, Oct. 2002

Clarify PDD’s Strategic Direction

The following is being provided to provide clarity on a number of fronts related to this broad and complex issue. The vehicle for unfolding PDD’s strategic direction is the Abuse Prevention and Response Committee. The committee is engaged in actively working towards addressing issues and concerns related to the issue of abuse, with some steps being taken simultaneously. Matters related to the Protection for Persons in Care Act are currently the most pressing, while our provincial strategy on long term direction is starting to unfold.

If you have any questions about this please do not hesitate to contact Susan Dunnigan, Abuse Prevention and Response Committee at (780) 427-1219 or susan.dunnigan@gov.ab.ca.

Strategic Plan Update

In Progress (2002)

• Taking steps to identify ways to improve and strengthen Protocol
  • Purpose: to enhance understanding of issues, options for improvement related to flexibility, responsiveness and accountability from both practice and legal perspectives, building on best practices and taking steps as appropriate
• Revise provincial criteria related to the PPC Act to reflect the existing intent and scope of the legislation
  • Purpose: to rectify the long standing issue of inconsistent application across PDD regions, thereby reducing confusion and increasing accountability
• Participate in the PPC Act legislative review process
  • Purpose: to provide input in regards to all aspects of the PPC Act- scope, authority, processes, gaps, etc

Longer Term (2003 onward)

• Pursue the feasibility of a regulation for Community Governance Act to give legislative authority for investigations by PDD
  • Purpose: to provide legislative authority for investigation. Currently under the Protocol, PDD relies on it’s collaborative relationships with service providers, who either invite or agree to PDD staff or external investigators become actively involved, as needed.
• If there are legislative changes in scope of PPC coverage, arising from the legislative review process, use PDD criteria to conduct regional reviews of potentially impacted PDD settings.
  • Purpose: to ensure that any adjustments in impacted settings are identified and tracked

Historical Overview, from a Reactive to Proactive Approach

• PDD has a provincial Abuse Prevention & Response Committee, with members of diverse perspectives and experience, representing all PDD boards, provincial organizations, service providers, family/guardian representatives
• Following research and analysis of what PDD is doing in regards to abuse prevention and response, it was clear that our approach to date was focused on being reactive (response mechanisms) versus proactive (prevention strategies)
• With CEO support, the committee identified a need to start focusing on prevention, while ensuring responsiveness and accountability related to addressing allegations
• Committee and key stakeholder representatives met with an external consultant to:
  • explore issues and options related to a responsive system for prevention and response;
  • consider alignment with PDD’s philosophical direction and provincially approved PDD core documents; and
  • identify options for proceeding
• Committee representatives were charged with reviewing the compiled information, seeking input from their respective stakeholder group- CEOs and PDD staff, families, service providers, self advocates, etc and providing recommendations on the approach to follow
• Feedback provided endorsed a strategic direction that is supported by PDD’s philosophical direction and is in alignment with provincially approved PDD core documents
• PDD Provincial Board endorsed committee’s direction and implementation strategies, Feb 2002
• Committee was then charged with the responsibility for proceeding with unfolding the broad action plan