The Integrated Service Delivery model pilot in Charlotte County has eliminated the waiting list for services for youth who need help for issues like mental health and addictions and resulted in an increase of youth self-referring.
That’s according to Annette Harland, the manager responsible for the ISD site in Charlotte County where this model has been in place for several years.
“We’re able to initiate services within 48 to 72 hours, as opposed to a family physician referring a child and then it taking weeks to get a child in to receive services,” says Harland.
They have been able to more than double their ability to provide service through this approach as well, which young people can access through their school or another community service. Harland says they’re helping to reduce to stigma of service delivery.
“The clinicians, the team members who are in the schools become part of the school community,” says Harland. “So it’s less stigmatizing, it’s less intimidating for a youth to go and see somebody about a struggle that they’re experiencing when they know them as part of their school environment.”
This model was piloted in both Charlotte County and on the Acadian Peninsula and just this week it was announced that $2.9-million is being invested by the Gallant Governmen tto expand this model to 112 schools.
