We will take a life course approach to prevention with activities that focus on youth, adults and seniors. We have chosen the following actions to make progress on prevention.
Short-term
Learn about substance use together as a community by sharing local information, statistics and stories
Reach out and listen to community members to understand more about challenges in accessing affordable recreation options
Long-term
Make it easier for people of all ages to access affordable recreation options
Create a supportive community environment for families, peers and schools. A community approach to prevention increases protective factors and reduces risk factors that connect to alcohol and drug use.
We know that community understanding of harm reduction is key. This understanding can help support increased access to harm reduction services. We have chosen the following actions to make progress on these issues.
Short-term
Reach out to and listen to community members to learn more about their needs for consumption and treatment services
Make more opioid substitution programs available
Make more counseling services available
Host public speaking events that include individuals with lived and living experience
Long-term
Make more crisis support services available
Make more permanent and supportive housing options available
Make treatment and harm reduction services available within the correctional system
Make it easier to access healthcare
Educate community members about naloxone
Plan for smooth transitions and community supports after discharge from the correctional system and treatment services
We know that the lack of a local substance use treatment centre and timely access to treatment are top issues for the community. We have chosen the following actions to make progress on these known issues.
Short-term
Create drop-in centres that are available 24 hours per day
Provide services that help people while they wait for treatment services
Establish an anonymous opioid clinic
Provide de-escalation training to peers and volunteers
Make and keep up to date a roadmap for treatment services in Elgin informed by peers and outreach workers
Make it easy for the community and service providers to learn about and understand how to access each of the treatment services available in Elgin
Long-term
Expand mobile outreach services
Continue to improve coordination, referrals and warm transfers between agencies
We will create better links between justice, treatment and other community services and have chosen the following justice-related actions.
Short-term
Provide peer support and mental health support in the courthouse
Make it easier for individuals to navigate the justice system by increasing peer support and system navigation support
Provide harm reduction training to police and enforcement services
Plan for smooth transitions and community support after someone is discharged from the correctional system
Support front-line workers experiencing compassion fatigue
Long-term
Enhance withdrawal management services provided to individuals in custody
What is Next?
We have developed a plan to act on our 2022-2026 short-term and long-term priorities. This plan includes clear roles and responsibilities that will move the priorities from ideas to actions.
We will monitor and measure the success of the 2022-2026 community plan.
We will regularly update the community on our progress.
We will continue to reach out to and listen to the community, including individuals with lived and living experience, to keep a pulse on changing needs. We will continue to make the plan better based on what we hear from the community.
How Can I Learn More?
To learn more about ECDAS you can follow us and/or contact us at: (Insert website and/or social media and/or email and/or phone number)