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The Regional Response to the Formation of Regional
Boards for Service to Persons with Disabilities
by Peter A. Farnden
Three regions in Alberta were studied to explore their response to the transfer of certain governance responsibilities for Services for Persons with Disabilities from the provincial government to the regions. The purpose of the study was to develop a theory of community driven decentralization. A multiple case study approach with an embedded grounded theory methodology was used. The study found that the partnership groups formed in each region responded to a series of government decentralization initiatives by forming regional governance bodies and processes based on one of two modes of democratic participation: participatory or representative. The study found all regional groups wanted to expand their role in decision-making yet circumscribed their role to a formative function that worked in a complementary way with formal governance bodies. The evidence on community driven decentralization found a non-linear relationship between regional characteristics, community scaled groups, purpose of the groups and type of decision-making determined how decentralization unfolded.
Two regions seemed "swept up" or driven along by the changes while one region efficaciously navigated the various challenges associated with accommodating change. The study found three properties of community governance characterized the regions: focus of attention on community or individual stakeholder groups, unifying or fragmenting systemicness and self or other directedness. These properties were mediated by actualizing, aligning and influencing strategies and these strategies emerged in a sequence that formed a model of change for regional groups. One region formed a double loop system of planning and implementation that formed a virtuous cycle that increased participation and recursively modified common purpose.
E-Mail: wjsab@telusplanet.net
Edmonton,
AB.
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