Model creates excitement in community groups

Eleven representatives from the community organizations and the provincial government went to Scotland at the end of November.

McFee said that country is one of the only in the world who has seen the anomaly of problems that face Prince Albert and northern Saskatchewan.

He also said, in Scotland, they have adopted an innovated method to deal with some of the problems that is actually showing success.

Their method brings together many groups, like social services, schools and health to deal with issues that might traditionally be dealt with solely by the police.

In Tuesday’s presentation McFee outlined a shift in thinking that needs to happen here. Focusing on common goals, long-term goals and more communication were mentioned as a foundation for a community hub that will address some of Prince Albert’s challenges head on.

Those goals are similar to those of the members of the CNC. A steering committee meeting after the presentation revealed collective excitement in forward momentum that could be brought by the new model.

Merv Bender, executive director of Prince Albert and District Community Service Centre said looking at integrating more at services is long overdue.

“There have been efforts to some degree in the past … but part of what I saw that’s good is if we can get that common goal established … the common goals drives the rest of it so, ya, very exciting,” Bender said.

Doug Kinar, executive director Canadian Mental Health Association, Prince Albert branch was very interested in talk about a shift in thinking.

“That shift has already happened in Prince Albert with the way bylaw and health and other people go towards getting homes fixed up that need to be fixed, so it’s a model that we already have and if we can get it to go across the board it will be really powerful,” Kinar said.

Donna Strauss, executive director of Family Futures expressed pride for McFee and his drive to see this new model implemented.

“As a community based organization we’re always looking to work with other partners and try to be effective and yet use our resources wisely,” Strauss said.

“So hopefully this will bring the voices together at a table and start doing that grass roots work with individuals because that’s how it’s going to change.”

During the presentation examples were given of actual actions that would take place with the new model. McFee wants to start implementing aspects of the new model in February.

“The thing that really struck me in listening to this is that through this model we can see that citizens, the people that live with us and around us, as a whole people — as opposed to just part of that person or a client belonging to a certain group of organization,” Delphine Melchert, co-ordinator of the CNC.

Victoria Jurgens, public health nutritionist with the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region said this is population health at its finest.

“Gathering the community members and organizations together to tackle an issue that is far too broad for any one person to tackle is probably the best thing we could do.”

sfroese@panow.com

by Stephanie Froese

Model creates excitement in community groups

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