On September 21st, St. Paul's L'Amoreaux Centre had the honor of making a poster presentation at the "Celebrating the Past, Present and Future of Senior's Mental Health" conference in Banff, Alberta. The poster showcased our partnership with Community Outreach Programs in Addictions (COPA), with whom we provide Addictions Supportive Housing (ASH) to 6, soon to be 8 older adults who reside at SPLC! The conference was co-hosted by the Canadian Coalition for Seniors' Mental Health (CCSMH) and the Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry (CAGP). To view the poster, please click here.
The goal of the ASH partnership is to increase the health and social outcomes of people with problematic substance use issues who are frequent users of the addictions treatment system by providing stable housing, in conjunction with addictions treatment while also accessing other services and reconnecting to the community. It provides services to some of the most vulnerable Ontarians with both complex addictions and mental health needs, who are homeless or inadequately housed. The partnership provides housing and support services, provided by SPLC and specialist addictions support, provided by COPA. Together we deliver integrated, multi-disciplinary support with the objective to:
- Reduce the frequency of re-admissions to addiction programs
- Reduce contact with the criminal justice system
- Increase successful tenancy
- Reduce repeated use of emergency and acute care systems
- Reduce repeated unscheduled substance abuse visits to the emergency department within a 30 day period
- Increase community engagement and social participation for clients who have barriers to engaging in programming
- Improve physical and mental health
A special thanks to the funders of the partnership, the Central East LHIN and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
In the words of our Executive Director...
"We are very pleased to collaborate with the CELHIN and COPA to support some of the most vulnerable older adults and seniors in Scarborough. As an agency we place great value on providing housing and services for those with mental health and addiction needs and we know first-hand there is a need for local, culturally-diverse, wrap-around support services which help promote community integration and increase the likelihood clients can reach their harm reduction goals. We are thankful to the Central East LHIN for supporting this vital service, without their funding it would not be possible to provide services for this important and often forgotten population." - Diane Duncan, Executive Director, St. Paul's L'Amoreaux Centre
In the words of the Chairman of our Board...
"At SPLC we have always worked to the goal of supporting seniors in need and adapting and evolving our services to close the gaps faced by vulnerable populations. The ASH partnership is an effective means to share expertise and collaborate to reduce barriers to support for this very special population" - Jim Kaufman, Chair of the Board of Directors, St. Paul's L'Amoreaux Centre
For more information about the ASH partnership, please contact Roberta Wong, Director of Client Care and Community Services, St. Paul's L'Amoreaux Centre at roberta@splc.ca, or by calling 416 493-3333.
