Dear Editor: News reporter Michael Becker is to be congratulated for opening what promises to be a can of worms in his recent article on mental health facilities (‘‘Group homes threatened,*’ Feb. 23). Unfortunately, in an attempt to give balanced treatment to his subject, he listed a number of “‘problems’’ relating io privately owned facilities, which he had culled from source material which obviously errs on the side of, at best, half-truth. Becker quotes this source mate- rial as alleging a ‘thigh rate of return to hospital from residential care facilities.°” Considering that the bulk of higher care-ievel clients in the community happen to live in private residential facili- ties, re-admission to hospital can hardly be expected to be a rarity. The clear purpose of the state- ment, unencumbered as it is with backup data, is to impute a causative connection between the quality of facility care and a “Shigh rate’? of re-admission (compared with what?), and is nothing if not mischievous. As far as ‘‘crowded facilities lacking in privacy’’ are concerned, it needs to be pointed out that the maximum nember of residents each facility may house is express- ly stated on its licence and is bas- ed on specifications laid down in legislation and ministry regula- tions. In addition, facilities may only accept residents who are MAILBOX Private facilities need more support referred from authorized agencies. Complaints of ‘‘crowded facili- ties’’ therefore should be referred to those who make the standards rather than those who are obliged to keep them. Likewise the minimum levels of ‘adequately trained staff** are es- tablished by legislation and regu- lation. Requirements in this regard have been increased substantially in the past three years or so, but no additional funding has been made available to operators to pay for them. Entry level general duty nurses in hospitals command better salaries than most private facilities gre able to pay their managers, and the disparity in benefit levels is even more glaring. “Lack of support in helping clients move to more independent living,’’ where it exists, is largely due to lack of funding. Skills re- quired for independent living have to -be taught, and the teachers usually expect to be reasonably well paid. And support services need to be in place. Facility owners would be delighted to be able to utilize the semi-independent living facilities throughout the province, but where are they? Privately owned mental health residences are funded at levels substantially less than comparable facilities servicing other agencies i and less still than non-profit men- tal health facilities having the same service mandate and re- quirements. WV school fundraising position smacks of community smugness Dear Editor: Your recent editorial supporting the hiring of a full-time fundrais- er for Sentinel school on the basis of “self reliance and the pursuit ‘of excelience’’ misses some impor- “rant points, © : Everyone, especially teachers, knows. that while equality of educational opportunity is a laud- able ideal, it rarely exists in the real world because of the powerful effects of students’ widely differ- -ing social and’ financial backgrounds. in this case, the very children who need extras the least — those whose parents can most easily afford such things as “music lessons, foreign travel and a university education — are the recipients. If West Vancouver parents real- ly feei that some educational essentials are missing they should fobby for these for all schools in the province, What I suspect is that your edi- torial writer is accurztely reflec- ting the smug, selfish, me-first at- titade that characterizes all too many members of this affluent community. And if the promoting of ‘‘self- reliance’’ is what is truiy wanted, let the young people raise the funds themselves. R. Sanford West Vancouver TWO GO IN FOR ABORTION ONE COMES OUT HER PAIN WILL LAST ABORTION RECOVERY CANACA (604) 640-7474 Ad sponsored by North Shore Pro-Life Society If the Mental Health Services Division wishes a greater ‘‘flow- through capability’? it needs to improve not only its funding but also its adversarial attitude, which between them are alienating and bankrupting the entire private sec- tor of residential care. And while the private facilities, which between them house 80% of the mentai health clients living in funded residential care are be- Sunday, March 8, 1992 - North Shore News ~ 7 ing forced to the wall, increasing numbers of in-patients are being discharged into ‘‘more indepen- dent living’’ situations, such as downtown Vancouver rooming houses if they are lucky; park benches if they are not. Now that’s what I call flow- through capability! Ken Easdown West Vancouver Barristers & Solicitors IMPAIRED DRIVING AFTER HOURS FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION FAX Criminal Matters Only | 9 86-4366 986-9286 926-3181 #300-1401 LONSDALE, NORTH VANCOUVER, BC. DRAPERIES BY S. LAURSEN CUSTOM DRAPERIES AND VALANCES Labour $7.50 per panel unlined, $8.50 tined CUSTOM BEDSPREADS AND COVERS Low, low prices on blinds and tracks For FREE Estimates Call 987-2966 Serving the North Shore for 20 years A FREE Seminar for PARENTS, EDUCATORS, BUSINESS § Success FOr Al 192 CRUISE. SHIP SCHEDULE: ee -plus;historical articles. ; nlus much more. _ Students How a Community Can Make a Difference! 7 Changes in home structures, the media, and the impact of peer groups present schools = with a demanding client which calls for new, powerful and a collaborative approach z to learning. Dr. Gary Phillips will teil us how: fi e Parents can learn new home rituals so that student achievement is raised by e Educaters can change classroom rituals so that they provide successful learning experiences for all students including those at risk. Ho Business can forge successful partnerships with school and home helping youth through the transition to adulthood. DATE march 12, 1992 TIM E7-99mPLAC International Plaza - 1999 Marine Dr, North Van. # Space is limited! Please call today to make reservations 987-4488 Sponsored by the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce Funded by Employment & immigration Canada “Stay-in-School-Initiative"’