WILKIE INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES INC. RECEIVES ADDITIONAL FUNDING

Sharon Murrell, MLA for Battleford-Cut Knife today announced on behalf

of Social Services Minister Harry Van Mulligen that Wilkie Independent

Living Services Incorporated has received $10,000 additional annual

funding. This will enable the agency to provide additional support to

intellectually-disabled people in the community and help achieve the

goal of ensuring individuals are able to participate as fully as

possible in society.



"We are continuing to invest in quality services for individuals with

intellectual challenges," Murrell said. "Community-based

organizations are our partners in helping ensure people with

intellectual disabilities achieve a better quality of life in the

community."



Wilkie Independent Living Services Incorporated operates an activity

centre, group homes, a developmental centre and provides services to

meet the needs of individuals living in their own homes.



In 1999/2000, Social Services is providing more than $39 million to

community-based organizations that operate programs and services for

intellectually-disabled individuals, an increase of 8.9 per cent over

last year. Community-based organizations deliver a wide range of

early childhood intervention, vocational, respite, residential and

other community-based services for people with intellectual

disabilities in Saskatchewan.

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For more information, contact:



Kimberly Wihnan

Social Services

Regina Phone: (306)787-8689