Let’s talk Budget…and Reinvestment
“With the focus on fiscal responsibility, efficiency and sustainability over the last few years, there may be a misconception that Vancouver Community is investing less in its programs and initiatives. In fact, the opposite is true – our budget for fiscal 2015/16 has grown by over $10.5 million in new funding over the past few years.” -Laura Case, COO, VCH Vancouver Community
VCH’s 2015/16 budget continues to recognize the importance of the work Vancouver Community is doing to serve clients better and to increase access and flow in partnership with our colleagues in Acute throughout our Community of Care.
New funding as part of the fiscal 15/16 budget includes $1.3 million in enhancements for the Raven Song team model, Transition Services Team enhancements and added support for Psychiatry patient flow.
Other targeted increases to the Vancouver Community budget over the past few years have included:
- $4.1 million for Integrated Primary and Community Care programs and initiatives (such as Acute Home Based Treatment [AHBT], ACT team 2 and funding for Home is Best initiatives that help the client remain at home with supports instead of needing to be in an Acute or Residential Care facility) between fiscal 2011/12 and now.
- Integrated health network funding (including primary outreach services and chronic disease management) by $1 million since fiscal 2008/09.
- $2.8 million for Severely Addicted/Mentally Ill funding (including the Assertive Outreach Team, 111 Princess Street rooms and ACT teams 4 and 5) since 2013/14.
- ACT team 3 (tertiary mental health) has also experienced an increase of 1.3 million since 2013/14.
Adds Laura Case, “Not only do we continue to ensure funding for Vancouver Community’s valuable work and initiatives, as we find efficiencies through various system realignments and redesigns, we continue to reinvest that funding back into Community in order to provide the best possible care for our clients, now and into the future.”