People in City of Powell River will be better served by a collaborative approach to complex social challenges that brings together a diverse range of frontline workers to deliver faster access to services for individuals at risk of harm or victimization.
According to a media release from the provincial ministry of public safety, safe community situation tables bring together frontline workers from the public safety, health and social-service sectors to identify high-risk individuals and rapidly connect them to services and supports they need before they experience a negative or traumatic event.
“Safe community situation tables ensure that people remain the focus as we work to build safer, stronger communities,” stated Mike Farnworth, minister of public safety and solicitor general. “By combining frontline workers’ expertise, the tables strengthen the ability to respond to community safety challenges, better protecting people while swiftly connecting them to essential services.”
The release stated that the province currently has 36 operational safe community situation tables. Members of the Powell River table are expected to complete training in the coming months, and the partners will meet on a weekly basis to address issues pertaining to their community, such as mental health and addictions, homelessness, poverty and survival crime, the release stated.
“This table will help to proactively connect our community, principally vulnerable people, to the appropriate health and social services they need, while reducing demand on our emergency and police resources," stated Powell River mayor Ron Woznow. "Creating an environment for enhanced collaboration and knowledge sharing amongst our frontline staff supporting vulnerable individuals and families is a key development for the safety and well-being of our community.”
The model provides a structured, collaborative approach to managing complex or urgent circumstances by bringing together key groups and using systematic processes to mitigate risk and develop plans to respond more effectively and efficiently to the needs of each individual, the release stated. Furthermore, aggregate data analysis helps policy makers assess gaps and risks in their local communities.
The tables are considered an effective way to improve community safety and well-being by enabling community front-line workers to: proactively identify risks through real-time information sharing; reduce long-term demand on emergency and police resources; leverage and co-ordinate existing community assets and relationships between health supports, victim services and culturally safe support and services; plan and deliver collaborative interventions before an incident occurs; and reduce increased risk in people’s lives, according to the release.
The province is supporting Powell River with a $72,000 grant to assist with implementation. There are 44 funded situation tables and intervention circles in BC, with 36 of them operational and the other eight under implementation, the release stated.
The tables build on the programs, services and initiatives the province has undertaken or implemented to strengthen enforcement to break the cycle of violence and crime, and to strengthen services to keep communities safe and healthy, according to the release.
“By bringing together frontline workers from different agencies, we should be able to get people connected with appropriate services more efficiently,” stated Nicholas Simons, MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast. “Situation tables can be very helpful for communities to use by coming together to proactively support vulnerable individuals. I’m glad this initiative is coming to Powell River, as it can help make our community safer and stronger.”
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