Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS) says it is supportive of the decision of the board of directors of the College of New Caledonia (CNC) to shift the focus of the college from direct service delivery back to education.
“The plan to enable agencies best positioned to focus on direct service delivery means enhanced service; not a reduction as has been suggested in some community meetings,” said Warner Adam, CEO of Carrier Sekani Family Services.
“We applaud CNC for concentrating on its education mandate and preparing a diverse work force for the Burns Lake region,” he added.
According to Adam, CSFS does not run cost recovery programs.
“We maximize funding to direct service delivery, and already have established programs running in Vanderhoof that can be replicated in Burns Lake.”
Carrier Sekani Family Services also points out that the “hub model” at the Lakes District campus - which took over 25 years to develop is regarded as one of the college’s most successful operations – might not be as effective.
“There are philosophical differences in the manner organizations believe services should be provided,” says a CSFS press release. “CSFS believes in order to improve access services should be delivered where people reside rather than a hub that people must travel to.”
“A lot of the people who need these services the most live in poverty and having services where they are and provided by community people is most effective,” said Lake Babine Nation Chief Wilf Adam.
Carrier Sekani Family Services also says that with the fear of services being lost, there has been “misinformation that tries to portray early childhood development services as disappearing.”
According to CSFS, the ministry of children and family development (MCFD) is seeking proposals from proponents to develop and deliver early intervention services/school-aged therapy within the entire Nechako Lakes area.
“Carrier Sekani Family Services has for some time recognized the need for increased early childhood development services and has repeatedly approached MCFD about providing such needed services to the communities in the Burns Lake area,” says the press release.