Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to provide the members with an update on Addiction Services Reform.
The Department of Health and Social Services has undertaken an extensive review of the way in which it administers Addictions Services.
While the Department has traditionally allocated large amounts of funding to address the problems of addiction, there have been varying perceptions as to the effectiveness of this program.
The reforms will address some historical funding equities, such as the over- and under-funding of community programs, and the lack of services for youth, while at the same time encouraging greater community ownership of community problem, and potential solutions.
I would like to provide Members with a brief summary of the steps the Department is taking.
The Department is reviewing the feasibility of formula funding Addictions Services to communities.
We will continue to move towards per diem treatment centre funding. There are alternative ways of doing this, which we will explore.
These are extremely complex issues and Department staff are presently reviewing the implications of moving control for Addictions Services to communities and regions.
In two years time we anticipate that treatment centres will be 100% funded on the basis of a fee-for-service.
This process will result in treatment centres being more responsive to people's needs and offering a broader range of services. As well, it will allow centres to explore other markets.
Mr. Speaker, the Department also recognizes the need for early intervention and is therefore committed to directing more funding to youth services.
Initiatives like youth treatment will be supported; however, to do this existing addictions funding will have to be re-profiled.
We must move to address addictions' issues when they first emerge, rather than waiting for them to escalate into full-blown treatment situations.
We will address the issue of fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effect and try to prevent these problems, rather than allocating our resources to deal with them when they have already occurred.
Mr. Speaker, the referral process is also being reviewed and a much less confusing system will be in place by the new year.
Community-based addictions projects standards and treatment centre standards will be in place for the new fiscal year.
These will provide long-needed guidelines for staff and the ability to monitor program effectiveness on an ongoing basis.
System reform should promote greater accountability for funding, improved after-care for clients, and a clear justification for why communities are funded at specific levels.
Mr. Speaker, many of the changes I have discussed have financial implications, however, it is very important to note that these changes will improve Addiction Services to those requiring treatment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.