Jenny Leadbeater, Northwest Community Mobilization Coordinator - Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to questions relative to Human Services Justice Coordinating Committees (HSJCC’s), Situation Tables and Risk-Driven Tracking Database (RTD) for Thunder Bay & NW Region.
Human Service Justice Coordinating Committees (HSJCC) is a network of service professionals representing each sector to collaborate and find solutions to the criminalization of individuals within the priority areas (serious mental illness, developmental disability, acquired brain injury, drug and alcohol addiction, and/or fetal alcohol syndrome) and to develop a shared model of responsibility and accountability in dealing with this group of individuals within the justice system. The Thunder Bay & District HSJCC held a meeting in Nov 2023 after a 6-7 year hiatus.
Systemic issues may be brought forward by the network membership and regional situation tables. The issues management framework guides this process, including the following goals:
- To have a deliberate process for management and flow of identified systemic issues
- To have a focused and informed discussions that create purposeful outcomes
- To mitigate barriers between the levels of the network – local/regional/provincial
- To facilitate communication on emerging regional issues that are relevant to the Network
A multi-year report for the Thunder Bay Situation Table was completed in June and distributed to partners in July 2023. Copies are available to anyone interested.
Trends noted in the report are a steady decline in referrals over the 6 year period. This could be due to new program in community (e.g. IMPACT, Quick Connect). The high demographic referred are those within age range of 12 - 17. In terms of outcomes, seeing more Still at Acutely Elevated Risk – Systemic Issue which highlights systemic issues are a key factor in keeping people at high risk. The top risk factors include mental health, drugs, housing, and alcohol. Other notable risk factors include criminal involvement, physical violence, basic needs, self-harm. Also seeing increase in youth gang involvement.
Regular training for Situation Tables is provided on a bi-monthly basis and all new and current members of tables across the NW Region are welcome to attend.
In order to obtain regional data from the RTD, specific requests must be submitted to SOLGEN whereas reports for the Thunder Bay Situation Table can be generated by the Coordinator by logging into the RTD.
In the process of developing a Situation Table website to provide one-stop for information about Situation Tables in the NW Region. The goal is to connect people with the right table while ensuring privacy.
Discussion was held relative to how the Covid-19 pandemic effected individuals and the impact of social isolation, feelings of hopelessness, and exhaustion and how these may be impacting referrals to Situation Tables.
Discussion was held relative to alcohol and how it has been one of the top risk factors noted in RTD reports for the NW Region year after year. This is not the case for other regions in Ontario. According to research, LCBO sales have been increasing each year for the last two decades. It has been challenging to assist individuals and provide appropriate direction considering alcohol is socially acceptable and permitted in many social settings. More prevention measures need to be implemented around alcohol use.
The committee agreed that the upcoming implementation of alcohol sales in convenience stores will produce significant detrimental impact.