Groups ask for closure of Valley View Centre

Three advocacy groups for people with intellectual disabilities have signed an agreement that unites them in asking the government of Saskatchewan to close Valley View Centre in Moose Jaw.
In May, Valley View Family Group, the Saskatchewan Association for Community Living (SACL) and People First Saskatchewan signed the agreement at the annual general meeting of the SACL in Moose Jaw.
Valley View Centre houses about 240 residents with intellectual disabilities.
The SACL is committed to, according to a press release, "ensuring that individuals with intellectual disabilities experience inclusion in all aspects of our communities."
Wilda Wallace, president of the SACL, said in the release: "It is our hope that we will work in unison with the Saskatchewan government in developing a closure plan with clear processes for supporting each individual and the development of personal transition plans into the community."
However, the province currently doesn't have any plans for the closure of the centre, Jeff Redekop, executive director of the Community Living division with the Ministry of Social Services, told the Saskatchewan News Network.
"It's a priority for the ministry to continue to provide high-quality services that are responsive to the needs of people who are living there," he said.
"Should there be any future closure plans, the ministry will engage in consultation and planning with individuals who live at the centre as well as their families and of course, staff."
- with files from the Saskatchewan News Network

Diane: - August 1, 2011 at 11:39:45

My brother has lived at VVC for almost 50 years. This is the only home he knows. We, his family are very satisified with the care and love he receives at VVC. We are very grateful to the dedicated staff that care for our brother. Why is the SACL so focussed on the residents needing to "experience inclusion in all aspects of our community". For the majority of the residents, this isn't necessary. The residents at VVC are very happy and content where they are. Please, please leave things as they are.

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M: - September 18, 2009 at 14:51:55

Let's hope they do a better review than they did when they started integrating people back into our communities years ago. So many lacked resources, so many were homeless over time and it seems there really hasn't been any improvement for those with mental health needs. Some feel these facilities segregate but I feel they provide a place that very much feels like home to the residents. Are they looking at and studying where the people who haven't been admitted are in their lives and how they are doing? Are they researching adequate support systems and asking families who haven't been able to place a family member at VVC for their opinion?

Optimist: - September 18, 2009 at 14:11:38

These advocacy groups should tour the facility. Most locals who know someone that works there knows exactly how important VVC is to the province. It is unfortunate that some mentally challenged people cannot be integrated into society. Instead of closing the place it should receive more funding to see that these residents can be kept comfortably.

Doug: - September 18, 2009 at 13:53:31

I have read your article pretaining to Valley View Center letter of areement. I see in your article you missed a key word PLANNED closure. It is very important to understand that with VVC having a zero admissions policy, eventually the Provincial Government will need to make a decision on the future of VVC down the road in time as the number of residence residing at VVC get smaller. The three groups involved in signing the letter are hoping that they can be part of a colaborative effort with the Provincial Government in what that future might look like. It also has to be reenforced again as already mentioned by Jeff Redekop in the article, that the residence, staff and family memebers of VVC have to have a major involvement in any plans that are made about Valley View Center's future.

Regards

Doug

roddiemac: - September 18, 2009 at 13:49:34

Why are these people so persistent in trying to close this facility? I think that the people who live in this facility probably have a better quality of life than if they were somewhere else which in a lot of cases would be living on the street. I hope that the people who are trying so hard to close Valleyview will be willing to take full responsibility for the people who have no one to take care of them when they get it closed.

Chris: - September 18, 2009 at 13:35:26

All I have to say is look at what happened in Vancouver when they closed Riverview hospital, hundreds of thousands of individuals with special needs resorting to living on the streets; no food, shelter, clothes, friends, families. Why do the people who say they care for the rights of these people insist on ripping them out of the only home they have ever known and placing these people somewhere else?

connie: - September 18, 2009 at 13:31:09

If the community cannot provide adequate housing, care and support for those with intellectual disabilities that are now living in the community, how are 240 residents from Vally View going to be provided with adequate care and support if and when VV is closed?

Currently, adequate services and resources simply are not available for those now living in the community with intellectual disabilities.

For example, I am personally aware of two individuals with intellectual disabilities who are trying to live independently in the community but they do not have the social, recreational, or a support system of care that they need and deserve.

Let's first provide a comprehensive and adequate care system for those who are currently living in the community with intellectual disabilities.

Families are living in quiet desperation due to the lack of an adequate care system for their children with intellectual disabilities.

bill: - September 18, 2009 at 13:30:54

I worked at vvc and watched with sadness what happened to some of the clients who were plopped onto the street and virtualy forgotten about or ignored now these groups want to do it again so they can say HEY SEE WHAT WE DID ARN'T WE GREAT!!! Leave these people alone in the only homes they have !

Commenter: - September 18, 2009 at 13:13:00

This is not surprisingly unexpected for Moose Jaw. How many people will lose jobs when this facility closes? I hope that there are plans in place to re-use the facility and keep the staff employed otherwise, this will be a huge blow to the City of Moose Jaw. Valley View is one of the largest employers in the city and I am pretty sure the payroll flows down to other businesses in the city.
I toured the open house that Valley View had a few years ago and it is not so much an institution as it is a home.
The residents of Moose Jaw, staff at VVC, City Council, MLA's, MP's etc., need to meet and have other viable uses put in place for the Centre before closing it.
The public also needs to be informed about who their new neighbours may someday be. I am pretty sure that living within the community is not in the best interests of all of the residents currently living there.

jb: - September 18, 2009 at 12:40:34

can those groups provide jobs for the 400 employees that will be jobless when they close this place down? Finding 240 spots in care homes is not going to be an easy task I hope those groups plan to arrange for that and not lay it all on the government.