By Charlene Tebbutt

Community Mobilization program looks to better connect with the community

Sep 1, 2018 | 12:00 PM

With a revamped website and a bounty of data, the local Community Mobilization program is hoping to better connect with residents in Prince Albert.

The CMPA launched a new and updated website last week, with detailed information about the program and its history. The project works to reduce crime and victimization and promote a safer community through information sharing with various police, health and social agencies. The program is made up of two components; the HUB, which identifies risks factors affecting individuals, families and neighbourhoods; and the Centre of Responsibility, or the COR, which looks at gaps and trends in services.

The program deals with a variety of situations each year, including everything from physical violence, alcohol and drug abuse, and criminal activity, to parental neglect, housing issues and poverty. The Community Mobilization program has operated in Prince Albert since 2011 and was the first of its kind in North America.

Prince Albert Police Sgt. Troy Dumont works as the executive director of the CMPA program and said issues around privacy and what information could be shared with the public has hindered information sharing in the past, and a change in how the organization operates has been beneficial.  

“We’re just getting better at that and understanding that better,” Dumont told paNOW. “And, we’ve changed the dynamics of our COR work, so before we would do observation papers, and now we try to work on projects where we can make change.”

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This year, Dumont said the CMPA is already working on 162 cases in the city and is working to emphasize quality interactions with people who need to access local services and support. He said trying to connect briefly with a lot of people needing support isn’t as effective as taking more time with individuals to provide information about local programming.

Dumont said the CMPA looks at how best to assist individuals but often provides information and access to supports that can be provided to whole families as well.

“CMPA isn’t just a police thing,” he added. “We do have community partners on our projects all over, and some people have reached out to us to say ‘can we help,’ and we really want to branch out to the community and area to see how they can help, or how we can help them.”

There are 16 HUB intervention groups working across the province currently looking at 540 cases or situations, Dumont added.

Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt