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Collaborative Policy Construction and De-Institutionalisation: The Case of the Valley View Centre

Date

2020-09-02

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

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Type

Thesis

Degree Level

Doctoral

Abstract

This dissertation addresses the de-institutionalisation of the residents of the Valley View Centre in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Using an authentic model of citizen participation, the Government of Saskatchewan partnered with citizen stakeholders to create effective policies for transitioning Valley View residents to life within the community. The closure of any institutional facility is a daunting task that rarely succeeds. This is because many governments either fail to close the obsolete facility or they merely trans-institutionalise remaining residents. For centuries, various governments have relied on policies of institutionalisation to mitigate social problems affecting people who have disability or live in poverty. In the late 20th Century, however, many governments began to restructure their economies in a manner that included a de-construction of their welfare states. This economic restructuring necessarily involved the privatisation of state administered care and the closure of institutional care facilities. De-institutionalisation is a difficult and contentious process, which is why many governments may fail to reach goals. For Instance, stakeholders and governments often have different understandings of what de-institutionalisation means and how it is achieved. Common difficulties that block transitions involve labour discontent, lack of adequate community living infrastructure, and opposition from the families of institutionalised residents. Also, the general public tends to require information to understand what de-institutionalisation is and why policies of inclusion are desirable. The de-construction of welfare states provided various social movements for inclusion and de-institutionalisation with an opportunity to transition vulnerable people to community living. Still, many governments have failed to foster functional relationships with advocates for inclusion, or with the family members of the people who are institutionalised. In the case of the Valley View Centre, the Government of Saskatchewan chose an approach using the highest possible level of citizen participation. Not only were the stakeholders given control over the construction of policy, but the commitment to authentic citizen participation enabled all goals to be met. The example of the Valley View Centre transition is a model that may be replicated for the closure of other institutional facilities, and that may also be applied to a wide variety of policy problems.

Description

Keywords

public policy, welfare state, inclusion, intellectual disability, community based organisations, deinstitutionalisation, citizen participation, institutionalisation, institution, Valley View Centre, Saskatchewan

Citation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Department

Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy

Program

Public Policy

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