It’s a new way of looking at an increasing problem in Renfrew County.
Jan. 25, as part of budget deliberations, Renfrew County Council approved the Community Well-being Program, an initiative Renfrew County Paramedic Services Chief Michael Nolan describes as an innovative model of care of harm reduction, outreach and response.
“County council has endorsed a tri-departmental initiative where development and property, community and social services and the paramedic service, will be collaborating to support people with mental health-related crises, as well as addictions and those that are homeless throughout the county, in a new kind of way,” said Nolan.
He explained that staff will get to work immediately in the hopes that the program, which is expected to cost just over $2 million, can be up and running by mid-February.
“Mental health is something that affects all of us in Renfrew County,” said Nolan. “This team would see a community paramedic and a crisis worker being available in the community to be able to support people in those health crises with the intention of trying to keep them at home, not have to go to the emergency department and provide them the supports and connections so that they can hopefully find some sustainable solutions.”
The program will include staffing two mobile crisis units, preparing a study for a shovel-ready housing development, additional maintenance staff and a full-time community housing co-ordinator and a homeless co-ordinator.
The concept of the team is to meet people where they’re at.
“So, if you’re a homeless person for example and you’re using the warming shelter in Pembroke, we expect to be working with you there or at the Grind or at any of the church-based programs that are providing these services,” said Nolan.
The Community Well-being Program is a direct response to what’s happening across the county, a significant rise in mental health issues, addictions and homelessness, and focuses a preventative lens on the issues, explained Nolan.
Paramedics will work with hospital partners, health teams, VTAC (Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre) and community organizations to ensure the program supports clients in the best way.
The program will serve 17 municipalities within the County of Renfrew, the City of Pembroke and the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan.
(Written by Sherry Haaima)
