Situation Table brings community services together

THUNDER BAY -- A partnership that's described as unique and the first of its kind in Thunder Bay has been formed to help people at acutely-elevated risk of imminent harm, victimization or criminalization.

Details of the Thunder Bay Situation Table will be announced at a news conference on Nov. 7.

The community-led initiative brings together approximately 30 representatives of various sectors including mental health and addictions, justice, police, social services, employment and education.

It's chaired by Mariah Maddock of the Thunder Bay branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association.

The Thunder Bay Police Service's recent annual report stated that police have been directly involved in the design and eventual implementation of the Thunder Bay Situation Table, including Indigenous policing partners. It said outreach to potential community partners also included the Indigenous Friendship Centre, Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School and the Fort William First Nation.

The Canadian Mental Health Association has noted that some Situation Tables in the province are modelled after a project in Saskatchewan and "provide an integrated approach to reduce crime, emergency room visits and calls for police service by addressing the needs of individuals and families at risk."

Two years ago, in a speech in which he talked about the need to change how policing is done and adopt a community-centred focus, Ontario Attorney-General Yasir Naqvi described Situation Tables as a model that's working.

"Multi-disciplinary partnerships produce better results at lower costs to each organization...These kinds of initiatives move away from the old one-size-fits-approach and allow communities to identify their risks, mobilize the proper resources, and proactively and collaboratively make their communities safer," the CMHA quoted Naqvi as saying.