The District of Kent will be receiving $30,000 from the provincial government to develop a team that can help at-risk locals get access to the services they need.
“Vulnerable people in our communities have been faced with even more barriers this past year,” Chilliwack-Kent MLA Kelli Paddon said in a release.
“By taking a nuanced and holistic community-based approach, our government is helping our community make the most of local resources, ensuring that folks are provided the best care possible from our amazing front-line workers.”
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The teams, known as “situation tables,” are made up of people working in health, public safety and social service agencies. They help identify vulnerable people in the community and connect them with services before they are in crisis.
Situation tables are important for at-risk individuals, as it helps them find services before they experience a crisis. But it is also important for local police, as the tables work to help identify people who are at risk of engaging in criminal activity and get them support.
According to Sheila Malcolmson, minister of mental health and addictions, 54 per cent of cases brought forward at B.C.’s situation tables were able to move from police jurisdiction to social services in 2019.
Situation tables are there “to better connect vulnerable people with the services that can prevent crisis, crime and disorder,” Malcolmson said in a release. “Situation tables problem solve one case at a time, so at-risk individuals get the help they need.”
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For Kent Mayor Sylvia Pranger, that’s exactly what the community needs.
“This funding is long overdue as it provides significant aid to our front-line workers who are engaged in policing and health social services,” Pranger said in a release.
“Public safety is paramount for all of our communities and having a situation table will certainly assist our communities in training and improving communication with other health and safety sectors. This will ultimately help reduce crime and criminals from re-offending.”
The local situation table will include the District of Kent, the Village of Harrison Hot Springs, the Agassiz RCMP and nearby Indigenous communities.
Situation tables are already operating in Hope and Chilliwack, as well as eight other communities across the province. The province is working to establish 11 more across B.C.
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