ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: June 26, 1995
Dept. File No.: CC22-95
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: Medical Health Officer
SUBJECT: Downtown South Community Health Centre
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT Council receive the following funds from the
Ministry of Health and Ministry Responsible for
Seniors on behalf of the Downtown South Community
Health Centre Steering Committee:
$332,655 for the 1995/96 operating costs of the
Downtown South Community Health Centre.
B. THAT an 8% administrative fee be levied for funds
directly administered (excluding flow through funds)
by the Vancouver Health Department.
C. THAT Council authorize the Medical Health Officer to
contract with Patrick Archibald at a cost of up to
$10,000 on behalf of the Downtown South Community
Health Centre Steering Committee, to manage the
start-up phase of the Downtown South Community Health
Centre in July and August, 1995 on a half-time basis
and provide consultation to the Manager and Steering
Committee for up to one day per week until December
31, 1995.
D. THAT Council authorize the Medical Health Officer to
contract with David Wood on behalf of the Downtown
South Community Health Centre Steering Committee at a
cost of $33,328 July 17/95 to March 31, 1996 to
manage the operation and outreach of the Downtown
South Community Health Centre.
E. THAT Council establish 1.0 FTE community health
nursing position in the Vancouver Health Department
at an annual cost of $52,300 to be assigned to the
Downtown South Community Health Centre. This
position is subject to job evaluation by the General
Manager of Human Resources.
F. THAT Council approve flow through funding of $134,500
to the Downtown Granville Tenant's Association to
administer property costs and employ two staff
members (community counsellor and receptionist) for
the Downtown South Community Health Centre from
September 1, 1995 to March 31, 1996.
G. THAT Council approve flow through funding of $33,750
to St. Paul's Hospital to recruit Downtown South
Community Health Centre physicians from September
30, 1995 - March 31, 1996.
H. THAT Council authorize the Director of Legal Services
to enter into appropriate agreements on behalf of the
City of Vancouver as required.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS
approval of A through H.
COUNCIL POLICY
Council on February 3, 1994 approved a motion that any
recommendations for increased staff or enhanced programs be
offset by corresponding spending reductions or by increases in
non-taxation revenues, subject to Council discretion.
Council on February 25, 1995 approved the recommendation for
the Vancouver Health Department to accept and administer start-
up and capital funds on behalf of the Downtown South Community
Health Centre.
Council has agreed to act as a conduit for flow through funds
from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry Responsible for
Seniors in the past.
BACKGROUND
The Downtown South Community Health Centre Partnership is the
result of three years of planning and collaboration by Downtown
South community organizations, residents, St. Paul's Hospital
and other services funded by the Ministry of Health, as well as
the City of Vancouver Departments of Health and Social
Planning. This partnership arose out of concerns about the
lack of accessible health care for low-income residents in the
Downtown South and the potential impacts of the Downtown South
redevelopment on the health of such individuals.
The Downtown South Community Health Centre Partnership will
establish a community-based, multi-disciplinary, drop-in health
centre that will deliver integrated primary, secondary,
preventive and continuing care services to low-income residents
in the Downtown South and peripheral areas. The community
health nurse will work full-time in the Downtown South
Community Health Centre providing triage, assessment and
primary care services.
The Downtown South Community Health Centre Partnership will be
managed directly by a Steering Committee which includes
representatives from all of the participating organizations in
the Partnership. The role of Downtown Granville Tenant's
Association has been integral in maintaining grassroots
community support and participation in the development of this
project.
In summary, the goal is to establish a partnership that
includes both traditional health care organizations, (St.
Paul's Hospital, Alcohol & Drug Services, Greater Vancouver
Mental Health, Vancouver Health Department) as well as grass-
roots community organizations networks. The Centre's
management model will enable the partnering organizations to
deliver responsive, quality health care services that will
eventually be owned and managed by the community they serve.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
One-time and ongoing operating costs of the Downtown Community
Health Centre are 100% supported by participating partners and
the provincial government. It is proposed that the City charge
an 8% fee for funds directly adminstered by the Vancouver
Health Department.
The total 1995/96 budget of $332,655 would be allocated as
follows:
Staffing costs
$ 34,900
Consulting costs 43,300
Supplies 74,000
St. Paul's 33,800
DTGTA 134,500
Overhead 12,155
Total $332,655
SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The cooperation, support and enthusiasm from all sponsoring
organizations (St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver Health
Department, Greater Vancouver Mental Health Services Society,
Alcohol and Drug Services) has enabled the Downtown South
Community Health Centre Partnership to open a Community Health
Centre that will significantly increase the quality of health
care delivery to residents of an extremely vulnerable
community. The Centre is due to begin delivering services in
September and will operate Tuesday to Saturday from noon to
8:00 p.m.
CONCLUSION
This is a worthwhile endeavor in the spirit of partnership and
cooperation to serve the community. Direct costs are 100%
funded by sponsoring partners and the Ministry of Health and
Ministry Responsible for Seniors. Council should approve the
recommendations contained in this report.
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