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In 1985 a needs assessment survey was conducted by Alberta Family & Social Services to determine the possible support needs of individuals with disabilities within the Whitecourt District office area (Whitecourt, Mayerthorpe, Fox Creek, and Blue Ridge). As a result of that Needs Survey, the focus of a need appeared to be in the area of Community Employment support for persons with disabilities. Three years later the department of Family & Social Services - Services for Persons with Disabilities branch entered into a contract with Blue Heron Enterprises (out of Barrhead, Alberta) to set up a Vocational Rehabilitation Service (Supported Employment Outreach) in the Whitecourt Community & area. Thus, in 1988 the Vocational Outreach program was established, with fourteen individuals as potential clients; one staff was recruited to develop this service. The service provided experienced successful employment for many (50%) of the individuals who accessed support in the first year. However, it was difficult for one staff to provide effective one-on-one staff support to fourteen individuals (clients). In 1989 an additional part-time staff was recruited to help share the workload. Although success in employment was apparent, living arrangements for some clients began to present itself as a need. Some individuals were living on the street and others were inquiring about alternative housing. Given the limitations of service providers in advocation on their clients behalf, a local advocacy group was developed; this group adopted the name "New Visions Advocacy Society". The residential support needs continued to present difficulties for many of the individuals accessing service. In 1991, through our Whitecourt & Area Agency consultation with the Whitecourt school systems, a Canadian Job Strategies Project was developed to address the residential concerns. This project addressed the following needs: Lifestyle Planning to individuals who presented with residential/community living support needs, development of individual funding proposals for individuals requiring residential rehabilitation support, working with the schools in Whitecourt to develop increased awareness of the Transitional-Vocational rehabilitation support needs of Junior and Senior High School students, provision of local people with training in the field of rehabilitation, and the provision of some clerical support of our agency. This project was quite a success with five individuals benefiting from the support provided through this project. The staff increased during that year from 1.5 to 4.5 personnel. All clients who were served through the program achieved their residential/transitional-vocational goals. As a result of the Canadian Job Strategies project the residential component of services was formed. Since that time our agency has continued to expand the support programs offered. The areas of support offered by the agency grew to include; Vocational/Employment support, Residential support, Transitional Support (for school-aged students), Outreach Consultation for families/individuals with a disability. As a rehabilitation support agency our growth is attributed to our response to the individuals and their families who come to us with identified areas of need.
July 1st, 1998 - Blue Heron Support Services Association - Whitecourt Agency became the Empowering Citizens for Health and Opportunity Society, serving the communities of Whitecourt, Mayerthorpe, Blue Ridge, Fox Creek, and surrounding areas. |
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This page © Copyright 2000, Empowering Citizens for Health and Opportunity Society |
In 1996 the idea was brought forth that the Whitecourt Agency of Blue Heron might pursue the development of our agency as an independent organization. A decision was made that we should explore the possibility and find out all we'd need in order to begin the separation. In 1997 a plan was approved and implemented to set the change in motion.